Birth date: September 8, 1950 URS July 9th, 2014
Passed away on July 9th in the hospital after he vigorously fought for his life over the last six years. He was born in South Carolina on Sept. 8, 1950 and was raised in New Jersey with his three surviving siblings: Peg Laramee, David Brown and Chris Brown. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and went to school upon his return. He resettled on the west coast in California with his brother Chris and Stephanie Haag whom he later married. They had one child, Samuel Michael Brown, before they divorced. Stephen lived a full and activity packed life, taking advantage of every vacation, long weekend or time off that he could find. Among the many activities that he enjoyed, he had particular affinity for Scottish dancing, cycling, camping, and hiking. He spent much time with his friends and family and often coordinated group outings and activities. He had a great love for the environment and wildlife, thus donations in his memory may be made to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue (www.scwildliferescue.org). He will be greatly missed and always loved by those who knew him. The funeral Vigil will be held on July 22 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Rose Catholic Church in Santa Rosa (398 Tenth St., Santa Rosa). On the following day, July 23, his funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. also at St. Rose Church. His ashes will be interred at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressdemocrat/obituary.aspx?n=stephen-michael-brown&pid=171788863#sthash.giQNu07K.dpuf
Passed away on July 9th in the hospital after he vigorously fought for his life over the last six years. He was born in South Carolina on Sept. 8, 1950 and was raised in New Jersey with his three surviving siblings: Peg Laramee, David Brown and Chris Brown. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and went to school upon his return. He resettled on the west coast in California with his brother Chris and Stephanie Haag whom he later married. They had one child, Samuel Michael Brown, before they divorced. Stephen lived a full and activity packed life, taking advantage of every vacation, long weekend or time off that he could find. Among the many activities that he enjoyed, he had particular affinity for Scottish dancing, cycling, camping, and hiking. He spent much time with his friends and family and often coordinated group outings and activities. He had a great love for the environment and wildlife, thus donations in his memory may be made to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue (www.scwildliferescue.org). He will be greatly missed and always loved by those who knew him. The funeral Vigil will be held on July 22 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Rose Catholic Church in Santa Rosa (398 Tenth St., Santa Rosa). On the following day, July 23, his funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. also at St. Rose Church. His ashes will be interred at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressdemocrat/obituary.aspx?n=stephen-michael-brown&pid=171788863#sthash.giQNu07K.dpuf
Passed away on July 9th in the hospital after he vigorously fought for his life over the last six years. He was born in South Carolina on Sept. 8, 1950 and was raised in New Jersey with his three surviving siblings: Peg Laramee, David Brown and Chris Brown. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and went to school upon his return. He resettled on the west coast in California with his brother Chris and Stephanie Haag whom he later married. They had one child, Samuel Michael Brown, before they divorced. Stephen lived a full and activity packed life, taking advantage of every vacation, long weekend or time off that he could find. Among the many activities that he enjoyed, he had particular affinity for Scottish dancing, cycling, camping, and hiking. He spent much time with his friends and family and often coordinated group outings and activities. He had a great love for the environment and wildlife, thus donations in his memory may be made to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue (www.scwildliferescue.org). He will be greatly missed and always loved by those who knew him. The funeral Vigil will be held on July 22 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Rose Catholic Church in Santa Rosa (398 Tenth St., Santa Rosa). On the following day, July 23, his funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. also at St. Rose Church. His ashes will be interred at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa.
– See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressdemocrat/obituary.aspx?n=stephen-michael-brown&pid=171788863#sthash.giQNu07K.dpuf
Passed away on July 9th in the hospital after he vigorously fought for his life over the last six years. He was born in South Carolina on Sept. 8, 1950 and was raised in New Jersey with his three surviving siblings: Peg Laramee, David Brown and Chris Brown. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and went to school upon his return. He resettled on the west coast in California with his brother Chris and Stephanie Haag whom he later married. They had one child, Samuel Michael Brown, before they divorced. Stephen lived a full and activity packed life, taking advantage of every vacation, long weekend or time off that he could find. Among the many activities that he enjoyed, he had particular affinity for Scottish dancing, cycling, camping, and hiking. He spent much time with his friends and family and often coordinated group outings and activities. He had a great love for the environment and wildlife, thus donations in his memory may be made to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue (www.scwildliferescue.org). He will be greatly missed and always loved by those who knew him. The funeral Vigil will be held on July 22 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Rose Catholic Church in Santa Rosa (398 Tenth St., Santa Rosa). On the following day, July 23, his funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. also at St. Rose Church. His ashes will be interred at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa.
– See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressdemocrat/obituary.aspx?n=stephen-michael-brown&pid=171788863#sthash.giQNu07K.dpuf
Passed away on July 9th in the hospital after he vigorously fought for his life over the last six years. He was born in South Carolina on Sept. 8, 1950 and was raised in New Jersey with his three surviving siblings: Peg Laramee, David Brown and Chris Brown. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and went to school upon his return. He resettled on the west coast in California with his brother Chris and Stephanie Haag whom he later married. They had one child, Samuel Michael Brown, before they divorced. Stephen lived a full and activity packed life, taking advantage of every vacation, long weekend or time off that he could find. Among the many activities that he enjoyed, he had particular affinity for Scottish dancing, cycling, camping, and hiking. He spent much time with his friends and family and often coordinated group outings and activities. He had a great love for the environment and wildlife, thus donations in his memory may be made to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue (www.scwildliferescue.org). He will be greatly missed and always loved by those who knew him. The funeral Vigil will be held on July 22 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Rose Catholic Church in Santa Rosa (398 Tenth St., Santa Rosa). On the following day, July 23, his funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. also at St. Rose Church. His ashes will be interred at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa.
