St. Mary Star of the Sea honors Jim Brown

Longboat Key residents might know Jim Brown from his four-year term as Mayor. They might know him as a community leader, a philanthropist, and a faithful member of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church. They might know Brown as a neighbor or as a friend. Regardless of how Longboaters might know him, Brown is one of the most well-known and prominent figures in Longboat Key.

After 35 years of active involvement in the Longboat Community, he will be moving to California to live with his daughter, Sue.

St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church will be honoring Brown in a 9 a.m. Mass on Wednesday, Oct. 5, as a Bon Voyage and a God Bless. They will honor him with an act of worship, a special blessing and words from his close friends.

“We wanted to acknowledge him for his 35 years at St. Mary's. He was part of the foundation The Church was built on,” Rev. Monsignor Sr. Gerry Finnegan of St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church said. “He wasn't someone who just sat back; he was very involved on Longboat Key. We just want to say thank you for the blessing he has been to the church and to Longboat Key.”

He was surely involved. In addition to his Mayorship, he served as chair of Sarasota County Democratic Party for five years, and as chair of the St. Jude Festival for three years. He served as a congregation member, chair of the lector committee for 30 years, chair of Jesse/Christmas tree drive for 10 years, and president of St. Mary's men's clubs for two terms at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, and as a columnist for the Herald Tribune for 15 years.