James A. Brown

James A. Brown, age 75, of Waite Hill, Ohio, passed away at home, after a short illness, on July 29, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Canton, Ohio on February 29, 1940, to John T. and Annabelle Mitchell Brown, both deceased, he is survived by his wife of 48 years, Darlene (Franklin) Brown, two children, James A. (Kate) Brown, Jr. of Hunting Valley, Ohio and Lauri (Gary) (Brown) Corrigan Novato, California, four grandchildren, Katherine Rose and James Augustus Brown, and Maris Evelyn and Annie June Corrigan, three brothers, John T. (Gerry) Brown of Sarasota, FL, Walter E. Brown of Mentor, OH, and Thomas H. Brown of Slidell, LA, and sister, Carol E. (Bruce) Beynon of Covington, LA. A high school graduate from Hoover High in North Canton, Ohio, Jim obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Kent State University. In 1979 he opened his first automobile dealership, Classic Chevrolet in Mentor, Ohio, and ultimately grew the Classic Auto Group to include fifteen additional automobile dealerships with approximately 1,000 employees. Jim was also an advocate for aviation in Lake County and was very involved with making improvements at Lost Nation Airport. He supported the Lake County Captains minor league baseball team by obtaining the naming rights for the Eastlake ballpark known as “Classic Park.” Jim served on the Board of the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute; Lake County Port Authority; and Lake Erie College, having been awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from the college. He served on multiple automobile dealer advisory boards and numerous civic and charitable committees. He was a highly regarded and well-respected business leader who gave much to his community. He received the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year Award in 2014; the Salvation Army William Booth Award in 2013; and was named NAACP Citizen of the Year in 2008. He was a supporter of the Mentor and Willoughby Fine Arts Associations, and a donor and sponsor to numerous charitable organizations and scholarship programs throughout Northeast Ohio, including local children’s and seniors’ sports teams and programs. Jim was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. He was also a great friend, mentor, innovator and role model to many more. He will be greatly missed. A private memorial service was held with burial on August 3, 2015. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in memory be made to the Lake Humane Society. A public celebration of his life will be held at a date to follow. Arrangements Entrusted to Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. Offer Condolences at www.brunners.com

James A. Brown

February 29, 1940 - July 29, 2015