[1] He was educated at Sacred Heart School and Cathedral College, a minor seminary for the Archdiocese of New York.
He served the diocese, and later, Archdiocese of Santa Cruz as vicar general and helped to organize a pre-seminary.
He remained as the auxiliary bishop until his resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II in August 1995.
[1] Bishop Brown continued to reside in Santa Cruz, but because his health was declining he was only able to provide limited ministry.
[1][3] His funeral was celebrated by Cardinal John O'Connor of New York at Our Lady Queen of Apostles Chapel in the Maryknoll Center.