Real estate veteran Glenn Brown, 58, dies

He left behind legacy of generosity, resolveBy Erin Gallup-MainJournal Staff WriterOne of Auburn?s top realtors died this week following a battle with throat cancer, leaving behind a 15-year trail of memories in Placer County.Not only did Glenn Brown work at Remax Advantage in Auburn up until two weeks before his death on Thursday, but fellow realtor Sue Thompson said the 58-year-old man traveled to a client?s house recently to help evaluate a property.?He weighted 100 pounds, could hardly talk, but he was out on a listing appointment,? Thompson said of Brown, who had part of his tongue removed in an attempt to eliminate the cancer. ?When he thought a transaction was going to fall through, he was willing to jump in and save it.?Co-worker Roxana Sylvia said Brown, a resident of Applegate, showed his generosity ? making personal loans to clients in distress, helping them close escrow, being understanding and thoughtful to his friends, colleagues and family. She said he did this even while he was in pain and facing death during his 10-month fight with cancer.Sylvia said one of her happiest memories of Brown was a summer drive to visit an Emigrant Gap client.?We started talking about how beautiful the Sierras are, especially in the spring when all the wildflowers bloom,? she said. ?Glenn told me how his wife, Ernylla, loved flowers. Some minutes later, Glenn asked me if I would take Ernylla some flowers. I thought it was a strange question, but as Glenn was taking medication at the time, did not think too much about it and forgot it. It wasn?t until the day after Glenn passed away that I realized what he meant. That same day, I took the flowers to Ernylla that Glenn wanted her to have. That is Glenn, thoughtful, giving and considerate to others, even after death.?Ernylla Brown said she met her husband in Auburn?s Raley?s supermarket one year before their Nov. 11, 1999 wedding.?It was love at first sight,? she said. ?He had an impressive and large personality. He had an all-encompassing and engaging personality.?Thompson and Britt Cooper, who hired the associate broker in 1998, agreed.Ernylla Brown said her late husband earned two purple hearts in Vietnam and one in Korea and had a master?s degree in marketing and sales from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He was heavily involved in Alcoholic?s Anonymous, from which he recently received his 20-year birthday of sobriety in August, she said. ?He had various awards and commendations and had just received a big plaque from Placer County Association of Realtors for his directorship last year,? Ernylla Brown said. ?He belonged to their master?s club and even after he knew he had cancer, he finished getting his brokers license because it was just an accomplishment he felt he needed to do.?Thompson said Brown died feeling a sense of accomplishment in his life.?He said ?I can?t say one bad thing about my life,?? she recalled Saturday. ??I live in the greatest community, in a great house with a great view, the best people to work with.??Friends and family can pay their respects at a 2:30 p.m. Feb. 22 service at 551 Highway 49 at Lassila Funeral Chapel. Brown was survived not only by Ernylla, but his son, Air Force Maj. Robert Dias of Portugal, a daughter, Heather Brown of Arizona, and many extended family members.The Journal?s Erin Gallup-Main can be reached at ering@goldcountrymedia.com.