Press release:
Genesee Community College is pleased to announce the dedication of the Library Instruction Room to the memory of Lynn E. Browne and members of the Browne Family. A dedication ceremony is planned at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8.
Refreshments will be provided for the event, which is free and open to the public. Interested attendees are asked to RSVP by calling the GCC Foundation office at 585-345-6809.
Lynn E. Browne was a native of Batavia and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance. After serving in the Army with distinction during World War II, he married Phyllis Shiekman and they settled in Philadelphia where he built a successful career in the garment industry, eventually owning one of the nation's leading button distribution companies. After his wife's death, Browne returned to his beloved hometown and immersed himself in serving the Batavia community.
Browne's service included 14 years as a member of the Genesee Community College Foundation Board of Directors (1996-2010), 12 of those as treasurer. He was instrumental in overseeing substantial growth in the foundation's assets, its endowment fund, and had an unwavering commitment to student housing at College Village.
In 2006, the Genesee Community College Foundation honored Browne as the first recipient of its Alpha Medal of Service, a prestigious honor now bestowed annually on one individual who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and service to the college. Last May, college trustees designated the library classroom to his honor.
"Throughout all of Lynn's efforts and service to Genesee Community College and the foundation students were consistently a common denominator. He continuously focused on enabling the success of students by removing the barriers that might be in their way -- whether that was student housing, scholarships or other financial concerns," said Rick Ensman, director of Development and External Affairs.
"It is therefore, very appropriate to have a room in our college library dedicated to Lynn, and we are grateful to the Browne family for sharing his crystal Alpha Medal of Service Award for this unique space."
