It is with profound sadness that we share the news that our friend and colleague, Sev-Ira Leonard Brown Jr., affectionately known as “Sev,” passed away on May 17, 2025. He was 77 years old.
Those who knew Sev understood that he was, in every sense, a giant among us—not just in physical stature, but in heart, spirit, and impact. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Sev’s journey from the basketball courts of DePaul University to the halls of Syracuse University reflects a life dedicated to serving others and breaking down barriers.
From athletic excellence to professional purpose
Sev’s athletic talents were exceptional. At DePaul University, where he earned his degree in Physical Education in 1970, he was a standout basketball player whose skills caught the attention of professional scouts across multiple sports. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons as the 88th overall pick in the 1970 NBA draft and was also drafted by both the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears—a testament to his remarkable versatility as an athlete.
While a pre-season injury prevented him from ever suiting-up for the Pistons, he managed a brief professional basketball career with the Northwest/Chicagoland Travelers and the Rockford Royals in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). Sev found his true calling off the court. By 1973, he had transitioned to public service, where he worked as a Park Director with the Chicago Park District for 13 years. In that role, he discovered his passion for recreation and community development.
Building community at Syracuse University
In 1989, Sev made the pivotal decision to leave Illinois for central New York, joining Syracuse University as Operations Manager for Recreation Services. This move would define not just his career, but it would shape the lives of countless students and colleagues over the next two decades.
Starting in 1992, Sev directed the Neighborhood Youth Recreation Program for more than a decade—community recreation initiative sponsored by Syracuse University that served thousands of young people in the Syracuse community. This labor of love exemplified Sev’s commitment to extending campus recreation and the university’s reach beyond campus boundaries, bringing joy, mentorship, and opportunity directly to local youth.
In 2001, he was promoted to Assistant Director for Operations, a role he held until his retirement in 2008. His commitment to student development and his proactive approach to diversity and social justice earned him recognition with Syracuse University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Unsung Hero Award in 1997 and the Sr. Vice President of Student Affairs Award in 2001.
An article in Syracuse University Magazine from 2002 captured the essence of Sev’s approach to working with students: “His office bulletin boards are plastered with photographs of student staffers, who keep in contact with him years after graduation. He proudly talks about their successes at SU and in their lives beyond college. He assists students in any way he can, whether helping them with personal problems, providing them with travel opportunities, or introducing them to prospective employers and new educational experiences. He demonstrates the University’s core value of caring in his work with students. He goes out of his way to make all students feel included and to get them involved.”
A leader in NIRSA
Sev first joined NIRSA in 1990 and remained an active member until his retirement in 2008. He was a graduate of the NIRSA School in 1998 and served on the NIRSA Board of Directors as Region I Vice President from 2005-2007. His leadership was recognized with the Horace Moody Award in 2002 and the Herman Williams Founders Outstanding Service Award in 2008; he was the fourth recipient of the prestigious award named after one of NIRSA’s founders.
For a decade, Sev was a regular at the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference (ERSL), annual NIRSA Conferences, and NIRSA Region I meetings. He was present for the historic dedication opening of the NIRSA Headquarters building in Corvallis, OR, in 1998, witnessing firsthand the growth of the organization he was part of.
Pioneering the HBCU Summit
Perhaps no single initiative better exemplifies Sev’s commitment to inclusion and equity than his role in co-founding the NIRSA HBCU Summit. Working alongside Jocelyn Hill of American University, Sev organized the inaugural summit on August 7, 2006, at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Now Associate Athletic Director/Director of Recreation and Aquatics Facilities at American University and past member of the NIRSA Board of Directors, Jocelyn recalls the summit emerging from a heartfelt conversation about representation:
“We sat down and talked about it, heart to heart. We recognized that many voices were not being heard, and many campuses were facing challenges that too often went unnoticed. Sev never hesitated. He didn’t just support the idea—he championed it. With his encouragement, I reached out to representatives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to learn firsthand what was happening on their campuses. What we discovered was deeply eye-opening—stories of resilience, but also of unmet needs. That’s when the real work began. Sev and I committed ourselves to creating a space where these voices could finally be heard, where HBCU representatives could come together to share, support one another, and find ways the association could better serve them.”
