Alan Douglas Brown passed away peacefully in the early hours of March 8, 2023 at the age of 73. Born in Fergus, he was the son of Douglas J. Brown, a World War II veteran and co-owner of Burt’s Department Store, and Florence E. Brown (Bramhall), a respected Latin and French teacher at Elora High School. In his last three and a half years, he lived with a terminal diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Despite this, his diversity of interests kept him laughing, learning and loving life.
He spent his early years running through the woods with his dog Judy, building numerous forts and surrounded by the sounds of nature and watching his father's performances at the Elora Community Theatre. Later, he spent time helping his grandfather, William Brown, with his acres of peonies and irises.
Al worked summers at the Elora Gorge Park performing maintenance and lifeguarding duties. He left his mark at Elora District High School participating in numerous sports and competitions including badminton, track and field and basketball and declared 'Best All Around Athlete'.
He attended the University of Western Ontario and was a Chartered Accountant by vocation. His creativity and genuine concern for his clients earned him their respect and nicknames like ‘Magic Al’ and ‘Al Almighty’. The bonds he formed with clients often developed into friendships for life. An entrepreneur at heart, he started a number of ventures over the years, but returned to his CA practise when he permanently settled in Bayfield, ON with his wife Jane and daughter Briana in 1989.
Outside of his professional life, he was passionate about nature and music, sports and literature, and competitive gameplay. He enjoyed building structures and sculptures both practical and artistic. His curiosity was insatiable, his positivity admirable, and his childlike sense of play contagious.
His ashes will remain with his wife Jane, and they will both be interred at the Elora Cemetery Columbarium.
For those who wish, a memorial donation can be made to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.
