Jimmy Brown was still alive in the late 90s.

"Jerry also has his own HBO connection, a "Sopranos" one, at that. In 1999, he and his brother, James "Jimmy Brown" Clemenza, were at a Little Italy Christmas party attended by several of the HBO show's cast members, including Tony "Paulie Walnuts" Sirico and Vincent Pastore, whose Big Pussy character then was alive and kicking, not swimming with the fishes."

http://www.nysun.com/new-york/late-guilty-plea-for-green-eyes/46468/