Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Thomas Shipley BROWN
Thomas Shipley Brown, formerly of Westtown Thomas Shipley Brown, born February 5, 1912 , son of Shipley Brown and Lucy Hannah Haines Brown, lived many years in Westtown before moving to Kendal at Longwood in 2001. He passed away peacefully on January 5, 2011. Tom graduated from Westtown School in 1929 and from Haverford College in 1934, distinguishing himself at both institutions as a scholar and athlete. He received his Master's in English from Harvard University in 1935. Tom Brown taught English, Latin, and Bible from 1936 to 1948 and again from 1953 to 1963 at Westtown School, where he also served as Dean of Boys and head soccer coach. He taught at Earlham College from 1948 to 1953 and served as principal of Olney Friends School in Barnesville, Ohio, from 1963 to 1969. Tom ended his formal career in 1977, serving for eight years as the first executive secretary of the Friends' Council on Education. After retirement, he served for many years as a trustee of Westtown School. In all of these capacities he involved himself in the everyday lives of his students, bringing to them clarity of mind and a passionate love of learning, as well as love of the land and the joys of simple community living and service to others. A deeply committed, life-long member of the Religious Society of Friends, Tom Brown represented the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting at the World Council of Churches held in Amsterdam in 1948 and in London in 1952. He served as clerk and recording clerk of both Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Westtown Monthly Meeting. From 1990 to 2002 he was a member of Westtown's General Committee in charge of the school and, until his death, served as an emeritus member of that body. With ever-present humility and good cheer, Tom modeled a life of integrity that arose from a deep personal relationship with God, which grew in his last years as his physical and intellectual diminished. For many years, Tom Brown ran Back Log Camp, the Brown family wilderness camp in the Adirondacks. Here he continued the family tradition of combining excellent camping skills and intellectual discussions. All his life, Tom Brown was a vigorously active man. He loved figure skating, soccer, canoeing, hiking, and cooking, either indoors or out. He grew enough in his beloved garden to share with the greater community. Tom Brown was preceded in death by Anna Bennett Brown, his wife of 61 years. He is survived by his five children, Mary Alice James of Westtown, Thomas Shipley Jr., of Julian, Pa., Mae January Sterrett, of Westtown, Anne Brown Randall, of Willsboro, N.Y., and Sara Margaret Brown, of Westtown; by 10 grandchildren and two step-grandsons; and by 19 great-grandchildren and one step-great-grandson. There will be two memorial services on Saturday, January 15. The first will be at 10:30 a.m. at Kendal at Longwood. The second service will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Westtown Meeting House at Westtown School. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Westtown School, or to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
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