– See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressdemocrat/obituary.aspx?n=stephen-michael-brown&pid=171788863#sthash.giQNu07K.dpuf
Our dear Stephen breathed his last breath on Tuesday. His health had obviously been compromised since before his bone marrow transplant, several years ago. We all hoped he would eventually regain full health but it was not to be. I feel grateful that he had these few extra years to be with us after the transplant.
He came to our Petaluma Sufi Message class faithfully and always brought a notebook and cookies for tea. He was a well-loved mureed. Stephen participated in a multitude of Sufi classes and activities in both orders for over thirty years. I offered to initiate him 20 years ago when he came to an earlier incarnation of our Petaluma Sufi Order gatha/githa/sangatha classes. I offered to initiate him then, thought that time he didn’t feel quite ready to take this step. I saw him again 4-5 years ago at the Sufi Federation meeting at IONS and let him know we were going to start classes again. At this point, he asked for initiation. He obviously did not take this step lightly and impressed me with the way he allowed the thought of initiation to germinate for so many years before deciding to take the step. When I met friends of his, the way he proudly introduced me as his Sufi teacher never failed to warm my heart.
He never wanted to be a bother to anyone and was very self-deprecating. Stephen raised his son, Sam, mostly by himself. Sam is now an ordained priest. He is leading a mass for Stephen on Wednesday, July 23 at St. Rose church in Santa Rosa.
My friend, our Sufi/DHO brother Stephen Brown of Santa Rosa, California left us late Tuesday night to go to the Beloved.
I will remember Stephen for his quiet presence and his good humor. He has been on the Sufi path for two or three decades at least, and faithfully attended the Sebastopol healing circle for many years, taking the role of Assistant. In my journal I find an entry about him from 2011: “… may he be well and free from suffering, and may his spunk and resiliency be a light to me and to all of us.”
Stephen developed a rare and serious disease several years ago, and bravely faced every medical challenge since then. It was complications of that condition and its treatment that finally caused him to leave his body behind. Another brother commented that facing death, Stephen had no fear.
I don’t pretend to know what life after death is like, but I pray that his arrival there has been easy and secure in the knowledge of our Love for him.
— Abdul Shafee
Stephen Brown was a member of the Sebastopol Sufi Dancing group meeting every 2nd and 4th Sunday morns. Although I did not know him out of this group, I feel blessed that he contributed his joyful spirit and his light to our dances. He was very light and helped us free ourselves from unwanted emotional baggage by keeping his heart pure and innocent, as a young child.
Thank you for sharing your light with us, Stephen, and blessing us with the freedom to be who we naturally are.
shalom/salam,
Loriel
September 4th at 7:30, we will celebrate the life of our brother mureed STEPHEN BROWN, a member of the DHO and the Petaluma Sufi circle, who left his body on July 9th. Together we will use the Sufi prayers for the dead and other practices, to hold him lovingly in our Hearts as he journeys on; and there will be the opportunity to share something about Stephen as we knew him. All his friends and acquaintances are invited to join with us, at the Petaluma home of Zahira Marla Rabinowitz. Call 707-763-6078 to RSVP and for directions or email mzahira@comcast.net
How to portray “California Stephen,” as he will always be to me?
I met Stephen at a one-week Dance Camp at Lama, New Mexico, in 1998. We traveled across country to see each other several times, and we went to Turkey and Greece together. We never lost touch with each other. Stephen made a last trip across the country to see dear ones – so precarious; he let me know at the last minute that they might not let him on the airplane for medical reasons – and arrived at my house for a Dance of Universal Peace on June 1, 2014. I remember how his eyes glittered during the Dance – like black diamonds. Others noticed it, too, and told me afterwards that they were glad they had this chance to meet him. For me it was as if he had one foot in the “other world” already. When I came to him in the Dance, it pulled me into a realm of love, wisdom, and the Great Equanimity.
What was unique about Stephen? What stands out for me is the quality of his kindness, his goodness. He was a no-fanfare helper of others. He did invisible tasks, such as licking envelopes –and he never looked for credit or for thanks. He was a supporter of others for their sake, never looking for gratitude or calculating what might be “owed.” In the small amount of time we were together in California he did so much for me, unasked. On my first visit, he arranged for my first Whirling lesson, took me to my first Healing Service, brought me for the first time to the Mentorgarden, and drove me hundreds of miles to participate in various Dances. Many years later, he picked me up at a bus stop and drove me to Mendocino, so I could attend a Wazifa Retreat.
Stephen had qualities which harmonized with his kindness. He was perceptive, non-judgmental, respectful, tolerant and soft spoken. He gave himself wholly to the joy of physical activities, such as dancing and bicycling. Also, he sought inner peace, especially on the Sufi path – and found it. About his stint in Vietnam, I once asked him what was the best thing about being home again. He thought hard and answered, “Just knowing that no one was aiming at me through the sights of a gun. I remember mowing the lawn and feeling the extreme peace of knowing that.”
As is stated in “Physicians of the Heart,” what lives on in God when we die is a legacy of light. It was never hard to see Stephen’s light. YA WARITH!
I met Stephen probably around 2011-12 in Petaluma where he was a quiet, kind, self-effacing friendly presence of light; a mature soul. He was so aware, available to others and gently radiating light, harmony, healing. A blessing.