Brown, George F.
On Tuesday, April 14th, 2020, George F. Brown Jr. of Trinity, Florida, passed away at the age of 73.
George was born on November 3rd, 1946 to Edith and George Brown in Johnstown, PA. He was driven to success from an early age, working his way through college and graduate school to earn a PhD in Economics from Carnegie Mellon University, and went on to teach at the US Naval War College in Newport, RI. In a professional career spanning more than four decades, George was a pre-eminent strategy consultant, becoming a close advisor to top government officials and Fortune 500 corporate executives. His thinking around how business suppliers and customers should create successes together was revolutionary. These themes culminated in the publication of CoDestiny: Overcome Your Growth Challenges by Helping Your Customers Overcome Theirs and continue today in the work of colleagues and friends whom he influenced over the years. George served as the Executive Vice President at DRI/McGraw Hill in Lexington, MA, and later as President of the ICF Consulting Group in Fairfax, VA. In 1998 he founded Blue Canyon Partners, to focus on business-to-business issues and built that company for 15 years. He promoted collaboration between business and academicians as a long-time board member of the Institute for the Study of Business Markets. For the past 3 years George has served on the Board for Charles River Associates in Cambridge, MA.
George’s passion for life was obvious to all. He loved animals but most of all his beloved pets Ruby, Opal and Onyx. His knowledge of and love for art developed into an extensive and eclectic collection and an online art gallery. George loved the Pittsburgh Steelers. He loved travelling, was a voracious reader and worshipped music, the Rolling Stones and Bob Seger among his favorites. His years of volunteer work with kids at the Grief Center brought a ray of light in the most unimaginably difficult time for those children. Like Walt Disney whom he admired, George truly believed growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.
George’s greatest joy in life was his family. His wife, Nancy L. Brown, whom he loved with all his heart, preceded him in death. George will be missed by many, most of all his children, Donald and Kelly Brown. He, along with Nancy, fostered a loving, supportive and fun environment that lasted their entire lives. George is survived by his children, daughter-in-law Melanie and his grandson, Harrison, with whom he got to spend 3 wonderful years.
Regrettably, in the current environment no memorial service will be held. George established the Nancy L. Brown Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay in 2013. The funds from this program have been used to support numerous charities including a local hospice children’s bereavement programs. In the future, the name of the foundation will also honor George. The family asks if you wish to make a gift, donations in George’s memory can be made online at https://cftampabay.org/give_now/memorial-gifts/. Please click on the “other” fund, and type Nancy L. Brown Memorial Fund. Donation can also be sent to:
Community Foundation of Tampa Bay
Attention: Nancy L. Brown Memorial Fund
4300 W. Cypress Street, Suite 700
Tampa, FL 33607

Checks should be made out to Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, in the “Memo” line please note Nancy L. Brown Memorial Fund.