Richard T. Brown Memorial Fund
Donation protected
Time is just so precious and what a difference one year can make!
Sadly, we started putting this GoFundMe page together for Rich and Denise, while Rich was battling this awful disease but before we could get the site up and running, Rich passed away on July 23, 2020. It is truly heartbreaking. Here is their story:
In the fall of 2018, Rich took a new job with IPS, a company he worked for years ago when he lived in Philly. He was thrilled for such a great opportunity for his career. For the last couple years, Rich traveled around to his jobs sites and Denise kept the fort running at home in Florida. It was hard for them to be apart, so this new job opportunity was going to be different. Although it was not a easy decision, they decided Denise would resign her position in the school system and move away to be with Rich. At the time, they didn’t know where they were moving to. It all depended on what job Rich was being assigned to. Ironically and thankfully, Rich’s job assignment turned out to be in PA not far from his family, his kids and his adorable grandson (the apple of his eye!) They moved to PA in July of 2019.
In December 2019, a trip back home to Florida to spend the holidays with family and friends was supposed to be fun, exciting and a chance for more holiday memories. Around that same time, Rich had a few “episodes”. They weren’t sure at the time, if it was a stroke or seizures or what could possibly be going on. Tests and scans revealed the devastating news. Rich was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, a non-curable terminal brain cancer that grows very rapidly. He had surgery right away to remove the tumor, however this cancer is so aggressive and so destructive, the doctors say it would continue to grow. He went through radiation and chemo, which were advised to try to slow the growth. These treatments were only to help prolong his life but unfortunately, there is no cure. For months, the Doctors were amazed with Rich’s progress, his determination and his will to fight. Unfortunately, the fight got harder and the effects got stronger. It is so heartbreaking. The average survival time is 12-18 months with only 25% of glioblastoma patients surviving more than one year, and only 5% of patients survive more than five years.
This website was set up to share Rich’s progress with those who know and care about him and Denise. But it was also set up to help Denise financially to get through this very difficult time. For months, Denise has been spending her days caring for her husband and trying to make him as comfortable as possible. It has been especially hard during the pandemic, but they love their little place on the beach and are happy to call it home.
In the end, Rich loved his "home" on the beach, Rich loved watching the sunsets, Rich loved and treasured his wife, Denise, their kids, their grandson, family and friends. If you are lucky enough to have known him or call him your friend, then you have seen first-hand the kindhearted spirit and genuine person he was.
As you can imagine, the financial burden is overwhelming. There are many expected and unexpected medical bills and living expenses on top of lost wages and now lost benefits and funeral costs. So many people have been asking how they can help. Any amount you can contribute to make things easier for Denise as she grieves and begins her new normal life would be greatly and truly appreciated. Please share this with anyone who knows and cares about Rich and Denise Brown.
Thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts.
Sadly, we started putting this GoFundMe page together for Rich and Denise, while Rich was battling this awful disease but before we could get the site up and running, Rich passed away on July 23, 2020. It is truly heartbreaking. Here is their story:
In the fall of 2018, Rich took a new job with IPS, a company he worked for years ago when he lived in Philly. He was thrilled for such a great opportunity for his career. For the last couple years, Rich traveled around to his jobs sites and Denise kept the fort running at home in Florida. It was hard for them to be apart, so this new job opportunity was going to be different. Although it was not a easy decision, they decided Denise would resign her position in the school system and move away to be with Rich. At the time, they didn’t know where they were moving to. It all depended on what job Rich was being assigned to. Ironically and thankfully, Rich’s job assignment turned out to be in PA not far from his family, his kids and his adorable grandson (the apple of his eye!) They moved to PA in July of 2019.
In December 2019, a trip back home to Florida to spend the holidays with family and friends was supposed to be fun, exciting and a chance for more holiday memories. Around that same time, Rich had a few “episodes”. They weren’t sure at the time, if it was a stroke or seizures or what could possibly be going on. Tests and scans revealed the devastating news. Rich was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, a non-curable terminal brain cancer that grows very rapidly. He had surgery right away to remove the tumor, however this cancer is so aggressive and so destructive, the doctors say it would continue to grow. He went through radiation and chemo, which were advised to try to slow the growth. These treatments were only to help prolong his life but unfortunately, there is no cure. For months, the Doctors were amazed with Rich’s progress, his determination and his will to fight. Unfortunately, the fight got harder and the effects got stronger. It is so heartbreaking. The average survival time is 12-18 months with only 25% of glioblastoma patients surviving more than one year, and only 5% of patients survive more than five years.
This website was set up to share Rich’s progress with those who know and care about him and Denise. But it was also set up to help Denise financially to get through this very difficult time. For months, Denise has been spending her days caring for her husband and trying to make him as comfortable as possible. It has been especially hard during the pandemic, but they love their little place on the beach and are happy to call it home.
In the end, Rich loved his "home" on the beach, Rich loved watching the sunsets, Rich loved and treasured his wife, Denise, their kids, their grandson, family and friends. If you are lucky enough to have known him or call him your friend, then you have seen first-hand the kindhearted spirit and genuine person he was.
As you can imagine, the financial burden is overwhelming. There are many expected and unexpected medical bills and living expenses on top of lost wages and now lost benefits and funeral costs. So many people have been asking how they can help. Any amount you can contribute to make things easier for Denise as she grieves and begins her new normal life would be greatly and truly appreciated. Please share this with anyone who knows and cares about Rich and Denise Brown.
Thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts.
Organizer and beneficiary
Chris McCormick
Organizer
St. Petersburg, FL
Denise Brown
Beneficiary
