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On Thursday, June 11, 2020, Steve Brown passed away. We lost a wonderful colleague and a true friend. He was a brother to all of us. Rest in Peace.
At JALT2020 (the first face2face JALT conference since Covid started) , there were posters in memory of people we had lost the previous few years. Here is a photo of the one for Steve:
Thank you, Steve!
Dear Steve,
I want to thank you for being such a faithful friend --- you never fail to send Christmas cards, even though I seem to miss both your birthday AND Christmas/New Year's greetings! It's a wonder that you did not cut me off years ago! I think most people would have. But then again, you are not like most people. You are Steve, evidence that nice guys do exist in the world.
Brenda
I want to thank you for being such a faithful friend --- you never fail to send Christmas cards, even though I seem to miss both your birthday AND Christmas/New Year's greetings! It's a wonder that you did not cut me off years ago! I think most people would have. But then again, you are not like most people. You are Steve, evidence that nice guys do exist in the world.
Brenda
Dear Steve,
John Fanselow here. I got in touch with VIrginia LoCastro via Facebook and after quite a few years of having lost touch with each other, we got back in touch. She mentioned you were ill and living in California.
Being in touch with Virginia remember me of many golden moments we spent together--she, you and I--in the TC MA Program in Tokyo. I recently re-read some early newsletters--printed and handed out--and they reminded me of how much you enriched the program when you taught in it. And also your contributions to English Education. I noticed that you had been interviewed in a couple of the major newspapers.
Warmest personal regards and thanks loads for as I said enriching the MA program in Tokyo.
John
John Fanselow here. I got in touch with VIrginia LoCastro via Facebook and after quite a few years of having lost touch with each other, we got back in touch. She mentioned you were ill and living in California.
Being in touch with Virginia remember me of many golden moments we spent together--she, you and I--in the TC MA Program in Tokyo. I recently re-read some early newsletters--printed and handed out--and they reminded me of how much you enriched the program when you taught in it. And also your contributions to English Education. I noticed that you had been interviewed in a couple of the major newspapers.
Warmest personal regards and thanks loads for as I said enriching the MA program in Tokyo.
John
As a professional colleague, Steve was a fellow dissident. He could give needed advice, add ideas, and keep confidences. As an old Japan friend from the 1980s JALT meetings, I valued our chats as he also had a private life outside work: I valued his sense of humor, our shared interests in music, art, literature, travel. And he was very supportive and continues to be so in our journeys through life.
Virginia
Virginia
My dearest Steven,
I really respected (and always do) your warm smile as well as calm and gentle attitude when we worked together. Thousand of thanks for sharing such a wonderful time with me!
Chinese literati expressed their ideal world by painting landscape. I have decided to send you my painting (hope you wouldn’t mind this amateur work) to share this idea with you. Hope you will enjoy taking a stroll through waters, rocks, trees, mountains etc. and find your own ideal world.
Hiromi Tsuchiya (Lingual House/Longman)
Click to download a jpg of Hiromi's painting.
I really respected (and always do) your warm smile as well as calm and gentle attitude when we worked together. Thousand of thanks for sharing such a wonderful time with me!
Chinese literati expressed their ideal world by painting landscape. I have decided to send you my painting (hope you wouldn’t mind this amateur work) to share this idea with you. Hope you will enjoy taking a stroll through waters, rocks, trees, mountains etc. and find your own ideal world.
Hiromi Tsuchiya (Lingual House/Longman)
Click to download a jpg of Hiromi's painting.
First of all, I'd like you to thank you for becoming the author for "English Firsthand". As a president of Filmscan/Lingual House, I planned publishing titles with Michael every year . For the third year of our publishing plan, I suggested Micheal to publish 'Course Book'. I thought it absolutely necessary for us to have 'Course Book' to compete with international publishers. Micheal put the team together to make a Japan-made 'Course Book-English Firsthand '. We launched it at JALT and English Firsthand was really well received at JALT annual conference in 1991(if my memory is right). Other publishers was really surprised to see that English Firsthand was well-received by lots of teachers there. As a president of Filmscan/Lingual House, I strongly believed that we need to publish 'Course Book' to be suitable(tailor-made) for Japanese market. English Firsthand 1st edition was printed in Tokyo and I had to deliver copies of EF 1st edition to fill lots of orders to distributors straight from our printers. I have driven a van by looking at sky! In the history of ELT in Japan, English Firsthand is still only course-book that was Japan-made and has been contributing to improvement of Japanese students' English competence. I am sure that you all are proud for the fact that English Firsthand is still well-received by teachers of English in Japan and other East-Asian countries. I sincerely thank to you and other authors and Micheal for success of English Firsthand!
