Alvin S. Brown Jr.
April 5, 2002
Alvin S. Brown Jr., 92, former Rockport town treasurer and collector, husband of
the late Anna L. (Waddell) Brown of Squam Road,
Rockport, died on Friday, April 5, at the Den Mar Nursing and
Retirement Center in Rockport.
He was born in Rockport on Oct. 3, 1909, son of the late Alvin S. and Caroline
(Sears) Brown.
Mr. Brown was a graduate of Rockport High School and the Massachusetts College
of Art.
He worked as a local artist during the early days of the Depression before he
became a town official for more than 41 years, first
as town clerk and then for 35 years as town treasurer and collector.
In addition, Mr. Brown served on many town boards and committees including the
Housing Authority, during the building of the housing
for the elderly complex; the water rate committee; the new
high school building committee; the Finance Committee;
and as town moderator.
Mr. Brown served on the Board of Investments of the Granite Savings Bank. He was
also active in several local organizations including
the Rockport Rotary Club, and received its Paul Harris Fellow award.
Although stricken with polio at age 14, which left him physically handicapped,
Mr. Brown still led a full and active life. As a young man, he enjoyed sailing
and, along with his father and two brothers, was an early member of the Sandy
Bay Yacht Club, eventually serving as one of its early stewards.
He was an accomplished story teller and enjoyed speaking to groups.
In his retirement years, Mr. Brown spent long, enjoyable hours relearning the
artistic skills he had not
practiced for more than 40 years and rediscovering the joy and excitement of
painting.
He is survived by his son, Alvin S. Brown III, and his wife, Patricia, of
Rockport; his granddaughter, Maria A. Brown, and her
fiancé, Jeffrey P. Goldberg of Dedham; two great-grandsons, Colby J. and Brendan
R. Fils of Dedham; two brothers, Carlton K. "Dyke" Brown of Rockport and Myron
W. Brown and his wife, Marguerite, of Rockport; a
close nephew, Robert Cooney, and his wife, Mabel, of Rockport;
and several nieces and nephews.
