Ivar F. Browne

Retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Ivar Francis Browne, born March 12, 1939, the only son of the late Howard F. and Lillian R. Browne, departed this life on June 19, 2026.He was a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and had been a Yorktown resident since 1982, retiring from active duty at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia. As a young boy, he absorbed the positive set of values taught by his loving parents and they became his beacon and foundation throughout his life. He treated others as he wished to be treated, readily aided his fellow man, and took total responsibility for his actions.
After graduating from New Bedford High School, he matriculated at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he was initiated into the Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on October 11, 1958. During his time at Lincoln, he served as the Editor in Chief of the Lincolnian, the university newspaper in his junior year, he played three sports; graduating eighth in his class in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He then pursued graduate studies at Depauw University in Indiana prior to his enlistment in the United States Air Force in December of 1962. He accomplished basic training followed by Officer Training School where he graduated in the top 15 percent of his class and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May of 1963.
Ivar enjoyed more than twenty years of distinguished service in aircraft maintenance and international logistics weapon systems acquisition and follow-on support in the service to his country. His career included six years as a flightline maintenance officer and ten years in the field of International Logistics highlighted by a tour as the sole aircraft maintenance advisor to the Brazilian Air Force in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he oversaw their security assistance program. While in the Air Force, Lt Col Browne was named a Council of Graduate Management Education (COME) Fellow and earned a Master of Business Administration incorporate policy and labor relations from Columbia University in 1973. He also graduated from the National Defense University’s National Security Management Course, the Defense Institute of Security Management Course, the Defense Institute Security Assistance Management, the Air Force Command and Staff College, and the Squadron Officer School. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Master Aircraft Maintenance Badge.
Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1986, Lt Col Browne began a second career as a principal and Vice President at SYSTRON Corporation, a Hampton-based management and training consulting firm. He later became the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rawlings Quarry Diving Company, a Scuba and camping park, in Rawlings, Virginia. Further, he decided to devote his organizational and leadership skills to his beloved fraternity, joining the Zeta Lambda Chapter in Newport News, Virginia where he served as the Director of Education, Recording Secretary, First Vice President, Chapter President, Historian, and Financial Secretary. In 1990, he became Life Member #1724 of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
During his tenure as Chapter President, the Area Founders’ Day Celebration expanded into a Fellowship and Reclamation Weekend, bringing Brothers back to active membership. Under his leadership, Zeta Lambda Chapter $2,500 Scholarships Program was re-established with an annual grants to deserving to high school seniors; MEGAGENESIS, the chapter’s “Go to High School – Go to College” initiative was established and developed; more than $30,000 and countless volunteer hours were contributed to local charitable and civic endeavors; and a comprehensive awards program was created. As a result Zeta Lambda was named the Virginia Association of Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s (VACAPAF) Alumni Chapter of the Year in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998; the Eastern Region Alumni Chapter of the Year in 1996, 1997 and 1998; and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Alumni Chapter of the Year in 1998. At the state level, Ivar served as the VACAPAF Financial Secretary, 1995 – 1999 and was elected Virginia District Director, serving as both District Director and VACAPAF President beginning in 1999; and re-elected in 2001 at the 58th VACAPAF Convention at Virginia Tech University.
Ivar also received numerous fraternal honors. Including: Zeta Lamba Alpha Man of the Year (1994), VACAPAF Alumni Brother of the Year (1995), Peninsula Pan-Hellenic Council Greek of the Year (1995), Gama Iota Chapter’s Benefactor’s Award (1995), Zeta Lambda Chapter President’s Award of Appreciation (1998), Zeta Lambda Chapter Patriarch of the Year (1998), and the Zeta Lambda Chapter President’s Award (1996, 2000 and 2002). He was awarded the Chapter’s Award of Merit in 2024 and inducted into the VACAPAF Hall of Fame. He was recently honored at the Zeta Lamda Chapter’s Father’s Day Celebration in 2026.
Beyond the fraternity, Ivar was a very active member of the Tidewater Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. serving as President in 1986 and 1990. He was also m member of the Les Homes Civic and Social Club, where he served as Secretary of the Board of Directors and chairman of the Education Foundation, receiving the President’s Award in 2002. In 2018 he was inducted into the Les Homes Hall of Fame. He held a life membership in the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Air Force Association (AFA), and the Military Association of America (MOAA).
He is survived by his loving wife of nearly sixty years, Sylvia Page Browne; and their two daughters, Nichele V. Browne Cooper and Lisa D. Browne; and his grandson, Justin.
The family requests that memorial donations be sent to his alma mater Lincoln University General Fund, Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, 19036.
A Memorial Celebration for Ivar F. Brown will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church of Hampton 229 N King Street, Hampton, Va. Following the serve a reception will follow at The Landing at Hampton Marina by Hilton 70 Settlers Landing Rd, Hampton, Va.