Michael Linwood Brown

Michael Linwood Brown was born to Linwood and Louise Brown in 1940 in San Diego. The second of three boys, Mike was inquisitive, outgoing, bright and the perennial middle child. Mike spent his childhood and adolescence hanging out with his family in North Park and on Mission Beach. The Brown Beach House holds the same charm today as it did in 1955 when Mike’s parents bought it; hundreds of friends and family have spent happy moments lounging in the sun and on the sand.

The Brown family lived in North Park and Mike attended St. Patrick School and Saint Augustine High School, graduating in 1958. Mike met his soulmate, Kathleen Shaw, during his senior year at Saints. Mike attended San Diego State (State College) and City College immediately after high school. In 1964, Mike and Kathy married, traveled to San Luis Obispo and Mike attended Cal Poly for a degree in architectural design. Upon returning to San Diego, they settled in North Park near both sets of parents. Mike began a long career with the City and County in the housing department designing and building affordable housing for the area.

The couple raised two children, Adam and Katrina, and countless dogs, cats, pigs, and llamas. Always up for adventure, Kathy and Mike moved to the country community of Jamul and then, after the children were grown and retirement was calling, they took on their biggest enterprise as the owners of Farmer Brown’s Christmas Trees in Potrero. Holidays at Farmer Brown’s were magical, with families making the trip to Potrero part of their annual tradition and devoted friends volunteering their weekends in the gift shop, tearoom and out among the trees. Kathy and Mike moved back to San Diego for retirement (again!) in 2007 and landed in Kensington, where they lived until Kathy passed in 2020 and where Mike lived until his death November 17.

Besides Kathy, Mike’s greatest loves included his Catholic faith and the civic groups he and Kathy joined. The Browns were members of St. Pat’s in North Park, St. Pius X in Jamul, St. Didacus in Normal Heights, and St. Francis Chapel Community at the Mission. Kathy and Mike were early patrons of Whispering Winds Catholic Camp, they were active in the Cursillo movement, they traveled the world with Friendship Force, and volunteered countless hours with Catholic Charities, the Kiwanis Club and International Relief Teams (IRT).

Mike loved sailing Mission Bay, he was a voracious reader, he spent hours doing jigsaw puzzles, he was a beer and wine aficionado, he reveled in camera technology and burning CDs for anyone who seemed remotely interested, and he and Kathy collected half a dozen rental properties in the mountains and at the beach, which they generously shared with friends and family. Mike was also a proud docent at the Mission and at the downtown library.

Mike is preceded in death by his beloved wife Kathy and his brother Dick. He is survived by his children Adam and Katrina (Bruce) Bosworth; his grandchildren Brock and Max Bosworth; his brother Paul (Carole) and many nieces, nephews and wonderful friends.

A Rosary (10 am) and Mass (11 am) will be celebrated on Friday, January 16, 2026, at St. Francis Chapel of the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, 10818 San Diego Mission Rd., San Diego, CA 92108. A private burial will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery on Monday, January 19, 2026. Donations can be made in Mike’s name to Whispering Winds Catholic Camp or IRT.