Sev’s own words speak to his vision for the summit: “This Summit was a wonderful way for us in Region I to sit down face to face with other recreational educators and talk about our shared passion, which is students. The more students we can reach, the more effective we can be, and the more we can grow as an organization.”
The summit successfully brought together representatives from local HBCUs, with many others who could not attend the inaugural event still expressing interest in connecting with NIRSA. Several attendees committed to attending future NIRSA events. Other regions soon adopted the model. Eventually, the HBCU Summit legacy evolved into a preconference experience at the ERSL Conference, a convening of HBCU professionals at the annual NIRSA Conference, and the establishment of the NIRSA HBCU Coalition.
Jocelyn reflects on Sev’s leadership during the early years of this initiative: “His steady hand, his kind heart, and his passion for equity and inclusion guided every decision we made. Because of Sev’s leadership and vision, the work we started continues to grow, and HBCU schools and their members have stronger representation and support today.”
A mentor and father figure
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Sev’s most significant legacy may be found in the countless individuals he mentored throughout his career. In his own words, he described the joy he found in this work as he approached his retirement: “From my personal experiences, having attended the ERSL conference since 1997, I have met many aspiring young professionals and students whom I have networked with, mentored, and befriended. I’ve watched these individuals grow, and many have entered the field of recreational sports, becoming outstanding leaders today. Some have an official title in their role as leader, while others may lead their brothers, sisters, or friends on the playground or in our gyms.”
Jocelyn says, “When I think of Sev Brown, I don’t just think of a colleague or a leader—I think of a friend who stood beside me, believed in me, helped create something that will continue to make a difference for years to come.”
Demond Pryor, President of the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors provided the following, “For me, it’s difficult to put in words what Sev meant to me. He was not just a colleague; he was a mentor and most importantly a friend. His steady presence, thoughtful words, and encouragement made a real difference in my practice and my life.”
For Seneca Wilson, Director of University Recreation at the University of Alabama, Birmingham and past president of the NIRSA Foundation Board, Sev became much more than a mentor. “I met Sev-Ira at the 2003 ERSL,” says Seneca, “and from that moment everything changed for me. He instantly became my mentor, and before long, he became my ‘Dad.’ Growing up without a father in my life, Sev took me under his wing when I needed him most. He was tough. He was crazy! lol. He loved hard, with no brakes. And through it all, he loved me deeply. He loved me as his son and loved my family as his own.”
A man of heart and humor
Those who knew Sev remember him as much for his infectious personality as his professional achievements. R. Kevin Marbury (aka “Doc”), retired Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of Oregon and past president of NIRSA, as well as a recipient of the NIRSA Honor Award describes Sev as someone who “you might be hesitant to approach when you first encountered him, but as someone who you would never forget once you connected with him. Sev was renowned as the unofficial ‘Dozen’s champion’ of NIRSA, a title he earned from engaging in legendary friendly exchanges of wit, particularly with Kenny Hill of Ohio State, that were EPIC and frequently had NIRSA Conference attendees in stitches. I’m not sure if I ever laughed as hard at anything in NIRSA as when I watched those two go at one another. Even though I know the game was played in love and fun, in retrospect, I am grateful that Sev never set his sights on me.”
Mirum Washington-White, retired Athletic Director, St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic School and past member of the NIRSA Board of Directors shares a favorite memory: ” At an ERSL in New Orleans, he chest-flexed on stage at the end of the Opening General Session presentation to bring a point home. He brought the entire house down. The laughter was contagious!”
Kenny Hill, Recreation Manager for the City of Groveport, Ohio (formerly of The Ohio State University), who engaged in several memorable exchanges with Sev, remembers him as both the consummate professional and a generous friend:
“I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know him during my time at Cornell. I witnessed the impact he had on the students at Syracuse University. We spent many days together in NY and on the road for NIRSA-related events. Some days we went back and forth like ruthless siblings, but that just compounded our respect for each other. He was a man big in stature with a much bigger heart. He was an accomplished motivator. He developed great relationships that have had a lasting impact on the lives of those surrounding him.”
