Brookhaven School Board Vice Chairman Dan Brown died Friday at the age of 72.

Before his five-year tenure on the Brookhaven School District’s Board of Trustees, Brown served as the principal at Alexander Junior High School.

Brown’s work in education as well in the greater community was praised by his friend and associate Andrew Spiller.

“He was a very good educator,” Spiller said in an interview Friday. “He wanted to see those kids go on and make something of themselves.”

Together Brown and Spiller created the ROTAP (Reaching Out To All People) foundation initially to assist elderly citizens but later expanded to concentrate on mentoring local youth and helping them make positive decisions.

“He was a great citizen to this whole community as well,” Spiller said. “He loved people and he tried to help anyone he could.

“He wanted to see his community be the best it could be.”

Because of his years of commitment to social betterment, Brown was honored by The “O” Foundation with the Ole Brook VIP Award in 2012.

Brown was not able to attend the event due to illness, but his appreciation in Brookhaven was made evident by the bestowal of compliments and accolades by community leaders in attendance.

Chairman of the Brookhaven School Board Willie Harrison also acclaimed Brown’s accomplishments and good character in an interview Friday.

“He was a great guy all around,” Harrison said. “He said what he meant and he meant what he said. If he told you tomorrow was Sunday, you might as well put on your Sunday clothes.”

Harrison continued, “He will really be missed, there’s not too many like him.”