Andrew J. Brown Iii

Andrew J. Brown III, 48 years old, passed away on Sunday,
February 7, 2021 at Mather Hospital at Port Jefferson, Long
Island, NY. He was a beloved son, brother, teacher, coach, mentor,
and role model. He was loved and loved by all. He especially
loved his students and his community and was an exemplary
example of CI Pride and Black excellence.
Andrew was born March 14, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York to
Andrew J. Brown Jr (Sonny) and Gloria Brown at Brookdale
Hospital. He was a premature baby and was so small he could fit
in the sole palm of his father’s hand. Shortly after his birth, his
family moved to 221 Leaf Avenue, Central Islip which at that
time was a new development of homes. Andrew was an
inquisitive child; he was very mischievous and got into
everything around the house. He was a sweet child and was
often seen wearing his blue snow suit running down Leaf
Avenue in his white shoes or riding his tricycle up and down the
street.
He attended Kiddie Ranch Preschool in Central Islip on Suffolk
Avenue and progressed to Cordello Avenue School where he
attended Kinder garden and 1st grade. When Cordello Avenue
School closed, he attended 2nd and 3rd grades at the Academy of
St. Joseph in Brentwood with his sister Nicole. He was one the
first boys to attend the all-girls Catholic School. He attended
Emmanuel Lutheran School in Patchogue, NY for grades 3rd, 4th,
and 5th. While in elementary Andrew played PAL Central Islip
football, he took drum lessons at the Venette’s Cultural
Workshop in Wyandanch and studied Karate lessons. He
participated in afterschool tutoring with the St. Joseph nuns to
improve his studies. Andrew loved to ride his bike in the
neighborhood, swim, play street football, basketball, play video
games, and collect comic books and Star Wars memorabilia. He
was a member of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 211 and
enjoyed earning badges and going camping.

Upon graduating Emmanuel Lutheran School, he attended Reed
Junior High School. While at Reed, he entered and won a county
wide essay competition on Black History Month. He was
awarded a Suffolk County Proclamation from then Reed Middle
School Principal Jack Cassidy. This was one of his proudest and
most defining moments as a young student. He graduated Reed
Junior Highschool and attended Central Islip Senior High School
where he played football and drums in the band.
After graduating Central Islip Highschool, Andrew attended
Suffolk County Community College. He earned his Associate
Degree and began his studies at Delaware State University, a
historically Black University located in Dover, Delaware. He dual
majored in Physical Education and Anatomy and Physiology and
excelled at his studies, was frequently on the Dean’s List and
eventually graduated with Honors. He was Linebacker #43 for
Delaware State’s football team- the Hornets and was
affectionately known as “Ruffneck” and “AD”. He lived in
residence halls of Conwell, Evers, and “The New Dorm.” He
completed his student internship in Salisbury, Maryland.
After graduating college, Andrew began his professional career
as a Physical Education teacher at John Adams High School and
Hillcrest Highschool, both located in Queens, New York.
Eventually, he was able to secure a position in Central Islip
School District as a Physical Education teacher at O’Neill
Elementary School He continued his post-bachelor education at
Stony Brook University where he was awarded his Master’s
degree in Education and later he returned to Stony Brook
University to earn his Master’s degree in Education Leadership.
He has a New York State Education and Teacher Certification
and New York State Administrative Certification. Throughout
his career he has taught at many schools in Central Islip such as
the previously mentioned O’Neill, Mulvey, Cordello, Mulligan,
Reed, and Central Highschool.
Andrew began coaching football in 1996 at John Adams
Highschool in Queens, NY and later in Central Islip from 2002
until 2018. He was Head Junior Varsity Coach in 2008, 2009,
2010, and 2011. He was assistant Varsity Coach in 2012 and 2013
and oversaw the offensive line. He was the first Black Head
Middle School Coach and coached 2014, 2015, and 2016. Andrew
coached two offensive linemen, Andrew Tiller and Malcom
Pridgeon, that played in the NFL largely due to his influence. He
always volunteered his time in the weight room for middle and
high school students and chaperoned many school trips. In his
early career during the late 1990s and early 2000s, he worked as a
counselor at St. Mary’s Child and Family Services and as a
counselor in Brentwood Group Home and was an inspiration to
many children there as well. Andrew was a role model and a
father figure to many students. He built solid meaningful
relationships with his students, faculty and staff.
He was known for his slogan, “Keep ‘Em Fresh!”
His advice to student in his own words,” Never give Up! Do what
is needed to be done and don’t mind what others think of you
while doing it.”
Andrew leaves behind his mother and father Andrew J. Brown,
Jr. and Gloria Brown, his sister, Nicole Brown, her fiancé Wayne
Sinckler, his Aunt Joanne Hepburn (Maryland), his Uncle Charles
Farmer and his wife Karen (Atlanta, GA), his Aunt Yvonne
Brown (Miami, Florida), Aunt Cassandra Brown Rolle (Miami,
Florida), and a large extensive loving family in Jacksonville,
Florida, Miami, Florida, and the Washington DC/Maryland area.