Former Oregon Mayor Marge Brown remembered as trailblazer, public servant

OREGON, Ohio — The Oregon community is remembering a woman whose life was defined by service, as former Mayor Marge Brown died of heart failure over the weekend at the age of 88.

Her children, Jeff Brown and Joani Donovan, describe their mom in just a few words.

 “A force to be reckoned with,” Donovan said.

“Caring and dedicated,” Brown added.

Brown began her career in 1957, teaching in the Oregon school system for 39 years. From there, she turned to public service — elected to Oregon City Council in 1989 and later becoming mayor in 2001, serving eight years as the city’s first and only female mayor.

“The city of Oregon was family to her, and she treated it as such, and I think that’s what her drive was for the education of the kids that she taught,” Joani said.

Former Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner worked alongside Brown and said her integrity never wavered.

“Marge stayed Marge from day one till when she left office. Marge was not in any way, shape or form hypocritical or would say one thing to one person to her left and a different thing to the person on her right,” Finkbeiner said.

The Oregon Fire Department issued a statement to WTOL 11 on Brown’s passing:

“Mayor Brown was always the biggest cheerleader for the city that she loved so much. Whether she was at a local government meeting, on vacation out of state or just talking to you in person, you always knew exactly where she stood. OREGON FIRST!
We were all fortunate enough to know her and be the recipients of her love for the City of Oregon.“

Outside of City Hall, Brown was devoted to her family and to seeing the world. She is a member of the “Extra Mile Club,” an organization that tracks those who have traveled to every one of America’s 3,144 counties.

“That’s correct. And, seven continents and 55 countries. The only place she and Lenny (her husband) have not been is Portugal,” Joani said.

“She set a target for mayors after herself to always think about the people of Oregon first and what was in their best interest,” Finkbeiner said.

“If somebody was to have never met her and you’re moving to the city of Oregon and wondered about her legacy, just understand she cared and she still cared up until the day she died that she cared about that city,” Jeff said.

The visitation for Brown will be held on Friday from 2-9 p.m. at Freck Funeral Chapel on South Wynn Road in Oregon. A funeral Mass will take place on Saturday at St. Ignatius Church, followed by burial at St. Ignatius Cemetery.