20 | SEPTEMBER 2 • 2021 

OUR COMMUNITY

surprise a shocked but elated 
Dr. Brown.
The surprise was a suc-
cessful one, and Duggan 
exchanged pleasantries with 
Brown and the different gen-
erations of his family to make 
it that much more of a special 
day.
Even at his age and 60 
years into the profession, 
Brown says he’s busier than 
he’s ever been, and the pas-
sion for taking care of others 
is still there. 
“I love helping them,” 
Brown said. “Everyone needs 
help, but they need help 
badly and they need some-
body to listen to them. It’s not 
all medical, they need sup-
port, and I give it to them.”
Brown has some patients 
who he’s treated for 50 years, 
and even at his age, he has no 
thoughts of ever quitting.
“I do this full time, every 
day, five days a week. I love 
what I do. I never have a bad 
day.”

HIS JEWISH JOURNEY
Besides his work as a phy-
sician, synagogue life and 
Judaism are the other import-
ant parts of Brown’s journey.
It was Brown’s childhood 
dream, while watching peo-
ple entering Congregation 

Shaarey Zedek from his 
grandmother’s apartment 
window, to one day be a 
member there. 
“These were comfortable 
people in my eyes,” Brown 
said. “They were wearing 
suits and ties and dressed up, 
and I said someday I’d really 
like to join there and belong.”
Years later, he more than 
realized that dream, becom-
ing an officer, board mem-
ber and the 37th president 
of Shaarey Zedek in 1994. 
Brown has been a member 
for 50 years now, and he and 
Kathleen are still active and 
involved to this day. 
Relating his love for 
Judaism and his life of 
helping others for 60 years, 
Brown finds a common 
thread between the two.
“I think the connection 
is being kind to people, 
respecting people no matter 
what their place in life is, 
respecting all races, religions 
and just trying to be a good 
person by helping people.”
It’s been an incredible jour-
ney Brown has had, one he is 
proud to display to his family. 
“
And the journey is still 
going on,” Brown happi-
ly states. “That’s the most 
important part of it.” 

continued from page 18

Richard Brown 
has been a 
full-time doctor 
for 60 years.

