Harry Brown, 91
Cheers to Harry Brown!
On Feb. 9, 2025, at the age of 91, Harry Brown passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family.
Harry was born on March 12, 1933, and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were Harry S. and Florence (Archer) Brown. His father passed away when Harry was only three weeks old, and he and his older brother Chuck were raised by his mom. When he was in high school, his mother married a longtime friend, George Firmin, who would later become a wonderful grandfather to Harry’s kids.
After high school, just having turned 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served during the Korean War. In 1954, he enrolled at Penn State University, where he met the love of his life, Nancy May. She was the first girl he ever spoke to in college as they stood in line to register for classes.
At Penn State, he majored in business administration and was a four-year starter on the varsity lacrosse team. Being the fun and friendly guy he was, he made many friends on campus including his Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity brothers.
Upon graduation in 1958 he and Nancy were married. Harry and Nancy first lived in Louisville, Kentucky, where he began a career in banking and where their first child, Bonnie, was born.
The next stop on their journey was moving back to Pittsburgh where Harry continued his banking career and their son, Chuck, was born. While a lending officer at the Pittsburgh National Bank, Harry attended night school at the University of Pittsburgh earning an MBA in finance.
Motown was calling the Browns as Harry continued to advance his career in corporate finance. In Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, their daughter Sallie was born.
Harry continued to move westward and landed the family in the Windy City, where he became an executive with Rand McNally Publishing. It was during this time and after becoming a frequent visitor to Whitefish that Harry discovered that Big Mountain was not shown on the "Road Atlas" published by his company. Harry made sure that was corrected, and the "Whitefish Pilot" reported that Harry Brown put Big Mountain on the map!
With all the success Harry had in the corporate world, something inside of him called to provide a better quality of life for his family. Growing up without a father, Harry was inspired to be the best dad he could be. He was thankful for the close relationship he had with Nancy’s dad, L. Chester May, who was a wonderful father figure, role model and mentor to him. While his father-in-law was a high-level corporate executive, his roots were in small-town West Virginia, and he understood Harry’s interest in seeking a simpler life.
Frequent trips to rural Michigan and Wisconsin evolved into trips to the Rocky Mountains, and in 1971 Harry and Nancy made their first visit to Whitefish. Harry recalled the lightly falling snow, the fresh air and the fragrant smell of pine trees as he stepped off the Empire Builder at the train depot. Following that ski trip 54 years ago, he knew he wanted to live here.
At that time, the opportunities for corporate finance executives were nonexistent in the Flathead Valley, so it took some time, but he worked hard, dreamed big, and he knew that … “Someday I’ll” make it happen.
In 1978 the family finally realized their dream and moved to Whitefish. Harry became an entrepreneur and invested in restaurants, land, and other businesses in Northwest Montana. The move to Whitefish proved to be worthwhile, as it provided the quality of life he had been longing for. His family thrived in the community, and they loved being Whitefish Bulldogs and Montana Grizzlies.
Harry often remarked: “It’s the people that make Whitefish so special” and “What I love about Whitefish is that it’s like one big country club and everyone in town is a member.”
In the 1990s, Harry and Nancy relocated to Florida to be closer to Nancy’s aging father and his wife. At that time, the family was spread across the country, but in the early 2000s they moved back to Whitefish and were fortunate to have all their kids move back at the same time to raise their families where they had grown up.
The Browns love of travel has taken them to nearly every state in the U.S., to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and South America, but their favorite place in the world is Whitefish.
Harry gave his time and resources to the many local nonprofit organizations that have helped to make Whitefish the wonderful place you see today. Over the years Harry was involved in Congenials and the 2013 Whitefish Winter Carnival, with Harry serving as King Ullr LIV and Nancy as Queen of the Snows.
Harry helped coach youth sports including Whitefish High School tennis and he was an assistant coach of Whitefish youth football programs.
He was a competitive athlete in his own right, playing team lacrosse until he was 45, National Platform Tennis Championship Tournaments, several flag football leagues and tennis leagues in Chicago, tennis tournaments in Whitefish and various softball teams.
He was a lifelong Steelers fan with the team being founded the same year he was born. With all three kids and two grandkids going to UofM including Chuck and Sean as players, he became a dedicated fan of Griz football. He and Nancy have had Griz season tickets for many years.
Closer to home, Harry and Nancy have been strong supporters of the Whitefish Bulldogs, including attending countless football games, track meets, soccer matches, tennis matches, and basketball games. Harry and Nancy were awarded as Whitefish Bulldog Superfans by the Montana High School Association.
Of equal importance to the things he accomplished was the type of person he was. Affectionately known as HiDad, a name based on Sallie’s son Sean hearing her talk to her Dad on the phone, he was a father figure to many beyond his immediate family. At Bulldog football games in recent years, he had special seats in the front row along the center aisle. Coaches, parents, other fans, and especially the players always knew where to find him. At any time before, during, or after the games you might see players turning around and looking at him for his signature thumbs up — showing his undeniable support. The impact he made with his presence was felt and made a difference in their lives.
Harry was a dedicated member of the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and he rarely missed their Wednesday morning breakfasts. Harry loved to tell a good joke (or even a bad one). He was known to hold court with his well-timed stories (the slower the better), to build up to the likely surprising finish. How he came up with all these is still somewhat of a mystery. He cherished the times he spent with the guys, and he was grateful for all the friendships made over his lifetime. In the past few years, as health issues arose, he appreciated the incredible support he received from his dear friends.
Harry was a lifelong learner, reading, researching, and sharing his knowledge, life lessons and advice with his family and friends.
Above all, Harry said right up to the end that his greatest accomplishment in life was his family. He loved his family so much and it was the most important thing to him. He and Nancy built their house to be a place for family to enjoy, and they treasured the time that family members spent being over at their home. Fittingly, they named their home “Someday Isle”! It was no longer a dream… they did it!
Harry is survived by his wife Nancy, daughter Bonnie, son Chuck (Julie) and daughter Sallie (Brian Frank); grandchildren Emily Nichols (Brendan), David Hammett, Amanda Foley (Alex Corbelli), Sean Foley, Ryan Brown (Anna Caroline), Kellie Brown and Lauren Brown; great-grandchildren Riley Brown, Avery Nichols and Finley Nichols; a large extended family and his cat named Griz.
Harry always remembered his mother’s birthday, Feb. 9, and would remind his family how much she loved us. It is fitting that he would go to join her — as well as the father he never knew — on that very day.
Harry’s philosophies to live by are evident to those who knew him:
— Know that life is full of peaks and valleys — Don’t get too high on the peaks or too low in the valleys.
— Don’t wait for Someday Isle — Do the things you’re called to do in life with no regrets.
A celebration of Harry’s life will be scheduled this summer. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to send a donation to your favorite charity. Harry’s favorite causes are the Whitefish Bulldog Booster Club, Whitefish Shines, and the Whitefish Community Foundation.
