A kindhearted and generous man who was grateful for all of life’s blessings

GRANBY, Conn. — Richard Edwin Brown, 84, of Strafford, N.H. and Granby, Conn., formerly of North Reading, passed away at his Connecticut home with family by his side on July 11, 2021.

Born in Boston, Richard was the beloved husband of Carol A. Brown for 54 years. He was the son of the late Edwin and Helene (Merrow) Brown. Raised in Stoneham, Richard completed the General Electric Apprentice Program and went on to graduate from Northeastern University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Richard enjoyed a successful 38-year career as a Mechanical Design Engineer with General Electric.

Though he greatly enjoyed his profession, the true love of Richard’s life was his family. He was a proud and loyal husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and delighted in all his family’s achievements and milestones. One of his greatest joys was spending time with them at his Bow Lake home in Strafford, N.H., where—for over 42 years—he and his late wife, Carol, made wonderful memories with their whole family and created friendships that lasted decades.

As a talented woodworker and craftsman, much of the furniture he built is still used by the family today. He found great peace in nature and loved to hike, ski, sail and camp. A quiet man with a witty sense of humor and the ability to tell the funniest stories, he was able to endear himself to anyone who took the time to get to know him. He would go above and beyond for anyone and loved to share his knowledge and skills with those he knew would treasure that knowledge and use it to help others.

Richard was a kindhearted and generous man who will forever be remembered for his humble and gentle nature, but mostly as a man who was grateful for all of life’s blessings. He also took great pleasure in sharing and enjoying a great IPA with family and friends. It has recently been shared that he alone may have put craft beer on the map!

Richard is survived by his three children, Edwin Brown and his wife, Lilly of Litchfield, N.H.; Lori Texiera and her husband, Paul of Simsbury, Conn., and Cindy O’Donnell and her husband, Philip of Amherst, N.H. He is also survived by his adored grandchildren, Kurtis, Kristopher, Julia, Nicholas, Carolyn, Ethan, Andrew and Joshua, and two beautiful great-grandchildren, Hadley and Lilly, as well as those who loved him as their own Papa. He is also survived by his wonderful nieces, nephews, and many friends. Richard was predeceased by his beautiful and loving wife Carol (Lombardo) Brown in 2014.

Burial will be private. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date with family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to his wife Carol’s memorial Nursing scholarship c/o Nursing Continuing Education Program—Carol Lombardo Brown Scholarship, Boston Medical Center Office of Development, 801 Massachusetts Ave.,1st Floor, Boston, MA 02118-2393.

Richard’s family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the first responders of the Granby, Connecticut Police Department and the Simsbury, Connecticut Volunteer Ambulance Association for their caring and compassionate service.

The Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home of Granby, Conn., is in care of the arrangements. To share a memory or condolence message with Richard’s family, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.