Always flashing a Pat Brown smile, Pat was a very happy person and shared her smile with people wherever she went.
PATRICIA BUFORD BROWN
“Flashing A Pat Brown Smile”
Coronado In 1969, Pat Brown drove across country with her two children and a future lifelong friend on a quest for a new beginning in San Diego. A southern woman, divorced with two kids, it took plenty of guts to make that journey. Little did Pat know that it would culminate with her being the first executive director of the American Chamber Of Commerce in Egypt and, ultimately, land her in Coronado for an admirable second act to a life lived flashing a Pat Brown smile.
Patricia Buford was born May 3, 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida to Mildred Wainwright and Herman Buford (step-father, Seber Newsome, Jr.). From the beginning, Pat had an affinity for people and making friends. Campfire Girl and volunteer at YWCA, Pat was active in many clubs and a majorette in the award winning high school band. In fact, Pat’s baton twirling skills put her over the top to win the coveted title of “Miss Andrew Jackson 1955.”
Pat Brown began posing for pictures at a young age; this is one of the very few with a pout instead of her trademark smile.
The class of 1955 was a very close-knit group, that continues to have reunions, and always welcomed Pat from across country or the world. In Pat’s high school yearbook, friends described her as “very sweet, nicest personality, great smile; deserves the best in life”. Those words continued to describe Pat as she charged through life working hard and touching people’s lives.
Practicing her Majorette baton twirling, outside the house Pat grew up in.
After high school, first in her family to attend college, Pat earned her associates from Jacksonville University. She married, had her son and daughter, divorced, and moved to Indianapolis, attending Butler University, before driving to California. Pat worked as a secretary and did some modeling. One of the more popular pictures of Pat, as a mermaid promoting a good cause, appeared in the Jacksonville newspaper.
Miss Andrew Jackson, Andrew Jackson High School, Jacksonville, Florida, class of 1955.
Pat, with her beautiful smile, was often compared to Doris Day; her aunt even made a collage with pictures of Pat and Doris. Adored as the only daughter and a smart, beautiful and kind person, Pat’s family was very sad to see her move so far away. She would always stay in close touch with her mom and family throughout their lives.
A Beauty Queen or modeling as one? Pat was both.
Arriving in San Diego in 1969, Pat was hired as Registrar of the newly opened San Diego campus of Western State University (WSU) College of Law (now Thomas Jefferson). WSU was a great match and Pat was soon promoted to Director of Admissions and Records. From 1969-79, enrollment at WSU grew tenfold. Pat loved working at the law school, calling the students her “babies.”
A model in her early years, Pat is pictured in the Jacksonville newspaper, dressed as a mermaid for a charity function.
Not just an administrator, Pat truly cared about each student’s progress. She stayed in contact with many WSU staff and students throughout the years. During this time, while raising her two kids, Pat also attended National University to earn her Bachelors, 1976, and MBA, 1978. Her kids say, “Mom would work all day, go to school in the evening, dance all night, get up early and do it all over again! She had boundless energy.”
Pat was a bleach blonde bombshell. She turned many heads with her beauty and looked most like actress Doris Day during this period of her life.
Pat also started traveling during this time, visiting Mexico, Puerto Rico, Europe, and South Africa. Weekends were often spent with friends at Mission Bay or La Jolla.
In 1979, Patricia was recruited to relocate to San Jose as District Manager of Victor Temporary Services, managing three offices and more than 250 employees. She joined the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and was asked to chair Women in Business in 1981. She was persuaded by Freedom Travel in Santa Clara to be Sales Manager and Vice President. However, the travel bug bit Pat and in 1982, she went on sabbatical to Switzerland. After a couple months, she journeyed again. On a Nile cruise, she fell in love with the kind Egyptians she met and wanted to stay! So, she went to the American Embassy to explore working and living in Cairo.
One of the Browns family portraits – Patricia, Andy and Allison.
Coincidentally, the first American Chamber of Commerce in the Middle East, 44th abroad, had just convened in Cairo. Pat interviewed with the new Board of Directors and proved ideal as the first Executive Director, taking that organization to levels far exceeding expectations. AmCham’s goal was to promote business relations between the two countries. This suited Patricia just fine, as she was above all a networker; bringing people together was always one of her favorite activities.
Posing with her Pat Brown smile, happy and looking good.
For over two years Pat was the most satisfied she had ever been professionally. The position well suited her and she was beloved by many. She spearheaded the expansion of AmCham to over 350 members through a myriad of networking opportunities and business savvy. But it was Pat’s charm and smile that really inspired people. Always active and always social, she liked saying she started her day jogging around the Egyptian pyramids and danced the night away. (She also earned SCUBA diving certification in the Red Sea). Pat’s last month in Cairo she traveled to Kuwait, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah on AmCham business. In 1985, this type of trip was groundbreaking for a single American businesswoman. Pat’s pioneering role at AmCham Egypt, however, was abruptly interrupted by a car crash that nearly took her life.
