Phils fan John Brown, Jack-of-all-trades

JACK BROWN, a retired truck driver who so loved Phillies baseball games that he turned off the volume on his TV to call his own plays, died Monday after a long battle with heart and lung disease. He was 72 and lived in North Cape May, N.J.

"Jack was more than just a fan of baseball and the Phillies," said his wife, Maureen Dougherty Brown. "He had an incredible grasp of the game, and understood all the aspects and nuances that make baseball such a compelling sport."

While sitting in the sunshine at Citizens Bank Park or in his living-room recliner, Jack's calls were always on point.

"He was always a step ahead of the umpires and commentators on radio and TV," his wife said. "His expertise came from playing hardball as a boy growing up in Upper Darby, and his participation in adult softball leagues later in life."

Three generations of Browns have been involved in the sport. Jack's son, Michael, played the game, and Jack's grandson, Jacob, now plays for a team in Delaware County.

"After Jack became ill and could not attend Jacob's games, Michael began relaying play-by-play cellphone reports from Delaware County to Cape May," Maureen said.

Jack Brown also liked to bowl and played golf with a passion until the physical challenges of the past couple of years slowed him down.

Although his driver's license identified him as John T. Brown, everybody called him Jack, a great nickname for a guy who truly was a Jack-of-all-trades.

He did his own carpentry work, plumbing, electrical wiring, household repairs and took charge of the landscaping at the Brown home on Haverford Avenue, a short drive from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry dock.

"He was always building or creating things, like carving figures of dolphins from driftwood scoured from the beach," his son said. "He also built the double utility shed in the back garden, along with the birdhouses on the grounds."

The fact that Jack Brown was tethered 24 hours a day to an oxygen tank did not deter him from keeping up with his projects.

"When one of his birdhouses needed work, my dad climbed up the support pole with his oxygen tank strapped to his back to perform the maintenance," his son said.

Before becoming a truck driver, Jack worked in construction and did a hitch in the Navy on the cruiser USS Boston.

Jack and Maureen were members of the Theater Company of Port Richmond, an amateur troupe of Philadelphia River Ward thespians.

"One year Jack had a cameo role in a production of 'Li'l Abner,' but what he liked best was cooking for the entire company," his wife said.

"He loved to grill steaks and sought out recipes for eggs," his wife said. "Jack made great omelets, and once spiced his deviled eggs with cumin. Interesting, to say the least."

Jack was a Mason and a Shriner.

After moving to North Cape May a decade ago, Jack came out of retirement to accept a position as a security officer at the Cape Regional Medical Center, in Cape May County.

"He became an integral part of the center, watching over patients and visitors as well as escorting the late-shift nurses to their cars," said Maureen.

Besides his wife and son, Jack is survived by his mother, Jane Dalton, and a grandson.

Services: Memorial Mass 6 p.m. Tuesday at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Belgrade Street and Allegheny Avenue. Friends may call at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Spilker Funeral Home, 815 Washington St., Cape May. A Masonic service will be held at 11:45 a.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shalom, Inc., 1080 Delaware Ave., Philadelphia, 19125, or Roman Catholic High School, 301 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, 19107.