Ocean City Man, Philadelphia Paramedic, Dies After Cancer Battle

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Greg Browne could seemingly do it all. His career arc included the Ocean City Beach Patrol, flying planes, television reporting and the Philadelphia Fire Department.

Browne, 53, died Wednesday after a battle with cancer at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He was born in Philadelphia and raised in Ocean City.

He attended Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, where he played football, rowed track and was a founding member of the school's surf team. Browne was also an alter boy for St. Francis Cabrini Church.

Then Browne joined the OCBP, where he was a top Patrol competitor in the “surf dash”, running, and rowing. Browne acquired his pilot's license while doing so.

"Greg was a brother of the lifeguard stand and a valued alum of the Ocean City Beach Patrol (NJ)," wrote OCBP Alumni Association President Jack Brooks. "His service to the City of Ocean City and his fellowship with lifeguards is warmly remembered by all. Lifeguards for Life Greg!"

Browne flew banner planes in South Florida and South Jersey. He later received multi-engine certification and flew shuttles in the Caribbean. He eventually received his jet rating and flew for Mid-Atlantic Jet and later as a pilot for US Air.

He then moved on to journalism. Browne was a photographer for the now-defunct Channel 40 before moving in front of the camera and reporting on news and weather.

"He was a great person, a ton of fun and has been fighting cancer like hell," said Cleve Bryan, a CBS 3 Philly reporter.

He switched careers again, enrolling at Thomas Jefferson University's paramedic program. The Philadelphia Fire Department hired him, and he graduated from the Fire Academy in 2015.

Several fire departments and organizations honored Browne.

"The members of the Ocean City Firefighters Association are saddened by the news of the loss of former OCBP lifeguard and current Philadelphia Fire Department medic Greg Browne," said the Ocean City Firefighters Association on Facebook. Our condolences to the Browne family and our P.F.D brothers & sisters. Rest easy brother.

Browne is survived by his wife, Amy Brenholts, and dogs Angie and Axis.

Click here for Browne's obituary.

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