PR VETERAN PASSES AWAY
By Adnews Staff
Former PIR Communications co-owner Gerald Brown passed away in his home on Saturday. Brown, 68, joined Public & Industrial Relations in 1952 (later known as PIR Communications), then purchased the firm two years later with his partner Trevor Lloyd. Brown retired in 1990 following the sale of PIR to Shandwick PLC of London, England. Shandwick then merged PIR with Continental Communications. But retirement didn't slow him down. Since then, Brown helped found the Centre for Conflict and Crisis Communications Strategy of Toronto, which organized professional training seminars for senior executives and public relations professionals. He was also chairman of The Speech Foundation. Funeral services will be held on Dec. 3 in Toronto at St. Clement's Anglican Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Speech Foundation of Ontario.