Toft Funeral Home and Crematory
2001 Columbus Ave
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-625-8816
Website: http://www.toftfh.com
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James Edward Brown, 71, of Mason, OH and formerly of Sandusky, went home to meet his savior on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 in Stein Hospice Care Center.
He was born on December 27, 1946 in Sandusky to Huston R. Brown and Essie Belle Brown.
He was a 1965 graduate of Sandusky High School. He was a 1969 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor Degree in Science, where he was a track captain, most valuable offensive back, and member of Alpha Phi Alpha. He took a teaching position at Adams Junior High in Sandusky and was a track and football coach.
James married Gloria Jean Johnson on August 15, 1970. After teaching three years in Sandusky, he and his wife moved to Oxford, Ohio. He was an assistant track coach for Miami University and received a Master of Education Degree in Secondary Administration. James and his wife moved to Hamilton, Ohio where he was a dean of students, assistant principal, and principal at Roosevelt Junior High School, and principal at Garfield Junior High School. He also held principal positions at Middletown Senior High School and Trotwood High School. At Sinclair College, he was director at the Fast Forward Program, which enabled out of school youth to receive a high school diploma with certification in computers, the medical industry, or the military. He retired in 2005 after 35 years in education.
After retirement, he took the position of administrator at a life skills center in Dayton, Ohio. These national centers help at risk high school students receive their high school diplomas. In 2015, after 10 years at this center, he had his second retirement.
James was truly committed to the education of middle and high school students. He was on many boards and received numerous awards, accolades, and honors throughout his career. He was Boss of the Year in 1986, received the Award of Honor from the National School Public Relations in 1988, names Hamilton's Citizen of the Year in 1989, received the Southwestern Ohio Administrator Award, was honored with a "Jim Brown Day" in Hamilton, entered the Sandusky High School Hall of Fame in 1997, and was the recipient of an Image of Hope Award in 2015 in Dayton.
Surviving family members include his wife, Gloria Jean Brown, of Mason; daughter, Kimberly Dawn (Thurston) Bailey, and grandson, Bryce Edward Bailey, of Chicago; mother, Essie Belle Brown, of Sandusky; and sister, Betty Jean Brown, of Sandusky.
He was preceded in death by his father, Huston R. Brown; grandparents, Dave and Inez Nesbit; great-grandparents, John and Lilian Bradley; uncle, Dave Nesbit, Jr.; and aunt, Moselle Nesbit.
Private services and burial will take place.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in James' name to Stein Hospice, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, OH 44870. Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, is handling arrangements.
Condolences and gifts of sympathy may be shared by visiting toftfuneralhome.com.