Shinsuke Suzuki
Shinsuke Suzuki
Dear Steve:
Back in the wilds of 1989, the celebrated “Firsthand Access” authorial team made quite an impression on me, the newly-hired, wide-eyed Longman/Lingual “ELT Consultant”. In the years that followed, I have had more chances to interact with Marc, but your modeling of what a scholarly, compassionate, and humorous teacher and writer could be will always be with me. Accept my heartfelt gratitude.
Kevin Bergman
Back in the wilds of 1989, the celebrated “Firsthand Access” authorial team made quite an impression on me, the newly-hired, wide-eyed Longman/Lingual “ELT Consultant”. In the years that followed, I have had more chances to interact with Marc, but your modeling of what a scholarly, compassionate, and humorous teacher and writer could be will always be with me. Accept my heartfelt gratitude.
Kevin Bergman
Steve
Even before everything became online and remote our professional relationship has always been just that! Thanks for your patience, advice and guidance on our work together with Firsthand. We were a Success. Appreciated.
John Wiltshier
Even before everything became online and remote our professional relationship has always been just that! Thanks for your patience, advice and guidance on our work together with Firsthand. We were a Success. Appreciated.
John Wiltshier
We've never met! But funnily enough, you have been a part of my life for the past 15 years without really knowing it. You probably don't remember me from over 15 years ago. I was just out of college and had joined Cambridge University Press. In all honesty, I was a bit gutted because I was in the final rounds for a job at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and had lost out to a person I had gone to school with. I mean, a job in a world-famous museum! What could be more interesting. But I landed in the world of ELT. And look at me 15+ years on. And a big reason why I'm still here is because of the people in this world of English language learning. As former teachers, the team at CUP and all the authors were very nurturing of a funny editorial assistant who had no clue about what she was doing. Active Listening 2nd Edition was actually the first series that I worked on closely, and I was thrilled to go to a photo studio in NYC to watch the cover photos get taken along with other stock phots of sushi, pizza, salad. (The guy on the Level 1 cover I'm holding was very ugly, if I may say so, but I was surprised what good lighting and hairspray could do!) I suppose a lot more money was spent on books back then. So thank you to you for making that all happen for me. I was able to enjoy the semi-glitzy NYC publishing world as a just-out-of-college grad because of you and Active Listening. It got me into the world of ELT, took me to Japan to teach a while, get recruited into OUP, and then land at Pearson where I finally got to see how the famous "English Firsthand" got made. So I know it must seem strange to get this note from someone you have never met, but I'm grateful to you, and I just wanted to say that I am thinking of you.
Kayo Taguchi
Tokyo, Japan
Kayo Taguchi
Tokyo, Japan
To Steve,
I met you as ‘Steve and Marc’ when we first worked on a new edition of Active Listening, but soon got to know you as individuals. My fondest memory of time spent with you is when we hit the music clubs on Bourbon Street. I don’t think we had much publishing work to consume us then, so we were able to shed the author-editor roles. I recall coming away thinking how fun you were to hang out with, especially because I already knew that you were a big sports fan. Maybe you don’t recall, but you had suggested adding Aflec to an ad page in AL, and I had to tell you Asians wouldn’t know the brand. You sheepishly confessed that you’d been watching too much ESPN. Geographical location and job changes haven’t allowed for meeting in person the last several years, which I regret. You’ve been kind, patient, and a great person to work with, Steve. I thank you for that. I enclose two pictures to remind you of the editing days and to remind you that you are my friend.
Take good care, my friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Karen
(Debbie Goldblatt will be sending you a message directly)
I met you as ‘Steve and Marc’ when we first worked on a new edition of Active Listening, but soon got to know you as individuals. My fondest memory of time spent with you is when we hit the music clubs on Bourbon Street. I don’t think we had much publishing work to consume us then, so we were able to shed the author-editor roles. I recall coming away thinking how fun you were to hang out with, especially because I already knew that you were a big sports fan. Maybe you don’t recall, but you had suggested adding Aflec to an ad page in AL, and I had to tell you Asians wouldn’t know the brand. You sheepishly confessed that you’d been watching too much ESPN. Geographical location and job changes haven’t allowed for meeting in person the last several years, which I regret. You’ve been kind, patient, and a great person to work with, Steve. I thank you for that. I enclose two pictures to remind you of the editing days and to remind you that you are my friend.
