Former International President of MM&P Passes

Captain Timothy A. Brown, 73, who led the Masters, Mates & Pilots as International President for 21 years before retiring at the end of 2012, died on Sunday.

Generous, thoughtful and open-hearted, Tim was also a fierce defender of the working conditions of MM&P members and an adroit negotiator on their behalf.

“Tim always cared first and foremost about the men and women on the ships,” said MM&P President Don Marcus. “He preserved the livelihoods, working conditions and benefits for our members, pensioners and their families. He worked with particular dedication to enhance health care benefits for everyone covered under the MM&P Health & Benefit plans.”

A mentor to younger mariners and a father figure to MM&P and Plan Office staff, he never forgot to send greetings and sometimes a gift on holidays and birthdays.

Brown joined Masters, Mate & Pilots in August of 1965 and served in the American Merchant Marine during the Vietnam War.

His first MM&P vessel was the SS Fruitvale Hills. He sailed as deck cadet on the SS Del Oro for Delta Steamship Lines. He first sailed as master aboard the Sealand Consumer for Sealand Service Inc. in 1983. His last command as master was aboard the same vessel in 1991.

Brown gained MM&P office in 1991 as an insurgent candidate in a badly fractured organization. After six terms at the helm, he left a legacy of stability, integrity and pride to the membership of the Masters, Mates & Pilots.

Among his many awards for service to the industry are the Admiral of the Ocean Seas (AOTOS) Award in 2002, the Seafarers’ and International House “Outstanding Friend of Seafarers” Award in 2004 and the Father Lalonde “Spirit of the Seas” Award by the Council of American Master Mariners in 2012.

In 2009, he was admitted to the Port of New York and New Jersey’s International Maritime Hall of Fame.

He retired as MM&P President on January 1, 2013. In March of that year, he was named a Commodore of the U.S. Maritime Service by order of President Barack Obama. “It goes to show how much respect people in every sector of the maritime industry have for Tim,” said Maryland Pilot Brian Hope.

Brown was named President Emeritus of Masters, Mates & Pilots by Delegates to the Eighty-fourth MM&P Convention.

“Tim brought stability and respect to our organization,” said MM&P President Don Marcus. “His achievements have laid a foundation of unity and professionalism on which the membership of our union can build going forward. We are so proud of what Tim gave to our brothers and our sisters, proud of what he achieved for the industry.”