OHI shared about the recent passing of Peter Brown, the organization’s first chair of its newly formed Leadership and Elections Workgroup. Read OHI’s tribute below:
“The industry lost a giant today. Peter (Pete) Brown leaves behind an industry-defining legacy through a lifetime of kindness, generosity, service, and the countless people made better because of him. He poured every ounce of himself into our (and his beloved) industry, which is evident by the waterfall of tears being shed today at the news of his passing.
Pete didn’t just talk the talk, he power walked and sprinted it, too. At the age of 12 he hit the ground running when his parents turned a farm into a campground, known to all as Lone Oak Campsites in East Canaan, Connecticut. From then on Pete was all-in on growing in and for this industry. In 1993 he and his brother bought the campground from his father. It was the same year Pete’s son was born, because “Busy” was Pete’s middle name. He gave his time as freely as his kindness.
In late 2024, and after sixty-years in business, the campground sold and Pete was “retired”; which never really stuck between his cherished Grandpa-time, helping the new Lone Oak owners get up to speed, and volunteer service with the many associations that benefited from his continued wisdom. Pete took any chance he could to offer a helping hand.
Pete was elected to the OHI Board of Directors in 2013, where he served on the Executive Committee, becoming Board Chair just seven short years later in 2020. In 2024, Pete took on a colossal role as OHI’s first Chair of the newly formed Leadership and Elections Workgroup, establishing new policies and standards for OHI’s very first at-large Board Election. He was currently serving his third term as the Workgroup Chair, eagerly reviewing nominee applications for the next set of industry leaders. It was a role he took very seriously, offering a constant source of support and encouragement to the young minds looking to get involved with their national association and grow.
Despite how much Pete did, he always made himself available to help others and the industry, which is evident through the many associations he contributed to over the years. He served as the President of the Connecticut Campground Owners Association in 2008 and as its Western Region Vice President. Regionally, he’s also served on the Northeast Campground Association Board of Directors, the Vice President of the NCA Scholarship Committee and its Conference Planning Committee. He was the kind of leader every organization hoped to have at the table.
He also served as a mentor for the Young Professional’s Executive Committee and a member of the OHI Foundation Board of Trustees. Steadfast in his support of the industry, he attended 35 Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expos (OHCEs).
In 2024 Pete was awarded the OHI Stan Martin Memorial Award, the highest honor in the outdoor hospitality industry, for his strong support and dedication to the improvement and growth of the thousands of members who call OHI home,” the organization said.
“Pete made a long-lasting impact on everyone he encountered and he was a personal friend,” said Paul Bambei, president and CEO of OHI. “His legacy will be felt for years to come even by those he didn’t get to meet. The seeds of service he sowed will be blooming long after today, and he will always be remembered for his dedication and leadership in the outdoor hospitality industry.”