A lasting legacy
Interim Vice President Student Affairs at Central Michigan University, Past President of NIRSA and recipient of the NIRSA Honor Award, Stan Shingles, who first met Sev at the 1991 NIRSA Conference in Cincinnati, perhaps best captures the essence of who Sev was: “As native Chicagoans, we shared a bond that allowed us to understand one another and to navigate our many NIRSA experiences with purpose and passion. A giant of a man, Sev had an even bigger heart; he was always committed to the success of students at Syracuse University and in NIRSA, serving as a fierce and loyal champion for their inclusion and success.”
George Brown, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Director of University Recreation and Wellness at the University of Minnesota and past member of the NIRSA Board of Directors, who volunteered alongside Sev on the NIRSA Board of Directors, notes, “Sev was larger than life and provided insight with courage, conviction, and always with humor. He was passionate in representing Region I but mindful of NIRSA as a whole. Sev was always looking out for all the stakeholders across NIRSA, regardless of size, scope, or stage of development. He believed in collegiate recreation as a platform and always saw the value of engagement and the long-term benefits of removing all barriers, real or perceived.”
Linda Clauss, Associate Director, Recreation and Wellness Services at Cal State – East Bay and who served as a past NIRSA Student Leader and former member of the NIRSA Board of Directors, remembered Sev’s approachable nature when reflecting on her time as NIRSA National Student Leader: “He had a very warm and sincere smile which made him very approachable to students.”
Therese Kennedy, Director of Recreation Sports & Facilities at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater, who served alongside Sev on the NIRSA Board of Directors, summarizes nicely that, “Sev had a passion for recreation sports, his students, his campus, and NIRSA. He made everyone feel special and always had a big smile!”
A champion’s farewell
Sev-Ira Brown’s life embodied the very best of what it means to be a campus recreation professional. He understood that our work is ultimately about people. It’s about creating opportunities, breaking down barriers, and helping others reach their full potential—as the “father of intramurals” Elmer Mitchell would say, to get students “out of the stands and onto the fields.” Whether he was mentoring a young professional, advocating for underrepresented voices, delivering his famous bearhug, or simply sharing a laugh with colleagues, Sev approached every interaction with genuine care and with his unwavering commitment to inclusion.
His legacy lives on in the HBCU Summit that continues to strengthen NIRSA’s commitment to diversity, in the countless professionals he mentored who now lead the dynamic field of collegiate recreation, in the Syracuse University students whose lives he touched, and in the Syracuse community who benefited from his work serving the youth of his community through the Neighborhood Recreation Program.
As Jocelyn so beautifully says: “Sev’s legacy is not only in the roles he held, but is also in the lives he touched, the doors he helped open, and the hope he brought to so many. I am and will always be forever grateful for his friendship, his partnership, and his unwavering belief that, together, we could make a difference.”
Kenny adds: “He will be missed by many, but most of all he will be remembered.” And Doc echoes, “I will truly miss him and will always celebrate what he meant to so many of us that had the good fortune to know him.”
Seneca Wilson adds: “Sev was a complicated man, but if you knew him, you knew…his heart was huge. He would show up for anyone at any time, even if he had just met you. That was one of my favorite things about him. I will miss him deeply.”
Sev-Ira Brown was indeed a giant among us—a champion on and off the court, a leader who lifted others up, and a friend who loved without limits. His light continues to shine in all the work he inspired and in the countless lives he touched.
Rest well, our friend. Your light continues to shine in all the work you inspired.
Bill Crockett is currently the Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs Business & Facility Operationsat the University of Maryland Baltimore, a Past President of NIRSA, and the NIRSA representative on CoHEASAP. He is also a current member of the NIRSA History and Legacy Committee; he can be reached at bcrockett@umaryland.edu.
