Obituary for Leo Browne
Browne, Leo 95 Feb. 02, 1922 Mar. 03, 2017 Leo Browne passed away peacefully at his Happy Valley residence at the age of 95. Born in Sioux City, Iowa to Lester Browne and Laura Jacobson, he spent most of his life in the Portland area, occupying the family home on River Road in the Jennings Lodge area of Milwaukie for more than 80 years. His parents separated while he was still an infant and he had no siblings. Leo never married and had no children. He and his mother lived together until her passing in 1984. Leo was born with a musical spirit and claimed he began tapping out rhythms at an early age. Recognizing his talent, his mother began paying for music lessons out of her earnings as a Woolworth sales clerk. Leo attended Jennings Lodge Grade School and West Linn High school where he furthered his musical training. Because of a punctured ear drum he was not allowed to serve in combat during WWII but he did serve with the Army band stationed in the Bahamas. Following the war he attended Lewis and Clarke College and received both a Bachelors Degree and a Masters in Music Education. He secured a music teaching position with Portland Public Schools and taught at Capitol Hill and Duniway Elementary Schools. He also taught private percussion lessons at his home, where the living room was filled wall to wall with instruments. Leo had many students who became professional musicians and offer glowing testimonies about his impact on their lives. He was a member of the musician's union and played numerous gigs for dances, Park Bureau summer music programs and the Oregon Symphony. He was also a member of the Portland Symphonic Band. The highlight of Leo's career was meeting the famous drummer Gene Krupa at the dance pavilion at Jantzen Beach Amusement Park. He and Mr. Krupa conversed and shared their musical knowledge with one another. After retiring from teaching and playing, Leo pursued ballroom dancing with his long-time friend and partner Ruby Fandrich. Leo is survived by two first cousins; Father Gary Jacobson and Marjorie Ann Carr, both of Portland. He will be entombed without ceremony beside his mother in Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Mausoleum. Remembrances may be made to The Leo Lester Brown Donor Advised Charitable Fund #1252 c/o Advisors Charitable Gift Fund.