MYSTIC: Malcolm Fitch Brown of 7 Griffen Drive, Mystic, died April 29th at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital.
Born March 24, 1923, he was the son of George William and Maria Fitch Brown of Noank and a graduate of Robert E. Fitch High School in Groton and of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Class of 1944.
During World War II, he served at sea on Liberty ships, freighters and tankers as a cadet midshipman. He survived the sinking of a Liberty ship off the coast of Nova Scotia, the loss of a second ship in the Mediterranean and the sinking by dive-bombing of the Liberty ship “Charles Warfield” at Civitavecchia, the port of Rome.
At war’s end, he was a first officer, licensed to pilot any vessel, of any tonnage, under sail or steam, on any ocean.
Graduating from the Administration Course at General Motors’ Institute in Flint, Michigan, Mr. Brown returned to Noank to join his father in the management of Brown Buick until his father’s retirement in 1960.
In March, 1961, Mr. Brown was appointed Groton Public Schools’ Business Manager and he served the town in that post for 28 years, retiring on August 25, 1989. During his tenure, he represented the town of Groton before Congressional committees, ultimately securing yearly grants of seven million dollars in lieu of taxes as compensation for the high percentage of Groton students residing in federal housing.
He was a former president of the Connecticut Association of School Business officials,an organization he helped to found.
An avid sailor and former member of Ram Island Yacht Club, he had led Noank’s Sea Scout Troop.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Mumford Cove Club and also of Bishop’s Cove.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, the former Harriet Babcock of Stonington, by a daughter, Priscilla B. Embry of Lyme, by a son, Malcolm, Jr. of Underwood, Washington, and by grandchildren Nathaniel, Julia and Jessamyn Embry.
A Memorial Service will be held at Calvary Church in Stonington on Wednesday, May 5, at 11:00am. Burial will follow in Stonington Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 238 West Town Street, Norwich CT 06360 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.