Roger Nevil Robert Brown

April 2, 1935 - February 8, 2021

Roger Nevil Robert Brown, 85, of Laguna Hills, California, passed away peacefully just after midnight, Monday, February 8, 2021, surrounded by his daughter and son. Roger was Born April 2, 1935, in East Orange, Essex County New Jersey to Robert Paul and Muriel Edwina Morris Brown, their only child. The family later moved from New Jersey to Long Beach, California. After graduating from Junior High School in 1950, the family moved from Long Beach to San Jose, California where Roger attended Abraham Lincoln High School, graduating in 1953 on the Honor Scholarship Roll, Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship Certificate, Highest Honor. After graduating high school in 1953, Roger enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve and continued his military service enlisting for active duty in the United States Navy from 1954 until honorably discharged from the Naval Ready Reserve in September of 1960. Roger was appointed rank of Draftsman (Mechanical) Petty Officer First Class (DMM1). He performed his last duty assignment in the Navy Fleet Intelligence Center. Moving back to Long Beach, California Roger attended the Long Beach City College graduating with an Associate in Arts degree in 1961. Roger’s foreign-sea service in the Navy provided him with an opportunity to experience many different cultures. Roger appreciated the study of foreign languages and cultivated a passion for the Spanish language and culture. Because of his achievements in the study of Spanish and German, he was initiated as an active member of the Alpha Mu Gamma, National Foreign Language Honor Society in 1960. Roger continued forward transferring to San Jose State College (SJSU), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1963. He later attended California State University, Long Beach and Pepperdine University to achieve is Teaching Credentials, specializing in Secondary Teaching grades 7 through 12, Major of Spanish and Minors in German and English. Roger taught Spanish and English in middle school and high school for the Tustin Unified School District (TUSD) for 25 years. After retirement, Roger worked several years as a part time Teacher’s Aide in the Corona Unified School District. Roger also passed on the interest in teaching to his daughter who followed his career path and began her teaching career in 1994 as an elementary school educator. Roger and Mary Lou Forbes were married on March 21st, 1970. Together they raised two children, Tracey Michelle Brown and Timothy Scott Brown. Roger and Mary Lou were married 50 years, 10 months and 17 days. Roger and Mary Lou were received into the First United Methodist Church of Orange and remained long time members until moving to Corona, California where they became members of their local Corona United Methodist Church. Roger had many interests including a love for great movies which he fostered as a child watching the exciting cliffhanger adventure movie serials of the 1940s. Roger loved the swashbuckling heroes portrayed on the silver screen by actors such as Errol Flynn. He became active in fencing as a teenager. At the age of 14 Roger attended fencing classes at the local Long Beach, California Y.M.C.A where he was fortunate to participate in a class taught by the famous fencing instructor to the stars, Ralph B. Faulkner. Each Wednesday Faulkner made his way down from Hollywood to Long Beach to teach a fencing class in the basement of the Y.M.C.A. Roger later attended fencing instruction at the San Jose, California Y.M.C.A. from 1951 to 1952. He continued to fence while serving in the United States Navy and later introduced fencing to his son attending a weekly fencing course with his son at a local community college. He continued his love of movies throughout his lifetime. He proudly took his almost 3-year-old son and just shy of 6 years old daughter to see Star Wars in 1977 formulating a great family tradition of going to the movies. This family movie tradition carried on and provided many memorable family movie outings over the years with three generations of the Brown family. This first movie experience also solidified a lifetime bond of father and son movie outings and a shared love of all thing’s science fiction, fantasy and adventure. Roger was an avid reader. His favorite novels were science fiction and fantasy novels which he also passed down to his son. However, he also enjoyed a good James Bond spy thriller and absolutely loved the James Bond films. A few additional notable items about Mr. Roger N.R. Brown, he was a Star Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 49, Long Beach, California from 1947 to 1950. He had a talent for drawing and was quite skilled at molding clay figurines. Roger was known for his excellent paper airplanes which in a very good wind would soar, never disappointing the grandchildren. Roger was a long time Amway distributer and enjoyed the relationships this fostered. Roger was a private person. However, he would often surprise you and engage in a good conversation with a friendly person, always willing to share his stories. He was known to strike up conversations with people in English or Spanish always enjoying an opportunity to practice his Spanish dialect. Most notable were his “opening day movie line conversations” with fellow movie goers anxiously awaiting the next Star Wars or Indiana Jones installment. Roger enjoyed a good hiking trail in the local hills often finding the perfect geode rock. He enjoyed watching a good soccer game and was able to put a few Latin dance steps to the dance floor. Roger is survived by his wife Mary Lou Brown of 50 years, his children, Tracey Michelle Terry and her husband Adam; Timothy Scott Brown and his wife Natalie; and his grandchildren, Gavin Matthew Terry and Kaelyn Nicole Terry; Bella Ann Brown and Jake Edward Brown. Roger was a wonderful father, who cared deeply about his family. He was a thinking man, intelligent, thoughtful, did not rush to make an important decision and a very private soul. We will miss Roger dearly and look to the stars to see where his adventure has taken him. The force will always be strong with Mr. Brown and he will never be forgotten. Godspeed Roger Nevil Robert Brown may the heavens and god embrace you. A thank you to Joyful Home Residential Care in Laguna Hills and Senior Hospice for your support during his final days. Roger will be laid to rest at the Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd. Riverside, CA 92518. The family will be holding a private burial and ceremony on March 15th at 11:30am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society or a preferred Veteran’s charity.