Take good care, my friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Karen
(Debbie Goldblatt will be sending you a message directly)
Hey Steve, thanks for all you did for JALT and for ELT in Japan -- even after you returned to the States!
Tom Robb
Tom Robb
Dear Steve,
I know this might sound strange, but you're still my best friend. I suppose that somewhere in my mind I always imagine us being in the same place at the same time and we'll just pick up again where we left off.
Writing this, I realize that a lot of time has passed. But my memories haven't faded: the Halloween party, the onsen trips, the french restaurant, the long talks. In fact, it feels like just the other day.
You're one of the smartest people I know, and one of the kindest. I count myself lucky to have shared even a small portion of your attention.
BFF,
Michelle
I know this might sound strange, but you're still my best friend. I suppose that somewhere in my mind I always imagine us being in the same place at the same time and we'll just pick up again where we left off.
Writing this, I realize that a lot of time has passed. But my memories haven't faded: the Halloween party, the onsen trips, the french restaurant, the long talks. In fact, it feels like just the other day.
You're one of the smartest people I know, and one of the kindest. I count myself lucky to have shared even a small portion of your attention.
BFF,
Michelle
Best wishes,
Carl Adams
Carl Adams
Dear Steve,
‘It’s never as bad as you think!’ These were the words you wrote on my year book in 1988.
Now I am over 50, and I experienced ups and downs. Life is a lot tougher than I think, but it is never as bad as I think. Your words always support me. Thank you so much. You are the wonderful teacher, and I do appreciate the things you taught me.
Love,
Yoshimi Shinohara (Kawada)
‘It’s never as bad as you think!’ These were the words you wrote on my year book in 1988.
Now I am over 50, and I experienced ups and downs. Life is a lot tougher than I think, but it is never as bad as I think. Your words always support me. Thank you so much. You are the wonderful teacher, and I do appreciate the things you taught me.
Love,
Yoshimi Shinohara (Kawada)
Steve,
Thank you for your encouragement, quick wit, support and kindness during our Japan period --so many memories, smart conversations, delicious meals. Thank you for your entertaining company and friendship. Thank you for reading the menus because I was too lazy to get the katakana down. Thank you for introducing me to Wallace Stegner. Thank you for your editorial prowess and for just being you. Sending you love.
Joanne
Thank you for your encouragement, quick wit, support and kindness during our Japan period --so many memories, smart conversations, delicious meals. Thank you for your entertaining company and friendship. Thank you for reading the menus because I was too lazy to get the katakana down. Thank you for introducing me to Wallace Stegner. Thank you for your editorial prowess and for just being you. Sending you love.
Joanne
Dear Steve,
Hello, Steve! I am Yumi Nishiyama, a graduate of Pittsburg ELI school. I hope you remember me.
It has been a long time since I heard your name. Although it feels like yesterday since I walked through the classroom and saw your great mustachioed smile.
Well, I have fond memories of you and school days.
One of the memories I have of you is the diary. We had to write a diary for homework and even though my English was not perfect, you still praised and motivated me to write. You also gave me a sweet comment every time and your classic signature which I still remember till this day.
After I graduated Pittsburg, I went to a Massachusetts private university where I studied executive secretary. After graduating, I came back to Japan, got a job and got married. I had 2 beautiful daughters and during the course of my life, our family decided to go to Canada. One of my daughter who is 23 now, is applying for her master program outside of Japan. Without Pittsburg ELI school, I would have never gone to Massachusetts let alone Canada. It opened up to many opportunities for my family and I, thanks to you teaching me English at that school.
Thank you Steve, now and forever.
Hello, Steve! I am Yumi Nishiyama, a graduate of Pittsburg ELI school. I hope you remember me.
It has been a long time since I heard your name. Although it feels like yesterday since I walked through the classroom and saw your great mustachioed smile.
Well, I have fond memories of you and school days.
One of the memories I have of you is the diary. We had to write a diary for homework and even though my English was not perfect, you still praised and motivated me to write. You also gave me a sweet comment every time and your classic signature which I still remember till this day.
