Bill Brown served on city council in the mid-1980s
Published in the March 30 – April 12, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mary Lynne Blazzard
Photo courtesy the Brown family
The Brown family at Bill and Mary Beth’s 50th anniversary party.
In the early 1980s, I was a 15-year-old teen, the oldest child of a family with eight kids living in a house on Jackson Oaks Drive overlooking Morgan Hill. One Christmas Day, my dad, Bill Brown, received a phone call from a Morgan Hill police officer telling him about a migrant family who had found shelter in a tiny water pump house on one of the local farms.
Although we weren’t a wealthy family, we were comfortable and blessed with many of our wants and needs taken care of. My dad and mom gathered the kids and told us about the situation. They asked if we wanted to give our Christmas gifts to the children in need. Without hesitation, we all decided we would share the blessings of our holiday presents. Dad had instilled in all of us the lessons of generosity and compassion. The memory of that morning has always served as a reminder that the real meaning of the holiday season is about selfless giving.
I remember my dad was a well-respected, integral part of the community. He and my mom, Mary Beth, moved the family here in 1980 from the East Bay. My parents wanted to find a home to raise our family in a friendly, small-town environment. He got a job in San Jose working for an international tax company, but later he opened his own law practice in a tiny office in Morgan Hill.
Quickly, dad became involved with the community, including service in the local government. He ran for and was elected to the Morgan Hill City Council in 1982. While in office, in the midst of city’s serious financial challenges, dad’s expertise as a CPA and tax attorney played a crucial role in helping stabilize the city’s situation. At the same time, dad’s concern about making Morgan Hill a better and safer place also led him to get involved with The Bridge, a nonprofit organization now known as Community Solutions.
Never one to turn down an opportunity to serve others, dad also stayed involved with the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many leadership roles. His pride in America also led him to volunteer with Independence Day Inc., which sponsors the Freedom Fest events during the July 4 holiday celebrations. For 25 years, he narrated the popular Patriotic Sing in the Britton Middle School Gym accompanied by a rousing choir of children. He also was an active member of the Rotary Club and was continuously involved in fundraising events. He also served on the boards of the Mushroom Mardi Gras and the nonprofit Go Kids Morgan Hill which helps with child care for low-income families.
One of the many things my dad taught our family was to assume the best intentions of strangers and help them out in whatever way you can. My dad was a giving, caring man and he and mom would often bring “strays” into the home — kids and adults who needed a temporary place to stay where they felt loved and got help in turning around their lives.
Dad was a dedicated family man and his marriage to my mom was a classic love story of more than 50 years, with seven children, 19 grandchildren and many others who have joined the family. We gathered together last summer for a wonderful celebration of mom and dad’s love and legacy, and remembered the joy they shared with us through the years. Every Thanksgiving, major holiday, family event or even Sunday dinners were an ongoing manifestation of the love mom and dad wanted all of us to experience and build within our extended families.
Ten years ago dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, that was later changed to Lewy Body dementia.
When dad passed away Feb. 28, it was a beautiful moment for him and the family because it brought closure to the physical limitations he had experienced for many years. All members of the family living in the Bay Area gathered with him and told him we loved him. We had a beautiful family prayer and assured him that Mom would be cared for.
I know my dad has left Morgan Hill a better place because of his involvement. And I am grateful for the many wonderful lessons from his example that encourage us to contribute to making life better for others, just as he did.
Mary Lynne Blazzard is a Morgan Hill resident. She wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
