Charles Hugh Brown, lll

Charles (“Charlie”) Hugh Brown III, 79, of Timonium, Maryland, a prominent Baltimore certified public accountant, longtime leader in Catholic healthcare, and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on October 30, 2026.

Widely respected for his financial expertise, unwavering integrity, and commitment to service, Charlie spent much of his distinguished 50-year career at Ellin & Tucker, Chartered, where he was a senior partner in the Tax Department. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he devoted decades to volunteer leadership, serving on the governing boards of major healthcare organizations and senior living communities throughout the region.

Charlie was born on December 10, 1946, in Baltimore, to Charles H. Brown Jr. and Helen Manley Brown. He attended All Saints Elementary School before entering Calvert Hall College High School in 1960 on a four-year partial music scholarship. An accomplished trumpet player, he was a dedicated member of the Calvert Hall marching band and studied at the Peabody Preparatory.

He continued his education at Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, graduating with honors in 1968 with a degree in accounting. While at the Mount, he remained an enthusiastic musician and basketball supporter, playing his trumpet at games coached by the legendary Jim Phelan. His spirited performances of "When the Saints Go Marching In" became among his fondest college memories. His ties to Mount Saint Mary's endured throughout his life, and in 1984, the college recognized his achievements and contributions with its Distinguished Alumni Award.

Charlie began his accounting career at Price Waterhouse & Co., initially working in the firm's audit practice before transitioning into taxation. In 1981, he joined Ellin & Tucker, Chartered, where he became a senior partner in the Tax Department and established himself as a trusted tax advisor to businesses and individuals throughout the Baltimore region. In 1988, the Baltimore Business Journal recognized him as its "Business Person of the Week." His professional leadership also extended internationally through DFK International, a global association of independent accounting firms, where he served as chairman of the Taxation Committee from 2001 to 2005. He retired as a director of Ellin & Tucker in 2016 but continued to serve the firm as a consultant until 2018, concluding a 50-year career in public accounting.

Alongside his professional career, Charlie devoted more than three decades to leadership in Catholic healthcare, particularly through the Bon Secours organizations. His association with Bon Secours began in early childhood, when he attended Saint Martin's Day Care Center on the campus of Bon Secours Hospital in West Baltimore while his mother worked as a music teacher. Decades later, he returned to serve on the Board of Bon Secours Hospital from 1983 to 1991, including as chairman from 1989 to 1991.

He subsequently served on the Board of Bon Secours Health System from 1987 to 2006, chairing its Audit and Compliance Committees. From 2008 to 2014, he was a member of the Board of Bon Secours Ministries, the sponsor organization of the health system. During the final two years of his tenure, he returned to the Bon Secours Health System Board as its chairman. His responsibilities also took him to Vatican City to participate in meetings with the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Charlie's commitment to healthcare and senior living extended to Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, where he served on the Board of Directors from 2009 to 2019, chairing the Audit Committee and serving on the Executive and Investment Committees.

A lifelong Catholic, Charlie was active in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, serving on the Board of Christian Formation and the Archbishop's Task Force on the Financing of Catholic Schools during the 1980s. He was a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Catholic order dedicated to supporting the Christian presence in the Holy Land. In 2017, Archbishop William E. Lori appointed him Section President of the Order's Middle Atlantic Lieutenancy. He was also a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Beyond his professional and volunteer commitments, Charlie enjoyed music, sports, and travel. A lifelong Baltimore Orioles fan, he attended the team's inaugural game at Memorial Stadium on April 15, 1954, with his father, preserving the game program for the rest of his life. His sporting loyalties also included the Baltimore Colts and Ravens, Mount Saint Mary's basketball, and, of course, every team that counted his children or grandchildren among its players.

On July 12, 1975, Charlie married Joanne Thelma Cecil at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore. Their marriage of more than 51 years was the foundation of a life centered on faith, family, and shared commitments. Together, they raised two children and built a close-knit family that remained Charlie's greatest source of pride and happiness.

Above all, Charlie was devoted to his family. He took particular pride in the lives and accomplishments of his children and five grandchildren and was a constant, enthusiastic presence at their sporting events, musical and dance performances, and school activities. His support extended from their earliest childhood interests through their college years, and he rarely missed an opportunity to celebrate their achievements.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Joanne Cecil Brown; his son, Charles H. Brown IV, M.D., and his wife, Marie; his daughter, Elizabeth Brown Hang, and her husband, Daniel; and five grandchildren, Natalie Cecil Hang, Anna Marion Brown, Colin Daniel Hang, Luke Thomas Brown, and Kieran Cecil Brown.

He is also survived by his brothers, Robert F. Brown, D.V.M. (Diana), and Michael E. Brown Sr. (Verena); and his sister, Catherine Brown Abel (Edward). He was preceded in death by his brother, William J. Brown (Mary), in 2019.

Family and friends are invited to attend visitation on Friday, November 13, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Ruck Funeral Home in Towson, Maryland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cockeysville, Maryland. Burial to follow at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Calvert Hall College High School, Mount St. Mary’s University, or the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.