Dr. John Cavendish Brown was born Aug. 22, 1934, in New Malden, England and passed away Jan. 31, 2014, in Malibu.
Brown was raised in Surrey, England and attended Rutlish School, Merton. After Army service, he studied medicine and graduated from the University of London Westminster Medical School in May of 1962. He specialized in rheumatology, immunology, spinal cord injury, brain injury, sports medicine and rehabilitation, having left his inspiring mark at several prominent hospitals in the UK, California and Nevada. His primary practice was serving the underprivileged in East Los Angeles since 1972.
Brown was a track and field athlete, a rugby player in England (having been selected to play for two countries competing in a national competition on the same day against each other) and became a highly committed long distance runner in California. Some of his favorite races were the Honolulu Marathon, American River 50, Wyoming Big Horn 50 miler, Western States 100 miler (which he finished in under 24 hours) and the Midnight Sun Double Marathon at Nanisivik in the Arctic Circle.
Brown was a longtime and well-loved resident of Malibu for 42 years, where he passed peacefully at home. He earned his status as a true local and was well known for his generous selfless nature, and unfaltering desire to help those medically in need. “His humor and amazing inspirational presence will be remembered and missed by many on both sides of the proverbial pond,” a loved one said.
John is survived by his wife Debbie Forrester-Brown; their five children, Simon Brown, Andrew Brown, Katherine Brown, Jeff Forrester and Brent Forrester; brothers Michael Brown and Rodney Brown; sister Myra Bayliss; and grandchildren DeeDee Brown, Felix Brown and Sidney Forrester.
A private, nonreligious farewell gathering will take place to honor his memory in Malibu on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014.
For more information, contact johnbrownremembered@yahoo.com.