Thomas M. Brown

Thomas M. Brown, of Anaheim Hills, California, passed away on July 10, 2022, at the age of 63.

Tom was born in Evergreen Park, Illinois; attended Marist High School in Chicago, Illinois; studied business at Loyola University of Chicago; earned an MBA from Pepperdine University.

While in college, Tom worked as a sports writer for the Chicago Sun Times and The Southtown Economist newspapers and volunteered with a children’s autism program at Loyola. After graduation, he took a job in sales with Northern Electric Co., a division of Sunbeam Corporation which brought him out to Southern California.  Tom and Melissa moved to Orange County, CA in the early 1980s where Tom began his 36-year career in financial advising with PaineWebber & Co., moving on to A.G. Edwards & Sons and then Wells Fargo Advisors LLC as a licensed multi-state broker. Tom was well known within his field; he mentored many and enjoyed apprising his colleagues, acquaintances, friends, and family of research articles and publications pertaining to the financial sector and also appeared frequently on the Orange County News Channel as a Business News Analyst.

Tom and Melissa met while in college, married in 1985, and went on to have two children, David and Allison. Tom was extremely proud of his family and actively guided them through their life and sports careers. He spent countless hours coaching youth sports and enjoyed teaching young individuals and his coaching style and personality provided many fortunate individuals with lessons and skills they could apply to their everyday life. While coaching with intensity, his favorite coaching line always ended with “Have fun.”

After retiring from coaching, Tom volunteered with the Mater Dei High School basketball program. He was the scorekeeper for the annual Mater Dei Nike Basketball Extravaganza for fifteen years and the boys’ varsity team from 2008-2011.

Tom was an avid golfer, enjoyed his weekly basketball runs and leagues, and successfully ran both the Chicago and L.A. Marathons. He was an Illinois State Scholar and Mensa Society member. He loved to laugh and make others laugh with his quick sense of humor. Tom did his best to stay connected with family, friends, and colleagues across the US and always knew how to instill a sense of hope in others around him.

Tom was predeceased by his mother Janet Kubalanza Brown, father Henry G. Brown, and father-in-law David F. Spiewak. He is survived by his wife Melissa, children David and Allison, siblings Randy, Nancy (Bruce) Williams, and Janet (Bruce) Pivarunas, mother-in-law Connie Spiewak, sisters-in-law Annmarie Spiewak (Carlos Padilla) and Dawnmarie (Ed) Kennedy. He was uncle to 3 nieces and 3 nephews.

In remembrance of Tom and one of his “Rules for Life”, he would implore you to do one random act of kindness a day.

In lieu of flowers, the Brown family asks that gifts be made in Tom’s memory to support The Mater Dei Basketball Program. To make a gift by check, please make payable to Mater Dei High School with Tom Brown in the memo line and mail to: Mater Dei Advancement, 1202 W. Edinger Ave. Santa Ana, CA 92707. Gifts can be made online at: https://www.materdei.org/apps/pages/supportboysbasketball

LODGING

Ayres Suites in Yorba Linda and The Fairfield Inn in Anaheim Hills are offering a preferred rate for those traveling from out of town to attend Tom's Memorial Service

Ayres Suites Yorba Linda-  714.921.8688 Use group name: Tom Brown and Group Code: TOM22

Fairfield Inn Anaheim Hills- 714.921.1100 When making reservation let them know that you are with the Tom Brown Memorial Group

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