Pat with Oliver North (left) and Duncan Hunter in Washington, D.C.; Duncan Hunter was one of Pat’s law students at Western State University and remained a friend for many years. She always called her students, “my babies.”
In April 1985, Pat was the passenger in a terrible car accident in Cairo. Distraught, Pat’s numerous friends throughout the U.S. and Egypt worked collectively to evacuate her to the U.S. for medical care. Pat remained in a coma for two months and subsequently endured many months of rehabilitation. During recovery, Pat lived with her brother, Mickey, and sister-in-law, Linda. Their support, and her friends and family, were invaluable to Pat. With her usual drive, she worked her way to living independently again. She even traveled to Cairo within three years to celebrate her 50th birthday with Egyptian friends. Pat had suffered a traumatic brain injury, slowing her pace, but it did not stop her from flashing her Pat Brown smile and being an eternal optimist.
Executive Director Pat Brown pinning a flag pin on former President Gerald Ford at a trade show in Cairo, with American Chamber of Commerce board members.
Post-rehab, Pat moved to Coronado, purchasing a condo at the Shores in 1988. Not one to let using a cane stop her, Pat quickly became very involved in Coronado: Deacon and Board Member of Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church; Kiwanis; Chamber of Commerce; VFW Ladies Auxiliary; Coronado Roundtable; Navy League, Senior Center; Docent for Coronado Historical Association; and over 1,000 hours as a Pink Lady at Coronado Hospital. She also hosted events for Republican Women and American Association of University Women. Pat was also an adoring season ticket holder of Lamb’s Players and attended many productions.
Camel Riding in Cairo, next to the Egyptian Pyramids, where Pat lived for three years.
Pat said, “My time in Egypt was like I had died and gone to heaven.” She likewise said that about Coronado. Her favorite joke was of Saint Peter not being admitted at the Pearly Gates; realizing he was from Coronado, God said, “You’d better go back to Coronado because you won’t like it here.”
In 1991, Pat met Orville Redenbacher, the iconic popcorn king. From that time on, they were constant companions and travel buddies until his death in 1995. They were often seen together at events or dining around town. In 1995, they were named Coronado co-Kiwanian’s of the year.
Patricia was dynamic, very friendly and known for pouring on her southern charm. She loved working, volunteering, dancing, and traveling but, most of all, she loved people. She made everyone feel special. She touched the lives of many and many have said that only someone with Pat Brown’s strength, optimism and love of life could have done as well as she did after her car accident. If you met her, then you know she often flashed a Pat Brown smile,’ and when asked how she was doing, she always said “Faaantastic, couldn’t be better!”
A special event with her special friend; Pat and Orville Redenbacher traveled, wined and dined and were constant companions for more than four years.
Pat and Orville Redenbacher at the San Diego Maritime Museum along the Embarcadero, where they spent much of their time attending parties, dances and maritime film festivals aboard the tallship Star of India.
Patricia Buford Brown died June 14 of natural causes. She was 76. She spent her last few years in the loving care of her caregivers, Griselda and Alex, and her children, Andy and Allison. Several close friends also remained with Pat throughout her life, supporting her during her accident and beyond.
Laura D. Zahn dedicated this poem to Pat Brown in the 1990’s:
“Lady on the Beach”
What do you give a lady that lives on the beach,
In the “Ultimate Beach House” with windows that reach,
Outward to capture the sand, sea, and sun,
She has a smile for everyone and is such fun.
From her tall tower she wakes up to waves,
I bring her seashells that she saves.
She watches the SEALs as they run past,
And she dines in the evening by the window fast.
The warmth of the sun matches her own,
You never hear her complain or even moan.
At every function she will be there,
Showing her love and support and care.
She opens her house and her heart to all,
And those in attendance have a ball.
Each Sunday she sits on the exact same pew.
Those in town that don’t know her are so few.
She has traveled the world but loves it here,
Each of us that know her knows she’s dear.
So what do I give this friend of mine,
But a poem of her OWN line, by line.
Showing off while keeping in shape at her favorite place, the beach.
Patricia is survived by her son, Andrew James Brown (partner, Janis Taylor) of Whitefish, Montana and her daughter Allison Paige Brown of Imperial Beach, CA. Brothers Edwin (Mickey) Stoops (Linda) of Ormond Beach, FL; Seber Newsome III (Cindy) of Yulee, FL; Mark Newsome; and cousins Robin Roberts and Melody Bullock, all of Jacksonville, FL.
Private services were held and her ashes were scattered in the Pacific within view of her Coronado home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Patricia Buford Brown to Sonata Hospice or Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church.
