Obituary of Thomas Anthony Brown

Thomas Anthony Brown, 25-year resident of New Canaan died, with his wife and one of his daughters by his side, on July 8, 2011 in Norwalk Hospital from cardiac arrest, after suffering a fall from which he never recovered in April. Thomas was born to Mary Ellen Summerville and Arthur Nelson Brown in Brooklyn, New York, on August 5, 1933. Orphaned early after the death of his parents Thomas was raised by Mr. and Mrs. William Conners in Brockport, NY. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He married Julia Moran on September 7, 1957 in Brockport, NY. Together they had 7 children. Thomas earned a bachelor’s of business administration degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Niagara University in 1959 and became a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York in 1963. He began working for Price Waterhouse in 1959 and spent the entirety of his professional career there. He was admitted to Partnership in 1969. His career led to him to change homes across several states including; Rochester, NY; Brooklyn, NY; Williamsville, NY; Birmingham, MI; Glenview, ILL; and lastly New Canaan, CT. During his distinguished career Thomas served as Chairman of the Management Advisory Services Committee, of the Illinois CPA Society; Vice Chairman of the Program and Management Evaluation Committee and Chairman, Management Evaluation Subcommittee, of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago; and Chairman of the Titus Management Award Committee, Community Trust of Chicago. In retirement he volunteered with the International Executive Service Corps based in Stamford, CT, serving as its Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer. One of Thomas’s sons, Kevin James, and two of Thomas’s siblings, Arthur Nelson Brown Junior and Barbara Schneider, predeceased him. He is survived by siblings, Richard Brown and Charlotte Swenson, his wife, Julia, and their children: Brenda Anne Hanieh of Northglenn, CO, Thomas William Brown of Brooklyn, NY, Brian Patrick Brown of St. Louis Park, MN, Julie Moran Thorpe of Algonquin, ILL, Mary Noel Hammack of Naples, FL, and Jeanne Kelly Petrone of New Canaan, CT. Feeling too young to be called grandpa Thomas asked his grandchildren to call him “Norman” and his wife “Ethel”. Together “Norman and Ethel” helped produce 14 beloved grandchildren: Sara, Neeron, and Shereef Azim Hanieh; Thomas Joseph Brown; James, Derek, Luke, and Jack Hammack; Hannah and Madeline Brown, Kaia and Kelcie Petrone; Gavin Thorpe; and Autumn Zoe Brown. Thomas went to Saint Thomas More Church every Sunday. He spent much of his retirement keeping the family in communication, mostly in the form of email updates in which every letter was capitalized and when not electronically then in person, traveling with Julia across the country to visit their burgeoning family. He loved to sit outdoors, enjoyed dining out and watching the NY Yankees. His favorite foods were linguini in clam sauce, apple pie, and ice cream. He adored children. The family will receive friends during calling hours held from 6-8 pm Friday July 15, 2011 at Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien, CT. Funeral Service will be held at Saint Thomas More Church in Darien on Saturday July 16 at 11am. Edward Lawrence Funeral Home has arranged the cremation service In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations can be sent to The American Heart Association, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 78851 Phoenix, AZ, 85062-8851 or to Institutional Advancement, Niagara University, NY, 14109 or by calling Niagara University at (800) 778-3450. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820