The popular Jimmy Brown, former association president in 1999, died on the night of Jan. 8 at the Polymedic Hospital in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila in the Philippines. The former stalwart of the De La Salle basketball team had of late suffered from poor health but remained a fixture at the UAAP games where he indulged in taking pictures of not only the players but the faithful alumni who rooted for the Green Archers.
Jimmy was an imposing and charismatic campus figure during the days when one could complete all his Lasallian education at the Taft campus. Indeed, he was a derecho La Sallite — the original monicker of the era — throughout his student days having completed GS’62, HS’66 and BSBA’70.
Jimmy was a man’s man during his loyal days with the alma mater. A friend — and he had many — always knew he could count on Jimmy having his back. The protective demeanor continued on with his athletic endeavors where his teams also competed up to the national level. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school and competed in softball (pitcher), volleyball, track & field (javelin, long jump and 100 m) and, of course, basketball. His high school team in particular brought honors to De La Salle by beating vaunted veteran teams in winning the National Secondary and the Archdiocese basketball leagues. In college, Jimmy focused on basketball and was one of the team’s stars along with the likes of Alex Malixi, Doy Escobar, Mike Bilbao and Lim Eng Beng.
Jimmy was president of the DLSAANC when the association hosted the first-ever De La Salle Alumni Associaiton World Congress in Oakland. The manner which the international week-end alumni event was staged under Jimmy’s leadership became the template for future DLSAA World Congresses.
An outdoorsman, Jimmy organized camping and rafting trips during his active days with the association. He was an avid fisherman, too, and could hook them even when his fishing mates couldn’t.
Jimmy has three USA-based adult offsprings, namely, Jackie, Joanie and Jay Jay, who are all enroute to Manila to arrange for their father’s memorial services. Let us all join them in praying for the eternal repose of Jimmy! Rest in peace, bro!
(Ed’s note: Double click on the picture for bigger high-resolution version.)
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