John W. Brothers' Obituary
FINAL CURTAIN FALLS ON AREA ACTOR AND RETIRED CSX RAILROAD EXECUTIVEJohn W. Brothers of Fort Myers, FL and Sheffield Lake, OH, known to many theatre?¡goers as an accomplished actor and director died May 16, 2015 at Hope Hospice, Cape Coral, FL. He was 83 years of age. Before retiring to Florida in 1992 from the CSX Railroad, he was director of industrial development in its Baltimore headquarters.John was a long time former resident of Middletown, NJ. prior to his retirement. During the winter, he lived at his home at the Herons Glen Country Club in North Fort Myers, FL, where he was active in local theatre companies, founded the Herons Glen Players of Herons Glen Country Club and was the first editor of THE HERON newspaper. During the summer, he lived on the grounds of the 103rd O.V.I. Civil War Camp in Sheffield Lake, OH (which his great?¡grandfather helped found).Born into the theatrical family of John and Cassandra Brothers of Cleveland, Ohio, he pursued acting in New York and toured the country with various road shows as a young man. That changed the day his car broke down in front of a railroad office in Albany, NY and went in to call for help. He came out with a job that went on to become a 40?¡year career with what is now CSX in sales and industrial development positions at Cleveland, Toledo, and Chillicothe, Ohio; as well as New York, Charleston and Baltimore.Mr. Brothers successfully combined his full?¡time career with CSX with a part?¡time theatrical avocation. He was the only railroad executive licensed to practice before the Interstate Commerce Commission while being a card?¡carrying member of the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists.A 32nd degree Mason, he belonged to Arabia Shrine in Fort Myers, the Charleston WV Scottish Rite Consistery, and was a 50?¡year member of Northern Light Masonic Lodge of Maumee, OH. He attended Fenn College in Cleveland, the University of Baltimore, and Russell Sage College in Albany where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Kappa fraternity.Mr. Brothers was a Board member of and active in the Cultural Park Theatre Company, Cape Coral, FL, and often appeared with Florida Repertory Theatre Co., Fort Myers.He is survived by sister, Ann Fauver, of Sheffield Lake, OH; former wife of 25 years and lifelong friend, Lucille K. Brothers, a retired teacher of English and Drama at Middletown High School, now living in Red Bank, NJ; his son, Geoffrey M. Brothers, founder and President of Brothers Commercial Brokerage in Red Bank, NJ, and Geoffrey’s wife, Michelle living in Middletown, NJ; daughter, Dr. Gail Cassandra Brothers, a clinical psychologist in Fort Worth, TX, and her husband, Edward Porter; daughter, Julia Ann Brothers, a professional actress in New York City; three grandchildren, Everett Brothers and Theresa Brothers in Middletown, NJ; and Marlena Frank, married to Charles “CJ” Frank, Fair Haven, NJ; and three great?¡granddaughters Catalina, Delilah and Ruby Frank, Fair Haven, NJ; and friend Patricia Clopton of North Fort Myers.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Civil War Memorial Foundation, 5501 Lake Road, Sheffield Lake, OH 44054. A Memorial Service for his Florida friends will be held on Sunday, May 31st at 2 pm at Hope Hospice Chapel, 2430 Diplomat Parkway East, Cape Coral, FL 33909. For friends and family in Ohio, services will be held Friday, June 12, 2015 at 11 am at Knollwood Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio. Interment will be at Knollwood Cemetery.Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared on his tribute page at www.fortmyersmemorial.com
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