REBECCA CORWIN

1941 - 2016

CORWIN, Rebecca (Brown) 74, of Brighton, MA, passed away on October 18, 2016, in Brighton. Rebecca was born in Boston, MA, to E. Cary and Tomlin Brown (later, Coggan) on November 25, 1941. Cary Brown served for many years as professor and head of the Economics department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Rebecca was married to R. Lloyd Corwin; their marriage ended in divorce. Rebecca graduated from Concord High School in 1958 and then earned a B.A. in Fine Arts from Swarthmore College in 1962. She subsequently received both an M.A.T. and an Ed.D. from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. Throughout her career, she engaged her students with creativity and a joy for learning. She served as a fifth-grade teacher, staff developer, researcher, curriculum developer and author of books including the Used Numbers series. As a professor of education at both Lesley and Bridgewater State Universities, Dr. Corwin stood up for students and the faculty, ever ready to advocate where a voice was needed. She collaborated with both preservice and inservice teacher groups, co-developing a unique Boston elementary school on-site master's degree program. In her professional life, she largely focused on improving the teaching of mathematics at the elementary level. She enjoyed reading, knitting, meeting friends in Roslindale Square, and opening her home to cats. Rebecca is survived by her sister Gretchen (Brown) Rossman of Amherst, MA, eleven cousins, two nieces, three grandnieces, one grandnephew, and a step-sister and step-brother. The family will hold a private celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Angell Memorial Animal Hospital. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Rebecca's close friends and cousins who were devoted to her during her long final journey. We especially appreciate Stephan Cohen, Rebecca's long-term colleague and closest friend, who was with her frequently in her final years. The family also is grateful to the caring staff at Chestnut Park in Brighton, Springhouse in Jamaica Plain, and Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care.

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