Richard P. Brown, Jr., L’48, Emeritus Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania and a lawyer and decorated Naval officer in World War II, died on May 29. He was 96.

Mr. Brown graduated from William Penn Charter School, Princeton University and University of Pennsylvania Law School. He served in the U.S. Navy and received six Campaign Stars during World War II and a Bronze Star in 1945.  

He spent his 40-year career at the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. He headed the litigation practice for 11 years; helped develop the firm’s product liability practice; and was a partner from 1956 through his retirement in 1988. Post-retirement, he volunteered as a judge pro tem until he was 92.

Mr. Brown was elected a Trustee in 1979 (Almanac June 14, 1979). He chaired the Trustee Committee for University Responsibility and served on the Executive, Academic Policy, Development, and Facilities and Campus Planning Committees. In addition, he was chairman of the Board of the Medical Center from 1987-1991.

He was a former overseer of the Penn Museum, the Law School, the School of Medicine and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. He also was involved in the Institute on Aging, serving as chair of the Advisory Board and head of the fundraising committee. 

In addition to his service to Penn, Mr. Brown was chair of the Probate, Trust & Estate Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association and chair of the International Law Section. He was on the boards of the William Penn Charter School, WHYY Inc. and Fidelity Bank; and was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Peace Institute, the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies, the Foreign Policy Research Institute, the Eisenhower Fellows, International House Center and the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. He also volunteered as a driver for cancer patients who needed transportation to and from area hospitals after his retirement.

Mr. Brown was married for 36 years to Virginia H. Curtin, who died in 2001. He is survived by his friend and companion, Vivian W. Piasecki; nieces, Barbara Bochner and Jill O’Connor; and nephew, Alex Williams.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Institute on Aging at the University of Pennsylvania or to WHYY.