Financial advisor, golfer, family man

Gary Jason Brown of Roseville, California died of severe coronary artery disease just over a year ago on December 2, 2013. He was 51.

His memorial service, which was attended by more than 300 of his family and friends, was held at St. Joseph Marello Catholic Parish in Granite Bay, California. He left behind his wife of 19 years, Christine, and his daughter, Madeline, who was 13 at the time of his death.

Gary was born in Rochester, Minnesota. His family moved to West Vancouver British Columbia, Canada when he was a toddler. At the age of 11, his family moved to Claremont, where Gary attended Condit Elementary, La Puerta Junior High and Webb High School. He graduated from University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Managerial Economics. It was at UC Davis that he met his wife Christine.

After graduating college, Mr. Brown worked at the Pacific Stock Exchange in San Francisco. There he was involved in many special projects on the trading floor. He began his financial career as a wire/crowd clerk, eventually becoming a floor manager responsible for order flow execution and overseeing all daily floor trade operations. He worked on the Pacific Stock Exchange for six years. Mr. Brown then moved on to the CBOE in Chicago, where he assisted in setting up an options market-making stock layoff operation. From there, he moved onto the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) in New York as regional managing director.

In New York, Mr. Brown again established a profitable options market-making stock layoff operation. He hired, trained and managed several employees. He implemented a proprietary electronic execution system to execute NYSE and NASDAQ listed securities and options on the Option Exchanges. He established a network of two-dollar brokers for all exchange floor and professional customers. Building a strong customer base, Mr. Brown oversaw and managed the institutional sales and retail sales operations and was responsible for regulatory supervision and held many licenses.  He worked in New York City for nine years. 

In 2003, Mr. Brown, along with his wife and daughter, moved to Roseville, California, where he developed a strong practice as a financial advisor. His clients trusted in his financial expertise and investment knowledge, his family noted. His customers recognized his hard-work, dedication and genuine character. 

Mr. Brown was very athletic and played many sports. While growing up in Vancouver, he was a skilled hockey player. In high school, he played soccer, baseball and football. Gary was also an avid downhill skier, especially during his high school years. He went on many ski trips with his family and friends to Park City, Utah, Whistler, British Columbia and Mammoth Mountain. In college, he played intramural soccer, baseball and ultimate Frisbee. He also enjoyed the outdoors, and spent many summers working on the family farms in Weyburn, Saskatchewan Canada. He enjoyed farming, camping and hiking. He camped and backpacked throughout Maui, Hawaii following high school graduation.

As Gary got older, he developed a strong interest in the game of golf. He enjoyed the camaraderie and life lessons the game taught. He grew so fond of the game that he shared the principles and lessons of the game with his daughter, hoping she would make it her life-long hobby. Often on the weekends, you would find Gary on the golf course joined by his wife and daughter. Mr. Brown enjoyed attending PGA Golf Tournaments and being a part of the events, especially tournaments played in the San Francisco Bay area and at Pebble Beach on the Monterey Peninsula.  

Gary loved his family and made it a priority to spend time together. He spent many summers joined by his immediate and extended family on the beaches of Solana and Del Mar in San Diego County.

Gary was a friendly, quick-witted, outgoing individual who left a lasting impression on most who met him, his family shared. He touched many lives. His warm heart and bright smile will forever be missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Mr. Brown was preceded in death by his father, Dr. David Brown. He is survived by his wife Christine; his daughter Madeline; his mother Barbara; his brothers, Blair, Todd and Justin; and their wives, Lisa, Jackie and Dawn; and two nephews and three nieces.