Obituary of Lillian Brown

On October 3, Mrs. Lillian H. Brown, 74, who was once described as an "indefatigable advocate for community betterment, died at Connecticut Hospice in Branford after a valiant battle with ovarian cancer. Mrs. Brown was a leader in the Connecticut community who broke important ground. After moving to Waterbury with her husband, Louis F. Brown, in 1957, she became a trailblazer in the community becoming the first African-American Physical Education teacher in the Waterbury Public School system; the first African-American guidance counselor in Naugatuck Valley; the first African- American female to be appointed to the Board of Trustees at St. Margaret's McTernan School, now Chase Collegiate School; the first female Chair of Associate Directors at Mattatuck and Connecticut National Banks; the first female Director of the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra's Board; the first African-American member of the Waterbury Chorale; the first African -American Trustee of the Connecticut Community Foundation; the first African-American on the Board of the Children's Community School; the first female on the Board of the Connecticut Eye Research Foundation, Inc.; the first African-American Chair of the Board of the Waterbury Red Cross; the first African-American Director of The Palace Theater Board; and the first African-American President of the Connecticut chapter of AARP.She was motivated by a basic sense that one person can make a community a better place and was mentored by the memory of her father, Charlie Wyatt Hill Sr., who set as a foundation the core value of egalitarianism and acts of moral obligation. This guided her to lead in education serving 35 years as a teacher and guidance counselor, lead in the community leading AARPs 600,000 members and to protect residents against discrimination as a governor-appointed Commissioner on the State Commission on Human Rights. She was also committed to lead in healthcare by participating in initiatives to further eye research as a member of the Board of the Connecticut Eye Research Foundation and supporting AIDS research by establishing a church AIDS ministry at Grace Baptist Church. Mrs. Brown was also a spiritual leader serving as a liturgical assistant and member of the vestry at St. Johns Episcopal Church. The list of her civic, community and cultural contributions goes on. When Mrs. Brown was growing up, she dreamed of being an opera star inspired later by Leontyne Price, an African American born soprano, who rose to fame in the 50s as a superstar at the once-segregated Metropolitan Opera. This love for culture and the arts was another side of her life that she took action on and led. She served on the Waterbury Symphony board for 20 years, sang first soprano with the Waterbury Chorale and traveled throughout Europe for group performances. Her dedication, commitment, and strength of conviction inspired all those who met her. At the same time she was a loving, inspirational and abundantly caring spouse and mother.She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 52 years, Louis F. Brown, and two sons Avery Brown (wife Tiffany) of Oakton, Virginia and Colin Brown (wife Jennifer) of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren Emma Carol, Mackenzie Avery; and Elizabeth Grace, mother, Caroline M. Hill of Newport News, VA; sister, Jenever H. Brown and brother, Charlie W. Hill Jr. of Hampton, VA; nieces, Shaun Brown, Rahcyne, Caroline, and Charlene Hill, as well as a host of family in Virginia. Arrangements are handled through the Alderson Funeral Home of Waterbury 70 Central Ave. A private service was held for family at St. John's Episcopal Church in Waterbury and a public memorial service will be held at a St. Johns Episcopal Church located at 16 Church Street in Waterbury on Saturday, November 3, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. Parking will be available in the St. Johns church parking lot and Mulville Funeral Home parking lot located at 270 West Main Street at Holmes Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following scholarship funds: The Louis F. and Lillian H. Brown Scholars Fund, Chase Collegiate School, 565 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708 (Memo: 'name of scholarship fund' In memory of Lillian Brown), and the 'In Search of Excellence' Scholarship Fund, Connecticut Community Foundation, 43 Field Street, Waterbury, CT 06702. The scholarships seek to promote the uplifting and progress of African American students.