Linda G. Brown, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and teacher, died peacefully in her home in Vineyard Haven on April 7, 2018, surrounded by her family, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was 63.
Linda touched many lives with her kindness and her infectious laugh. She was the laughter and light of the family, who reminded us with her ever-present smile that every moment is a joy to be embraced.
Linda was born in Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and grew up in Duxbury with two brothers, Jim and John. After graduating from Duxbury High School in 1972, she attended Ricker College in Houlton, Maine, where she met her future husband and love of her life, Bill Brown. It was love at first sight; she finished early so they could graduate together. They were married for 42 years.
When the possibility to move to Martha’s Vineyard came up, it was the dream home for Bill and Linda. They moved to the island in 1984. The loving mother of four was a stay-at-home mom for 12 years. She loved being a mom, and had a playful spirit and a kind warmth that made her exceptionally suited to it. With her youngest in kindergarten, she started substitute teaching at the Tisbury School. She eventually went on to get her master’s in education, and became a teaching assistant at the same school. From the Tisbury School she took a position as a full-time teacher at the Edgartown School, specializing in grade 5-8 math. She remained in Edgartown until her retirement in 2015. Her excitement about learning and the joy she brought to her teaching were an example to her students, whom she adored. She ran the Edgartown School store, a role that allowed her to interact with students from all grades. A well-loved teacher, she was often asked by the graduating high school class to attend their graduation as a favorite teacher from the Edgartown School.
She is survived, and will be immensely missed, by her husband and soulmate, Bill Brown, and her four children and their partners: Jennifer Urban-Brown (married to Daniel Urban-Brown); Billy Brown (partner with Jesse Chase); Emily Coulter (married to Benton Coulter); and Jessica Whitaker (married to Jeff Whitaker). She is also survived by her father, James H. Goddard, and her brothers, John and Jim Goddard. She also leaves behind two grandchildren, Madeleine and Eloise Coulter, with a third grandchild on the way.
Most of all, Linda is remembered for her huge heart, her love of nature, and her endless sense of humor. She was always laughing. When she first met her husband, he told her, “Stick with me and I’ll show you the world.” Together they traveled across the country and made multiple trips to Europe. She kept a second home in northern Vermont, where she would snowshoe, pick blueberries, and tap maple trees to boil down for syrup. She enjoyed spending time in her gardens and watching the birds at her feeder; hummingbirds in particular brought her so much delight. She loved getting together with her friends to play mah jongg. She was an avid reader, crossword puzzle enthusiast, and “Far Side” fan.
A celebration of her life will be held on April 28, at Bill and Linda’s home, 161 Greenwood Ave., Vineyard Haven, from 2 to 4.
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