Advocates. Impactful. Courageous. Influential. These are words used to describe two of HAPS’ greatest treasures, Nina and Joe Brown. Nina and Joe were visionaries of our community from the time they were introduced to HAPS, until their deaths in 2012 (Joe) and 2022 (Nina). Since Nina’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease at the age of 42 years old, she and her husband of 50 years, Joe, dedicated their lives to educating themselves and others, serving as beacons of light and hope to those living with Parkinson’s.

In Texas, there’s a saying, “take the bull by the horns.” That’s exactly what Nina and Joe did. As with most newly diagnosed people and their families, they experienced layers of emotions, including shock and fear. However, in true Nina fashion, she quickly shifted her perspective to fight the disease. Joe, for his part, was her champion every step of the way – providing unwavering support to Nina and making her passion his own. He retired early from the real estate business to become an advocate for the Parkinson’s community. Together, they became warriors and champions to those walking the same path, whether a person diagnosed, a family member or friend.

Amid her journey, and with Joe by her side, Nina found gratitude for her diagnosis because she believed she had found her life’s purpose: to impact and help change the world for future generations. She would say, “you don’t get to pick your cards, but it’s how you play the hand you are dealt.”

Nina was aware she was fortunate because of her access to available resources such as medical care, exercise equipment and a strong support system. She wanted others to have the same resources and strived for equal opportunity across the Parkinson’s community. Their passion fueled the fire to make a difference.

As a young person living with the disease, Nina was constantly reminded of the challenges she faced. Each day she immersed herself in the Parkinson’s world – whether with books, legislation or science – tinged with a desire to develop an understanding of the disease and educate the public about it. She would say her diagnosis changed her, but those who knew and loved her are not convinced. They believe the warrior spirit was always a part of her personality – a quiet storm circling, just waiting for landfall.

Joe gave Nina the confidence she exuded. He lifted and encouraged her, allowing her to release an energy into the universe that helped her deal with her own challenges, while still feeding her passion and goal to impact the future of Parkinson’s. They were a true power couple – a dynamic duo.

Joe was kind, relatable and an overall good man. He was the type of person who would meet someone in an elevator, become an instant friend, exchange numbers and meet for lunch. No one was a stranger. He was also playful and fun and had a great sense of humor that left Nina believing he was the funniest person who ever lived.

They had two children, Gregg and Stacy, and four grandchildren, Ryan, Ariel, Ashley and Emily. Gregg and Stacy’s fondest memories of their parents are of the love they shared. They were madly in love, lived a storybook marriage, and were the perfect team in the best ways. It is difficult to separate the two of them because they were side by side all the time.

Together, Nina and Joe were a force to reckon with and moved mountains to transform the world of Parkinson’s. They pushed forward for what they wanted and believed in, moving the needle for the Parkinson’s movement at the local, state and national levels. Each served on the HAPS Board of Directors for more than 20 years, showing extraordinary commitment to the organization and working tirelessly for the community.

In 1997, they coordinated the appearance of Muhammad Ali at a gala benefiting HAPS, and for several years, their entire family walked and raised funds for Team HAPS in the Chevron Houston Marathon. Nina and Joe raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various local Parkinson’s projects, including having an instrumental role in the inauguration and success of HAPS’ Polo for Parkinson’s event in 2004.

Behind the scenes, Nina volunteered at HAPS by writing and editing the monthly newsletter. She also produced videos showing the range of HAPS programs including, The Parkinson Project: Mission Possible and Hope.

Nina and Joe were present at most HAPS events and other events in the community. Nina could be seen using her candy-filled cane that was changed regularly to coordinate with her outfit. Embracing teachable moments, she would excitedly and generously pour and share the candy with children at local schools, teaching them not to be afraid of disabilities. Never shying away from fashion, Nina also created and used a beautifully decorated decoupage walker. Her love for art and creativity allowed her to embrace and share the beauty of the challenges in her own Parkinson’s journey.

Nina and Joe were often recognized for their commitment and efforts in the Parkinson’s community. As well-known resources for senators and congressmen, they were honored at the Morris K. Udall Awards Dinner in Washington, DC, for outstanding advocacy for the Parkinson’s movement.

The pair were instrumental in the formation of two non-profit organizations, The Alliance for Medical Research and Texans for Advancement of Medical Research, each leading the effort to protect and advance important, ethical medical research for all forms of stem cell research in Texas. In 2009, Nina was presented the Hadassah’s Women of Courage Award for “unending courage and tenacity advocating for stem-cell research.”

In 2018, the Bush family granted HAPS the privilege of naming an award in the late President’s honor, the President George H. W. Bush Award. The award is inspired by the humanitarian legacy the 41st President created in 1990, by signing the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. This landmark piece of civil rights legislation has had a far-reaching impact on the lives of those with mobility challenges. HAPS was proud to present Nina as the first-ever recipient of the President George H. W. Bush Award in April 2021.

In their more than two decades of service on HAPS boards, Nina and Joe helped lay the groundwork as the organization changed and grew to provide resources to thousands of people with Parkinson’s and their families. They provided inspiration as role-models to countless families living with PD–always encouraging others to live their best lives no matter the obstacles, to find hope in the darkness and to fight with grace and courage.

Nina and Joe were among the greatest advocates for the Houston Parkinson’s community. In true spirit and shared legacy, they made a significant difference and created an enduring impression in our community. Until her death in March 2022, Nina continued to live her life with purpose without letting the challenges of life with Parkinson’s interfere with her passion to help others. She lived by the tagline under her email signature: “Circumstances determine our lives, but we shape our lives by what we make of our circumstances.”