Donald R. Brown, affectionately known as Coach Brown or “Brownie,” was born on March 1, 1942 in Gowanda, NY, to Ruth Morley Brown and Louis R. Brown. He passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025, at the age of 83, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as a dedicated educator and beloved coach in the Greece, NY community.

He is survived by his daughter Jacquelin Reese (PA), granddaughter Julianne (OH) and his brother William L. Brown (CA). He was preceded in death by his brother Richard Brown (Jamestown, NY).

A graduate of Jamestown High School, Don went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education (1964) and a Master of Science (1969) from Ithaca College, where he played basketball and football, earning two letters. After a brief coaching stint in Westfield, NY, he joined the faculty at Greece Olympia High School in September 1969, as a Physical Education teacher. While there he coached basketball and earned his first sectional title in baseball. In 1978, he transferred to Greece Athena High School, where he made a lasting impact coaching basketball, baseball, and girls’ tennis, as well as briefly coaching football and girls varsity softball.

Over his illustrious 28-year teaching career and 24 additional years of coaching after he retired from teaching, Don influenced countless students and athletes. His coaching legacy includes an astounding 51 seasons in basketball, where his teams captured 19 league titles, two sectional championships, and, most notably, the New York State Class A Boys Basketball championship in 1992 with an undefeated record of 26-0. In baseball, he secured 12 league championships and two sectional titles, while his girls’ tennis teams claimed 14 league championships and one sectional title. His boys’ modified basketball teams achieved an incredible streak of 56 straight wins, a record that continued long after his departure.

Coach Brown was inducted into the Greece Hall of Fame in 2006 in recognition of his significant contributions to sports and education, celebrating a career that spanned over five decades. Beyond his coaching duties, he selflessly devoted time to working with young athletes during summer clinics, exemplifying his passion for nurturing talent.

In addition to high school coaching, Brownie left his mark on the slo-pitch softball scene, where he played for several teams, including the professional Rochester Express team, with whom he won multiple championships. As a coach of the Legends senior team, he emphasized fundamentals and strategy, leading them to ten world titles, underscoring his commitment to excellence in athletics.

A memorial service will be held in his honor in Rochester in October, inviting friends and former athletes to gather and celebrate his extraordinary life.

You may leave words of condolence at lindfuneralhome.com.