Florence Goulart Brower, 99, of Fairhaven died on Wednesday July 24, 2002 at her daughter's home, built on a piece of land from the former Goulart Farm on Sconticut Neck, where she was born on June 4, 1903, the daughter of the late Joseph B. and Emerciana (Pires) Goulart.
She and her husband, the late George Emery Brower, moved to New Bedford from Fairhaven on the eve of the 1944 hurricane on September 13, 1944. She lived in New Bedford until two years ago, when she fulfilled her final wish to move back to Fairhaven, which she did on June 21, 2000.
Mrs. Brower was a well-known educator in the Greater New Bedford area. She graduated from Bridgewater Normal School in 1924, and taught for 17 years in Dartmouth at the Reed Road Schoolhouse and at the Bliss Corner School. In 1941, she returned to Bridgewater for two more years, graduating in 1943 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. After her daughter began attending school, she went back teaching as a substitute teacher and had the distinction of teaching in every school in the City of New Bedford, and in every grade. In 1953, she taught first grade at St. Joseph's School in Fairhaven. She returned to New Bedford and began full-time teaching again. Her favorite grade was the fourth grade. Mrs. Brower was one of the first educators to teach about the history of whaling in her classes by inviting Mr. Alton Bailey of the New Bedford Whaling Museum to her classes to talk to her students about whaling. She also returned to Bridgewater State College once again to complete requirements to teach special needs students. She retired from teaching in 1971, and eventually established a scholarship fund for Fairhaven students at Bridgewater State College.
During her early teaching career, she spent a summer working as a Fairhaven police woman. After her retirement, she became a companion for Coastline Elderly, and took frequent vacations to Europe, one of which included a handshake with Pope John Paul II. In 1998 she attended the Kentucky Derby for her 95th birthday. In her front row seat, she became an instant celebrity with her custom made Derby hat, a birthday gift from the late Cindy Williams of Louisville. Her photo appeared in the 125th Anniversary Kentucky Derby publication of the Louisville Courier-Journal the following year.
Over the years, she was a member of the Catholic Women's Club, the Daughters of Isabella, the Fairhaven Police Association, the Garden Club of New Bedford, the College Club of New Bedford, and the Old Dartmouth Historical Society.
Survivors include a daughter, Cathryn F. Brower of Cambridge and Fairhaven; a sister, Grace Goulart Nopper of Fairhaven; two nephews and a niece.She was the sister of the late Mary J. Goulart, Helen Goulart Longden, Joseph B. Goulart, Jr., all of Fairhaven, and Frank B. Goulart of New Bedford.
Private burial services were held in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.
Remembrances may be made to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society/The Whaling Museum (for Fourth Grade Educational Programs), 18 Johnnycake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740.