Lester T. Brown | Postmaster, 67

Lester T. Brown, 67, formerly of Havertown, a retired postmaster, died Friday at his home in Ocean View, N.J., of complications from brain damage.

A native of Mahanoy City, Pa., Mr. Brown grew up in Upper Darby and attended Monsignor Bonner High School. In 1960, he married Anna Brownlee, whom he had met at a local roller skating rink.

To support his young family, he took a part-time job with the Upper Darby Post Office before Christmas in 1961. After the holidays, he became a full-time Postal Service employee. For many years, he had a second job at an A & P supermarket.

After he was promoted to postmaster, he headed the Villanova and Lansdowne post offices before returning to Upper Darby. It was his dream to end his career in charge of the post office where he started, said his son, Thomas.

After retiring in 2003, Mr. Brown was a bus driver for Upper Darby School District.

In January 2005, he suffered brain damage following heart surgery. Since then, he had been wheelchair-bound with multiple medical problems. Despite his disabilities, he enjoyed three cruises with his family, most recently to Bermuda in August, his son said.

Before becoming ill, Mr. Brown had been an enthusiastic fisherman and hunter and had a passion for Cadillacs.

In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by daughters Nancy Busam and Elizabeth Park; a sister; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. A son Michael died in 2001.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. followed by Mass at 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Cyril of Alexandria Church, 153 Penn Blvd., East Lansdowne. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.