Lance Owen Brown

LANCE BROWN was born September 23, 1953 at Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre de Grace, Maryland but grew up in the military town of Aberdeen, Maryland. Although he didn’t marry or have children, Kache’ Patterson was his only godchild. According to him, his first traumatic experience as a child was taking piano lessons. Theresa McMillan, his mother, a piano player, wanted him to develop a love for it. But at sixteen, he was told he was no longer required to take lessons and he hadn’t touched a piano from that day forward except to lean on one. Although he didn’t develop a love for the piano, he did develop a love of choral music. He sang in choirs throughout junior and senior high school. He was selected for the All-County, All-State and All-Eastern Choirs. Lance spoke fluent French at an early age. In 1971 Lance graduated high school then attended Loyola College of Baltimore graduating with a BA in Political Science in May 1975. He remained in Baltimore city teaching Social studies for three years where he became interested in Multicultural Education and the development of a curriculum which utilized that method to teach juniors high school students. During his research, he found that several schools in the Boston area offered graduate programs in American Studies which would provide him with additional background. He applied for and was accepted into a Master’s Program at Boston College during the 1978-79 school year. It was during that time that Boston was the focal point for court-ordered busing to resolve segregation of the public schools. Endless litigation occurred in the federal courts and violence erupted in the streets. There was a “White flight” that caused considerable problems for the smaller suburban school districts who were forced to accept larger numbers of students from different social, economic and racial stratums. This caused Lance to apply for and be hired as a full-time Consultant and Resource specialist to the Brookline, Mass school district. He was a full time student and fully employed. While attending Boston College, he realized their American studies program was a glorified Political Science program. Although disappointed, he became involved in a Master’s thesis concerning the role and importance of the federal judiciary in modern society. After the Carter Administration signed an executive order enforcing the “1978 Omnibus Judgeship Act” that increased the federal bench by 33%. Lance’s LOVE for the processes of law and its complexities began and he attended law school at Univ. MD Law school for 3 years. He clerked for Judge Wilner on the MD Court of Special Appeals and at one of the largest law firms in Baltimore City, Smith, Somerville and Case. After graduating he set up his own part-time private law firm and worked as a staff attorney/law clerk at Fisher & Winner. Lance became legislative assistant to State Senator Julian Lapides in 1984. He applied for but was not appointed to a Foreign Service Post hoping to work in Political Affairs. Lance’s sister, Kellye, jokingly said to him the only way he could get into a frat after graduating was to pay his way in. This was the start of his love and walk with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Lance was initiated on May 4, 1991 into the Baltimore (MD) Alumni Chapter. Lance was a Life Member. He helped where he was needed within the organization. Lance was a world traveler; advocated for seniors with disabilities; assisted with the final arrangements of friends and family by aiding in probating their wills and last wishes. His stepfather, Greer L McMillan and mother, Theresa S. McMillan preceded him in death in December 2017 and February 2019 respectively. He leaves behind his Older brothers Michael Brown(Maryanne d), Christopher Brown(Julie) & sister Kellye Brown as well as several nieces, nephews, an aunt and cousins who will truly miss him.

Tributes

Lance Owen Brown

September 23, 1953 - July 14, 2023