Zadoc White Brown, who created the first mutual fund in Hawai'i, will be remembered for his generous contributions, his zest for helping the community on boards and commissions and his love of history.

Brown, 89, died Monday. Private services were held Wednesday at the O'ahu Cemetery, said his son, DeSoto Brown.

"My dad was one-quarter Hawaiian and was aware of both sides of his heritages," Brown said. "Because of his family background he was always interested in the the history of Hawai'i."

Brown said his father co-published his great-grandfather John Papa I'i's writings in "Fragments of Hawaiian History," a snapshot of life under the Kamehamehas published in 1963. Zadoc Brown also studied English and European history.

"While he wasn't a scholar, he was very well-read and informed of many things," Brown said. "He was aware of his position in the community and was very generous and conscious of his obligation to the community."

After retiring in the 1970s from managing the Brown Fund of Hawai'i, Zadoc Brown became involved in the community by participating on boards and commissions, Brown said. Zadoc Brown was a member of the board of directors of The Honolulu Advertiser, the Friends of 'Iolani Palace, the Hawaiian Historical Society, the Mission Houses Museum and Bishop Museum.

Thurston Twigg-Smith, former owner of The Honolulu Advertiser, said Zadoc Brown played a key role in the paper's history. In 1959, the paper was experiencing a financial crisis and Zadoc Brown came through with an infusion of cash.

"He (Zadoc Brown) was at Harvard Business School when we suddenly needed a good-sized investment to acquire a key block of stock that gave us control," Twigg-Smith said via e-mail. "Without hesitation, Brown said yes and the rest is history."

Virginia Brown, Zadoc Brown's wife of 64 years, said her husband had a great sense of family and a sense of humor. "People valued his advice," she said.

Zadoc Brown is survived by his wife, Virginia; sons, Zadoc White Brown Jr., Alan Lowrey Brown and David "DeSoto" Brown; daughter, Cynthia Brown Quiesenberry; brother, Kenneth Francis Brown; six grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Zadoc W. and Lawrence N. Brown Foundation that supports Hawaiian organizations and others dedicated to healthcare, education and historic preservation. Send donations to P.O. Box 3170, Honolulu, HI 96802.

DeSoto Brown said his father taught all his children to have a sense of history

"He loved the idea of knowing about history," DeSoto Brown said. "He was fascinated by history and said that it was important because of how it affected today."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.