William F. Brown
June 8, 2016
William Farrar Brown, M.D., a longtime resident of Norwood and Dover, Massachusetts, and Hutchinson Island and St. Lucie West, Florida, passed away on June 8, 2016, at the age of 92, at his home in The Village retirement community in Gainesville, Florida.
Dr. Brown, born in Nashua, NH, was the only son of Georgia Farrar, who held a master’s degree in English from Columbia University, and George Edward Brown, who held a theological degree from Union Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate in religious education from Boston University.
Dr. Brown graduated from Philips Academy, Andover in 1942, where he was a day student, attended Harvard University upon enlisting in the US Army and was subsequently sent to Yale University by the army for his pre-medical studies. He graduated at the age of 23 from Boston University School of Medicine (Class of 1947), and was Board Certified in General Surgery. Upon re-enlisting in the US Navy, he was the medical officer for four destroyers during the Korean War. He spent most of his medical career (1955-1988) at the Norwood Hospital (Massachusetts), where he was President of the hospital staff and Chief of the surgical staff.
Dr. Brown’s wife of 59 years, Marilyn Elizabeth MacLeod, who held a degree in organ performance from Boston University School of Music, predeceased him in August, 2009. His two sisters, Betty Commerford and Barbara Coldsmith, also predeceased him.
He leaves four children and their families, Robert MacLeod Brown (Carolee McAfee) of Dover, Massachusetts and Oliver and Emma; Deborah Brown Sappington (David) of Gainesville, Florida and Alexander; Ronald Farrar Brown (Jane Spivack) of Brooklyn, New York and Peter and Betsey; and William McElwain Brown (Caroline Tulenko) of New York City and Isabella and William. He also leaves four step-grandchildren, one step great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dr. Brown was a man of great integrity, kindness, and compassion for others. He was humble, fun, appreciative, and a true inspiration, as he struggled without complaint with physical disabilities for the last twenty years of his life. He will be missed by his family who loved him immensely and by his many friends.
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Dad, I will never stop missing you. You were such a presence in our lives, and your absence leaves a hole that is hard to bear. I know that you were ready to move on, as the struggles became overwhelming, so I try to concentrate on knowing that you are in a far better place and for that I am happy. Tears are still frequent but I am getting accustomed to the new normal. Thank you Dad for all that you did for your family, patients and friends. You often voiced that you worried that you neglected us because your work as a solo practitioner required your undivided attention. We did not feel it because you really were always there for us. You were such an incredible role model. You never stopped worrying about others. You continue to be an inspiration to me to strive to be a better person. I will love you and miss you until we meet again.