Benefit for Jack Browne

Oct. 11, 2006

Lake Ann resident Jack Browne is not a household name, but most people around the Traverse City area know him by his work. For the past 29 years Jack Browne has touched the lives of thousands of school age children from the region and numerous families both local and those that visited the area.
Jack Browne was the Zookeeper at the Clinch Park Zoo in Traverse City. Browne helped many during his tenure at the zoo. He often gave families a “backstage” look at the zoo. When schools would take field trips to the zoo and if the otters were hiding Jack would drop what he was doing and call them and the simple sound of his voice would bring them out to entertain the kids. That was Jack Browne never too busy to make a family visit to the zoo brighter.
Now Jack Browne needs our help. At the age of 54 he has been stricken with terminal cancer. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Browne at the age of 18 was drafted and joined the 54th Engineer Battalion based in Da Nang, Viet Nam, where he served for almost four years. During his tour of duty he was exposed to Agent Orange that has contributed to his health challenges in recent years and now terminal cancer.

RALLYING AROUND
His medical bills are far exceeding what his insurance company is covering. Browne is a humble individual, a family man who has spent his life as a giver not a taker. He isn’t asking for help, nor is his immediate family (his wife Suzanne has quit her job to care for him full time) but a group of his friends have decided to rally around him and help out.
A benefit to help Jack Browne and his family will take place at Union Street Station on Sunday October 15. The 12-hour affair will feature Vegas gaming sponsored by the Traverse City Optimist Club, both a silent and live auction, and several local bands and musicians.
“Jack has three families,” said Marty Beaudoin one of a dozen friends helping to coordinate the benefit. “His immediate family, the animals at the zoo and his friends at Union Street Station. We all admire Jack for his commitment to all three. He would stop most days after he was done at the zoo to see his friends at Union Street, have just one beer and take off to be home with his family.”
Beaudoin and others during their meetings to organize the benefit have recounted numerous special times with Browne.
“I remember when he took my daughter and I to the back of the bear cave to let my daughter feed the bears,” said Beaudoin. “It seems like everyone we run into has a story about Jack Browne, even people who didn’t know his name but knew him as that ‘friendly zookeeper’ have a special Jack Browne story.
One guy was telling us about a deer that he had hit with his car and how he took it to Jack who nursed the deer back to health. That is just the kind of guy Jack is.”
EXAMPLE TO OTHERS
Benefit organizers feel that because Jack Browne created so many special moments for so many that they want to create a “new paradigm” for benefits in the community.
“We are working hard to make this special, to make this a new model for benefit events in this community,” said Beaudoin. “We think it is important to make an event out of it.”
Beaudoin said that Jack Browne has lived his life in what may seem to be simple to some but has been an example of to others.
“He was never too busy for his kids or anyone else,” said Beaudoin. “He wasn’t tempted by a second beer. It was always one and done and off to his home.”
Event organizers also loved hearing Jack tell stories about his experiences with the animals.
“Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you!” said Browne one day at Union Street while reflecting on one of his experiences at the zoo and maybe also about his philosophy of life.
This particular bear was Darla, a 350-pound-plus female black bear and a longtime zoo resident. She had been tranquilized ready for a visit to the vet. Browne was helping transport her but soon discovered she was not as doped-up as they thought. Without warning Darla lunged at him and sank her teeth into his left forearm, damaging muscles and nerves alike. Just as rapidly as the attack started, it was over. Although Browne needed extensive repairs to his arm and still carries the scars, he returned to work unfazed.
“She was just being a wild creature,” he says. “She felt threatened and defended herself – nothing personal, and she’s a good bear.”

FORCED TO RETIRE
Browne never made excuses and as his health deteriorated he continued to work. When he was diagnosed with cancer he took the news in stride and stayed on at the zoo. Last year his illness finally forced him to retire.
Despite surgery and chemotherapy, Browne’s condition worsened and he was placed on the list for a liver transplant. Then, a few weeks ago, he was told his cancer is incurable. Now he is faced with not only the challenges of battling cancer but mounting medical bills.
“As we meet to coordinate this benefit we are staying focused on our goal and that is to raise money,” said Beaudoin. “We want to raise at least $10,000. This is a giving community and Jack has been an example of that in the way he lived his life. We are going to have Blackjack and other Vegas style games and hope that those that win will give those winnings back to Jack.”
Organizers are asking that if you are unable to attend to still make a donation either for the auction or a cash donation.
“No amount is too small or too large,” said Beaudoin. “We have a great day planned but if you are unable to attend please consider making a contribution regardless. Jack worked hard his whole life and had medical benefits and despite this his medical expenses go well beyond his pension and medical insurance coverage.”
Beaudoin said there are too many people to single out for their contributions to making this benefit a reality but feels that Union Street Station owners Dave and Kate VanOcker definitely deserve praise.
“Dave and Kate have been great, they are giving people who have done several benefit events,” said Beaudoin. “They both have gone the extra mile to make this happen and every time a challenge comes up for the committee they find a way to make things happen.”

The Jack Browne Benefit will take place Sunday October 15 from Noon to Midnight. Vegas style gaming and a silent auction will begin at noon with bands and live auction starting around 4 pm. An all-star gathering of musicians will take the stage at 9pm. For additional information visit www.unionstreetstation.net or to donate an item for the auction item drop it off directly to Union Street Station. To help out or to make a financial contribution contact Marty Beaudoin (231) 642-7669, checks may be made payable to the Jack Browne Fund (a special account has been established to help with medical bills).