After I graduated Pittsburg, I went to a Massachusetts private university where I studied executive secretary. After graduating, I came back to Japan, got a job and got married. I had 2 beautiful daughters and during the course of my life, our family decided to go to Canada. One of my daughter who is 23 now, is applying for her master program outside of Japan. Without Pittsburg ELI school, I would have never gone to Massachusetts let alone Canada. It opened up to many opportunities for my family and I, thanks to you teaching me English at that school.
Thank you Steve, now and forever.
Hi Steve,
I am writing to you from my house in Seattle. After graduating U of Pitt with Athletic Training degrees, I got married to an American guy. We went back to Japan and I worked for a semi-pro America Football team for few years. We moved to Seattle in 97 and I went back to a graduate school for physical therapy. My husband is a tech guy works for Apple. I have a 19yo boy in U of Colorado Boulder studying Engineering, and 15yo daughter who is freshman in high school.
It has been over 30 years since the U of Pgh ELI in Tokyo. I still remember gathering for lunch at the lobby and you come to say "English Only!" because we were always watching "Waratte iitomo", the Japanese TV show. I was 19 yo and the world was wide open and unknown to me then. In fact, my son, Atkin, is 19 now, enjoying the not knowing what he can do in the world ahead. The other day on my birthday, Atkin asked me, "come on now, tell me one good thing about getting older". My answer was "well, knowing I became an expert at something, and knowing how to contribute to the world".
Now, I own a small physical therapy practice in Seattle. My happiness comes from "thank-you"s that I get from my clients. In order for me to get here, I could not omit any steps, I could not skip all the things that I learned along the way. I am here because you have guided me through teaching English and taking me through the process of coming to study in Pittsburgh. Thank you for your gentle guidance and expertise. I will carry that through the world with me. I will not forget you.
Noriko Tobe Arnstein
I am writing to you from my house in Seattle. After graduating U of Pitt with Athletic Training degrees, I got married to an American guy. We went back to Japan and I worked for a semi-pro America Football team for few years. We moved to Seattle in 97 and I went back to a graduate school for physical therapy. My husband is a tech guy works for Apple. I have a 19yo boy in U of Colorado Boulder studying Engineering, and 15yo daughter who is freshman in high school.
It has been over 30 years since the U of Pgh ELI in Tokyo. I still remember gathering for lunch at the lobby and you come to say "English Only!" because we were always watching "Waratte iitomo", the Japanese TV show. I was 19 yo and the world was wide open and unknown to me then. In fact, my son, Atkin, is 19 now, enjoying the not knowing what he can do in the world ahead. The other day on my birthday, Atkin asked me, "come on now, tell me one good thing about getting older". My answer was "well, knowing I became an expert at something, and knowing how to contribute to the world".
Now, I own a small physical therapy practice in Seattle. My happiness comes from "thank-you"s that I get from my clients. In order for me to get here, I could not omit any steps, I could not skip all the things that I learned along the way. I am here because you have guided me through teaching English and taking me through the process of coming to study in Pittsburgh. Thank you for your gentle guidance and expertise. I will carry that through the world with me. I will not forget you.
Noriko Tobe Arnstein
This is Kaz Suzuki. I used to work as a manager at Pitt ELI Japan.
Please let Steve know that Satoko, who also used to work at Pitt ELI, and I have two daughters, and we are playing and wishing the best for him.
The photo is of my family. We took it last year on my 60th birthday.
Regards,
Kaz
Please let Steve know that Satoko, who also used to work at Pitt ELI, and I have two daughters, and we are playing and wishing the best for him.
The photo is of my family. We took it last year on my 60th birthday.
Regards,
Kaz
Hello. This is Takeshi Saito.
I was a second-year student at the University of Pittsburgh ELI in Japan.
More than 30 years have passed.
I spent comfortable time in your class, so I used to imitate your” Uh-huh”. Certainly, I studied heard (?)reading and writing.
We also did a Rock Band at the Halloween party.
Ken is guitar, Masahito is keyboard, Masaru or Akiko is drums, and I’m vocal with guitar. We played Bon Jovi and Brian Adams. Do you remember that was not good GIG?
I remember that, to go to your hometown of Los Angeles. That town was nothing, not the city, but everybody was kind and warm people.
I also remember being homesick then, because I came from Hokkaido to Tokyo while being watched by family love. You worried about me. I was glad to feel your heart like my parents.
