Gordon Russell Brown of Pawlet, Vt., passed away on Aug. 11, 2010.
Gordon was born on Dec. 13, 1930, in East Orange, N.J., the son of Russell and Marie Brown.
He attended local schools in Verona, N.J., before graduating from University of Vermont in 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy on a destroyer at the end of the Korean War. He was a third-generation building contractor in New Jersey’s Essex County area, specializing in residential construction and renovations.
Gordon volunteered in the local former ELF program and served on both the Dorset Nursing Association and Pawlet Public Library boards. An avid reader, birdwatcher, hunter, and fisherman, his interest in the outdoors and travel happily filled his retirement years since moving to Vermont 22 years ago.
He and his UVM sweetheart, Sally Smith, were married 58 years ago. Their three sons are Peter, wed to Mary Pat, Berkeley Heights, N.J.; Bruce, wed to Therese, Denver, Colo.; and Mark, wed to Tamara, Berkeley, Calif. His family was his pride and joy, including five grandchildren: Russell (China), Jeffrey and Elizabeth (Berkeley, Calif.), Jason (Fontana, Calif.), and Jessica (Denver, Colo.). He is also survived by a sister, Sally Van Duyne, Devon, Pa., and numerous other special relatives.
Respecting his wishes, the family will celebrate his life privately. His ashes will be scattered in his beloved Vermont and Colorado.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Pawlet Public Library, P.O. Box 98, Pawlet, Vt. 05761; Dorset Nursing Association, c/o RAVNA/Hospice, P.O. Box 187, Rutland, Vt. 05702-0787 or one’s own choice.