Edward Allen Brown, 94, of Stow, Ma, passed away on December 30th, 2023, in the loving care and company of his family. For the past several years he courageously lived with congestive heart failure and recently cancer, but true to spirit and with fierce determination he retained as much independence as possible to continue to do what he loved. The time his family spent with him these past few months is now a gift of memories for which they will be forever grateful.

Born on August 31, 1929, to Albert and Julia (Hogan) Brown, Ed grew up on Mall Street in Salem, MA. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School, in Lynn, MA, in 1946, was awarded multiple scholarships and attended Boston College for two years and was then awarded a Presidential appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY; graduating with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1952.

Immediately after graduation and prior to his deployment with the 45th Infantry Division to fight in Korea he married his childhood sweetheart Rosemary Carroll, also of Salem, MA. Together they shared over 66 years of marriage and many life adventures until her passing in 2018.

As a proud West Point graduate, he strived to live his life true to the pillars of values of the “Long Gray Line”; Duty, Honor, Country. These values guided Ed to lead with ‘principals of excellence’ and face challenges head on during his time in the military and throughout his professional career. In Korea, he was assigned platoon leader of a 40-man combat engineer platoon, part of the 45th infantry division on the front lines in Panmunjom from 1952 to 1953. For valor he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for successfully leading a mine clearing team through heavy enemy fire in Pogo-ri. He also received a Purple Heart. Upon his return to the States he served in the Massachusetts Army Reserves and received an honorable discharge from the Army in 1962, with the rank of Captain.

He began his professional career with New England Electric System in 1955, attended MIT earning a certificated in advanced civil engineering and volunteered with the Winthrop CYO as a marching instructor for the Drum and Bugle Corp. In 1980, he completed the Executive Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Business, and in 1989 was selected as one of the utility company presidents and CEO’s from around the world to be an original signatory to the charter of the World Association of Nuclear Operators, in Moscow, USSR.

Ed enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the electric utility industry. He was the President of New England Power Service Company (a subsidiary of NEES Companies) in 1982. In 1984, he became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yankee Atomic, and President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of New Hampshire Yankee. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction and operations of several large projects; including the building and licensing of the Bear Swamp Hydro-electric plant, oversaw operations of Brayton Point and Salem Harbor, and most notably led the completion and licensing of the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, in Seabrook, NH. Completing Seabrook was both his greatest challenge and greatest accomplishment; taking it from bankruptcy to licensed operation. He genuinely cared about everyone who worked at Seabrook and was inspired by their dedication and talent. He also credited Seabrook’s success to the synergy and excellence of his management team. His memories of this experience were long lasting and retelling stories of people and events brought him great peace and joy, especially during his final days.

Ed was an enthusiastic skier and loved the serenity of Waterville Valley, NH. He cherished the vacation home he built and the camaraderie of the people he befriended and ultimately worked with at the Waterville Company. In his retirement he was active in the Stow Lion’s Club for 22 years, helped form and was elected to serve on the board of the Stow Municipal Electric Department, was a past board member of the Hudson Light & Power Department, as well as Emerson Hospital and Mt. Auburn Hospital.
Ed was an avid reader of world history, military history, math, engineering construction projects and most recently rekindled his passion for the historical account of building the Panama Canal, which he visited in 2022. He was a lover of old stamps from around the world and spent countless hours researching and cataloguing a collection started by his grandfather.

He loved to tell stories about his life growing up in Salem, his time at West Point, serving in Korea and his experience at Seabrook Station. Those close to him will forever remember how he never failed to refer to 345kV transmission lines as a “a thing of beauty” and his utter disdain for bureaucrats.
His daughter, son-in-law and grandson are profoundly grateful for their extended family and friends who made his life so rich after the passing of his wife. It was with their love and support that he learned there was much more life to live and helped him build a life that was vibrant and joyful.

Ed will be forever deeply missed and remembered by his daughter Sharon D. Brown, her husband Thomas J. Coughlin, Jr., and his grandson Edward A. Coughlin.

Obituary for Rosemary C. Brown

Rosemary C. Brown
Rosemary C. Brown, age 89, of Stow, MA, passed away peacefully in the loving company of her family on Monday, July 16, 2018. Rosemary was born on June 16, 1929, in Salem, MA, to Thomas J. Carroll and Rose Anna (Jeanotte) Carroll. Rosemary graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Salem, in 1946, and earned an Associate Degree in 1976, from Marion Court Junior College, in Swampscott, MA. As a young woman, Rosemary studied classical voice and was an accomplished singer and pianist, and earned a scholarship to Boston Conservatory. Later, Rosemary worked as a legal secretary, she was also a devoted army wife, homemaker and faithful volunteer at Symmes Hospital, in Arlington, MA.

Rosemary married her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life Edward (Ebbie) A. Brown, also of Salem, on June 8, 1952; shortly after he graduated from West Point. They traveled extensively while in the Army and then settled in Salem, Lexington, then Stow, MA. Rosemary and Ebbie recently celebrated 66 years of marriage and shared a 77 year journey of friendship and love. Caring for her family and pet dogs was Rosemary’s passion and delight. She also enjoyed gardening, skiing, decorating, sewing, baking and collecting antique dishes and figurines. One of Rosemary’s greatest joys was sharing her love of classical voice with her grandson Teddy.

In addition to her devoted husband, Rosemary leaves behind her daughter, Sharon D. Brown and her husband Thomas J. Coughlin, Jr. of Stow, MA, and her grandson Edward (Teddy) A. G. Coughlin, of Cambridge, MA.

Rosemary’s family wishes to sincerely thank the special people who provided support, compassion and extraordinary care for Rosemary from Ascend Hospice and TandemCare Associates. They truly were a gift to Rosemary and her family.