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I was shocked on December 2nd with news that Seattle lost another leader to the LGBT business and non-profit community. According to KOMO 4 News, When the Young-looking 57 yr old, Jeff Brown's body was found on the stairs outside his Seattle apartment from an apparent accidental fall, Jeff was still in his Tux and was coming from the O'Christmas Tree fundraiser for Providence Health and Services. Jeff and his partner of 14 years, Philip Sternola had designed trees to be auctioned off for a number of years. The Tree fetched $12,000 this year.
It's funny that my association with Jeff goes to a Charity auction I procured in 2001, nearly 10 years ago. The story also involves two giants in the Gay Travel industry, Michael Fricke from American Airlines who provided 2 air passes to go with a land package provided by Jean-François Perrier, former head of the gay travel division of Tourism Montreal. The Package was valued at $2800, and sold for $2750 to Jeff and Phil with proceeds going to the Seattle Men's Chorus. Jeff called me soon after and insisted we upgrade them to First class.Part of the package was a personal guided tour by Jean-François, who enjoyed Jeff and Phil and made a quite of impression.
I didn't see Jeff and Phil very often, only occasionally at social events including the 2004 South Pacific themed Chorus auction (Pictured, Jeff on the Left). Jeff and Phil were Interior designers and co-owned
Sternola-Brown Interiors, with Jeff on the business side and Phil on the creative.
From 2006 to 2009 Jeff was a board member of the Greater Seattle Business Association, which works to expand economic opportunities for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
GSBA Executive Director Louise Chernin said Brown and Sternola had a wonderful reputation and were very active in the community, especially the LGBT community. They were kind and had good hearts, she said. She said they were big supporters of the Seattle Men's Chorus and the GSBA's scholarship fund.
Today I said goodbye at his memorial where the bulletin read, "Jeff made people Happy". I do know he made me Happy when he included me in his life. I will miss him greatly.
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