Brown, James Martin; MEDFORD, MA. James M. Brown, 89, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 7th, 2023, in his home surrounded by his loving family. Born on December 10th, 1933, he was the loving son of the late Edward J. Brown and Dorothy (nee Sullivan) Brown of Milford, CT. Brother of the late Suzanne Carlstrom of West Haven, CT, and younger sister Judy Shanley who resides in Naples, FL, brother-in-law of Liz Kenny. He was married for almost 60 glorious years to the late Madelyn (nee Kenny) Brown of Medford, MA who passed away in March of 2020.
He is survived by his adoring children: Christopher and his wife Prisca of No. Andover, MA; Laurence and his wife Laura of Belfast, ME; James and his wife Judi of No. Reading, MA; and Julie Regan and husband Timothy of Medford, MA. Grandchildren Kristina and wife Emily, Alec and fiancée Megan, Austin, Matthew, Brendan, Louis and wife Chloe, Edward, Michael, Kevin, and Sean; many nieces and nephews and many, many dear friends.
He was a graduate of Fairfield Prep in Fairfield, CT. He continued his Jesuit education as a second generation graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Class of 1955, in Worcester, MA, which became such an important part of his family’s life where two sons, a grandson, brother—in-law, and five nephews followed in his footsteps. After three years of service in the U.S. Air Force as a copilot, he began his professional career at Raytheon while earning an MBA at Boston College. He worked at the Carr Fastener Company in Cambridge, MA which eventually became part of TRW where he would rise to Director of Management Information Systems at TRW worldwide traveling to Europe frequently, a position that was the precursor to the Chief Information Officer role. Faced with the prospect of moving his family to Cleveland, he found a similar role at ComEnergy in Cambridge, MA which later became part of Eversource Energy from where he retired.
He was married for almost 60 years to his beautiful and amazing wife, Madelyn. Mad and Jim shared decades of love, travel, and countless gatherings with family and friends where they shone the brightest. It was obvious to everyone that Mad “completed” Jim on so many levels. She kept the family rhythm syncopated at all times, loving and respecting the fact that Dad most often marched to his own beat. Many a morning in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s was met with the wake up rejoinder, “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Jim, we overslept” after which Mom would marshal the troops and get the four kids and Dad in line and out the door which Dad loved and appreciated. In addition to trips to Bermuda, Europe, Florida, they shared hours of “bliss” in every hockey rink, football field, and gym in Eastern Mass, rooting on their kids and later grandkids.
Never was their love more on display than when they were among their many groups of friends-whether they were hosting a party at 132, Dad was hanging kitchen cabinets or wall papering at a neighbor’s, or they were just chatting outside of St. Joseph’s after the 12:00 o’clock mass. Dr. Seuss said, “To the world you maybe one person, but to one person, you may be the world” and that world was certainly expansive. Friends from Card Club, the Medford Boat Club, trips with Monsignor Frank McFarland and the Lawless’, down the Cape with the Bailey’s, Lonergan’s, and Sullivan’s; golf trips with the Winchester C.C. crew, end of season cookouts with the Fresh Pond golf guys, Holy Cross reunions with the McCalls, Coveney’s, Danahy’s, Feeley’s, friends from Ireland, and of course pool parties at 132 with the Kenny’s, Stauss’s, and Carlstrom’s.
Dad was a character on so many levels. His life was replete with a love of laughter and a wonderful sense of humor. If he wanted to do something, read- couldn’t sit still, he did it, whether that meant painting everything Linen White or the garage floor green in 95 degree summer heat in his boxer shorts, driving his golf cart on the green (at a young age) or pulling his car up on your front lawn, leaving it running, and dashing inside to drop something off. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for others. He loved his life, Madelyn, family, and friends, and never wanted to get old. We’d imagine he’s in Heaven with Mom and so many others, issuing his signature line, “Let’s roll ‘em!” and if there’s a garage floor in Heaven, he’s painting it.
His funeral will be held from the Beals-Geake-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 29 Governors Avenue, Medford, on Friday, January 13, 2023, at 9 AM followed by a Mass of Christian burial celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 118 High Street, Medford at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are most welcome to attend. Visiting hours will be held in St. Joseph Church on Thursday from 4 to 8 PM. Interment, with military honors, will be held in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford. Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to the Pine Street Inn, 444 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118. For additional information, please visit, www.magliozzifuneralhome.com.