Eileen May Brown

Eileen Mary Brown (née Glynn), 76, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family at home in Davis, CA on June 2, 2025. She succumbed to complications of uterine cancer after a more than two-year battle. She is survived by her husband of 52 years Malcolm Robert Brown; sons: Andrew (Caitlin), Malcolm (Amanda), and David; grandchildren: Amelia, Oliver, Henry, Isabel, and Abigail; brother James Glynn; and many dear family members and friends. She was predeceased by her sister, Rosemary Gullo; brothers, John and Edward Glynn; and parents, Rose and Edward Glynn.

She was born on January 14, 1949, and raised in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of Queens. At age 7, her father passed away, and she and four siblings were raised by their mother. A product of Catholic schools, she was fortunate to attend St. Teresa of Avila elementary school and Our Lady of Wisdom Academy high school. From very humble beginnings, she learned the value of hard work, humility, generosity, and family. She always said that she did not have a lot of material possessions, but her childhood was filled with love.

After moving from Queens to Manhattan for nursing school she met her future husband, Malcolm. A city girl, Eileen struggled with the idea of leaving her life-long friends and the convenience of the city but settled in the Truesdale Lake community in South Salem, New York to start a family. While it took some time to adjust, Eileen eventually came to love the area and often said she was blessed to have raised her children there. She was most proud of her three sons and called raising them her greatest accomplishment. She cherished attending their countless sporting events, performances, and celebrations. Throughout her time in South Salem, she took active roles in the community; notably she was on the Truesdale Beach Association and the Lions Club, and served as a den mother for Cub Scouts, a CCD teacher, and a PTA president of Lewisboro Elementary School.

She had vowed to never move away from Truesdale Lake, but with her 5 grandkids in California she later relented and moved to Davis to be more involved in their upbringing. She adored her 5 grandkids and loved celebrating birthdays and holidays, playing games, completing arts and crafts projects, and attending their sports games and musical performances.

Eileen deeply valued education and was a lifelong learner. She first became a registered nurse after attending Bellevue Nursing School in Manhattan, where she met some of her very best friends. Eileen would go on to earn four further degrees, including a BSN, an MSN in Nursing from NYU in 1978, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and a GNP from New York Cornell Hospital in 1983. In 2005 at age 56, Eileen earned a JD from Pace University School of Law, where she graduated Cum Laude and served as editor of the International Law Review.

She had a long and multi-faceted career. Her first job in nursing was in the Intensive Care Units at both Bellevue Hospital and Lenox Hill, in New York City. She later worked for the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, making home visits in Harlem. After moving to South Salem, she transitioned to home health care nursing for the Westchester Visiting Nurse Service. Later she became the executive director of Nathan Miller, a home health care agency serving hundreds of elderly in southern Westchester County. In her 50s, after completing her law degree at night while working full time, she pivoted yet again to become a medical malpractice defense lawyer at Kopff, Nardelli & Dopf (later Dopf PC) in New York. One thing was consistent throughout her career: she was a fierce advocate for people and had high moral integrity.

Eileen often joked that she was never a good enough Catholic to be a nun, but faith was always central in her life. Starting in the early 80’s, she belonged to St. Mary’s Parish in Ridgefield CT. Through life’s many tests, she turned to her faith for support - notably when her two younger brothers died far too early in life.

Those who were close to Eileen will always remember her love of People magazine, vanilla ice cream with whipped cream, a 7&7 with a twist of lemon, anything trivia-related, Broadway shows, and watching Law & Order. And above all, they will remember the smile on her face while sitting on the sand at Long Beach Island or with her family on Christmas morning.

We love you Mom! You’ll be forever remembered!

Family and friends will be received on Thursday, June 26, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield CT. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday June 26, 2025 at St. Mary’s Church, 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield CT, starting at 10AM with a short time for receiving at the funeral home beforehand starting at 8:45AM. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, with a reception directly afterwards. In lieu of flowers her family suggests donating to St. Jude Hospital in her honor (www.stjude.org).