Even though the days have passed, the happy memories are like yesterday's.
I didn't get a job to utilize the English I learned. I learned about the precious way of life as a person.
I experienced marriage, divorce and illness, etc…
all joy , suffering and experience are irreplaceable times in life.
Any way I want to thank and respect all teachers.
And I thank you for all my heart, Steve.
I love your lovely smile.
Sincerely,
TAKESHI SAITO
I was a second-year student at the University of Pittsburgh ELI in Japan.
More than 30 years have passed.
I spent comfortable time in your class, so I used to imitate your” Uh-huh”. Certainly, I studied heard (?)reading and writing.
We also did a Rock Band at the Halloween party.
Ken is guitar, Masahito is keyboard, Masaru or Akiko is drums, and I’m vocal with guitar. We played Bon Jovi and Brian Adams. Do you remember that was not good GIG?
I remember that, to go to your hometown of Los Angeles. That town was nothing, not the city, but everybody was kind and warm people.
I also remember being homesick then, because I came from Hokkaido to Tokyo while being watched by family love. You worried about me. I was glad to feel your heart like my parents.
Even though the days have passed, the happy memories are like yesterday's.
I didn't get a job to utilize the English I learned. I learned about the precious way of life as a person.
I experienced marriage, divorce and illness, etc…
all joy , suffering and experience are irreplaceable times in life.
Any way I want to thank and respect all teachers.
And I thank you for all my heart, Steve.
I love your lovely smile.
Sincerely,
TAKESHI SAITO
This is Ken Sugimoto of Pitt. . It’s been a long time.
I heard Steve is in a bad condition. Get better and keep on rockin’!
BR,
Ken
I heard Steve is in a bad condition. Get better and keep on rockin’!
BR,
Ken
Dear Steve,
Well, it has been 30 some years since we graduated from the Pitt ELI program in Tokyo. Takeshi contacted me via Facebook messenger and told me you were ill.
I saw your friends putting their comments on the website Marc put up for you and I remember you were always "Calm, Cool and Collected" and had nice, gentle smile regardless how distracted and/or destructed we were in the class room. :}
Our classmate, Katsuyoshi Ebina, was so fond of you that he proposed us to dress like you on our graduation day so we did!!
I found some of the pictures during the time and sending with this note.
Thank you and take care.
Masaru Karasawa
Well, it has been 30 some years since we graduated from the Pitt ELI program in Tokyo. Takeshi contacted me via Facebook messenger and told me you were ill.
I saw your friends putting their comments on the website Marc put up for you and I remember you were always "Calm, Cool and Collected" and had nice, gentle smile regardless how distracted and/or destructed we were in the class room. :}
Our classmate, Katsuyoshi Ebina, was so fond of you that he proposed us to dress like you on our graduation day so we did!!
I found some of the pictures during the time and sending with this note.
Thank you and take care.
Masaru Karasawa
Steve,
Many thanks for sharing your sharp wit, especially your quick draw one-liners, with your colleagues at Pitt. Thanks also for the “Listening Myths” book. It remains a great go-to for classroom-applicable information for developing teachers.
Sincerely,
Dawn E. McCormick and M. Christine O’Neill
University of Pittsburgh
English Language Institute
Many thanks for sharing your sharp wit, especially your quick draw one-liners, with your colleagues at Pitt. Thanks also for the “Listening Myths” book. It remains a great go-to for classroom-applicable information for developing teachers.
Sincerely,
Dawn E. McCormick and M. Christine O’Neill
University of Pittsburgh
English Language Institute
Thank you, Steve! Our real life connections were limited but your work on listening has helped me be a better teacher, more able to focus on students' needs and help them move forward, which is what I want to do as a teacher. Thank you again!
Best wishes,
Bill
Best wishes,
Bill
Steven Brown has had a great influence on my understanding of teaching listening, through his amazing books about the subject. I've communicated with him a few times over the years, and he's always been friendly and professional. His work will always have a big impact on my development as an EFL teacher. Thank you, Steve!"
- Hall Houston
A message from a mystery friend (support from the browns):
Hang in there, Steve. As a cancer survivor, I'd like you to know that I am thinking about you and hoping that you reach the best possible outcome. May the pain meds work and all your nurses be pretty.
Charles Adamson
Charles Adamson
Click Mike's picture for his video