Thomas M. "Tom" Brown's Obituary
Thomas M. “Tom” Brown, 84, of Alachua, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, April 5, 2026. He was born on September 18, 1941, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Luther L. Brown and Mildred Thomas Brown. When he was three, his family moved to Miami, Florida, back when Miami was still a village.
From an early age, Tom showed a deep curiosity about the world around him. He loved understanding how things worked, how they were made, and how to fix them. A gifted problem-solver, he could build or repair nearly anything. He was well-read, creative, and a deep thinker, and he expressed his artistic side through stained-glass work, carpentry, and home improvement projects. He was the consummate do-it-yourselfer who could turn a scrap of metal into something beautiful or useful.
After serving in the United States Army, Tom built a career as an engineer with NCR and later with the VA Medical Center in Miami, where he dedicated many years before retiring. Following retirement, he and his wife made their home in Alachua County, where they have lived for the past 15 years.
Tom’s greatest joy was his family. It was love at first sight when he met his wife, Jan, and her six-year-old son, James. He told everyone that he looked across the cafeteria one day at the VA hospital and saw a tall, blond woman, and that was it – he never stopped looking at her. Tom, Jan, and James were instantly bonded. He embraced them both wholeheartedly, and they enjoyed 38 years of life together. In Jan’s large, close-knit family, Tom was a hit. They recognized his quick wit, dry sense of humor, depth of knowledge, and deep commitment to Jan.
Tom Brown was a man who got things done, from building an accessible bathroom (unpermitted, of course) in his house for when his dear friend came to visit, to finding the perfect camper van his tall wife could stand up in. He and Jan shared a love of adventure: in their sailboat exploring the waters around Florida, kayaking annually in the Keys with their friend group from around the country, and loading up their Sprinter (which Tom bought as a shell and outfitted with all the modern conveniences) to pull their camper to all parts of the U.S. where nature and beauty awaited them.
Tom is survived by his wife, Jan; his son, James Gilliam (Monica Sastre) and their children, Sebastian and Dylan; his brothers-in-law Allen (Angie) Austin and Tom Norton; and his sister-in-law, Leigh Austin. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, cousins, and great friends, too many to name, and all who loved and appreciated him.
A Celebration of Life/Interment Service will be held Tuesday, April 14, at 10:30 am at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, 7204 SE CR 234, Gainesville, FL.
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