Mr. Kenneth Ridgeway Brown

KENNETH RIDGEWAY BROWN.On Tuesday, March 19, 2002, after a brief battle with cancer, Kenneth Ridgeway Brown, a World War II veteran and retired technology executive, passed away peacefully.Mr. Brown was a director of Lakeland Power, the regional power distribution company.Kenneth and his wife, Diane, retired to Bracebridge in 1999.

Mr. Brown was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, on June 30, 1924.He graduated from the Durham School and received his degrees in engineering from the University of London.He served in the British Navy during World War II as an Air Engineering Officer on the HMS Battler, an aircraft carrier stationed in the north Atlantic Ocean.

Mr. Brown immigrated to Canada in 1954 as an engineer with Metropolitan Vickers, commencing a 36-year career with The General Electric Company PLC of England.He received national recognition in Britain as he developed new business markets for the company, particularly in the power generation industry.Mr. Brown ran GEC companies in Montreal and was president of The English Electric Corporation in New York for nine years until his retirement in 1983.

Upon his retirement, Mr. Brown formed Sherwood Associates, Inc., beginning a 15-year career as a technology specialist, developing overseas markets for Canadian telecommunications companies.Clients included an equipment manufacturer in Montreal and a and telecommunications emergency software developer in Hull, where he served on the board of directors.Mr. Brown's efforts led to the prestigious Canada Export Award being presented to Positron Industries, Inc., in 1988.

Mr. Brown was a devoted family man and together with his wife Diane (Litteljohn) of 47 years, raised three sons, Christopher, Graeme and David.Mr. Brown taught his children to sail, play tennis and had been active as a Sunday school teacher and Indian Guide leader.He is survived by his wife, his sister Anne (Bridges), three sons, daughter-in-law Anne, and two grandsons, Trevor and Derek.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Palliative Care Program, Toronto Grace Hospital, 650 Church Street, Toronto M4Y 2G5.A memorial service to celebrate Kenneth Brown's life will be held in the spring.

ILLEAN ELIZABETH KIRBYSON.