Carol Ann (Brown) Narkewicz

Albany - Carol Ann (Brown) Narkewicz died at the Eddy Village Green in Albany, NY on January 14, 2021. She was 86 years old and had suffered in recent years from Alzheimer's disease. Carol was born in West Springfield, MA in 1935, the daughter of Raymond T. Brown and Georgia (Rutherford) Brown. Her father owned and operated the well-known regional farming concern "Farmer Brown" - and the farming bug remained with her throughout Carol's adult life.

Carol was educated at the Northfield School for girls and was a member of the Mount Holyoke College class of 1956. Her Mount Holyoke friends referred to her fondly as "Brownie." Carol married her childhood sweetheart Richard Narkewicz, who at the time of their marriage was receiving his medical training in the U.S. Air Force. After brief Air Force relocations to San Antonio, TX and Rome, NY, Carol and Dick settled in Burlington, and later Shelburne, VT. In Shelburne, as she and Dick raised their four children, Carol was fully able to pursue her farming passion. With 10 acres and two barns with which to work, she managed a substantial garden and raised farm animals, feeding her family from its land. The family kept horses on the property and the children were able to ride in the neighboring lands. She nurtured relationships with the nearby farmers to ensure she was able to secure the best manure for her garden. When not tending to her gardens, Carol worked as property manager for the medical office space owned by Timberlane Pediatrics, where Dick practiced medicine. Timberlane tenants were frequently surprised to receive fresh eggs from Carol's chickens. She and Dick were avid tennis players, skiers and later in life, golfers. Carol ("Big Red" to her friends) was known to be a fierce competitor, and on the golf course she found plenty of opportunity to correct Dick's scorecard.

Carol was an important source of support for Dick as he assumed the presidency of the American Academy of Pediatrics. After Dick's term expired, she was the driving force behind the establishment of the Academy's annual Past Presidents Dinner, which continues to this day.

Carol was well-known and loved by friends in the hamlet of Wanakena, NY in the northern Adirondacks. She began visiting there as a child after her father and uncle purchased several lots on the Oswegatchie River from the Rich Lumber Company. As a teenager, Carol learned to boat and fish, tromping through the woods to a remote pond with an inflatable rubber boat on her back. In their retirement years, she and Dick spent summers in Wanakena golfing, boating, fishing and welcoming family visitors.

Carol is survived by her children Michael Narkewicz (Dana) of Golden, CO, Brian Narkewicz (Sarah) of Burlington, VT, and Karen Narkewicz-Hoff (Matt), of Tucson, AZ, and many loving grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, her daughter Susan (Narkewicz) Frattini, her husband Dr. Richard Narkewicz, and her sister Betty Jane (Brown) Giles.

Carol's family would like to recognize the dedicated professionals at the Eddy Village Green in Albany, NY for providing such loving care to Carol in recent years. They nurtured the sparkling demeanor that Carol exhibited around staff and residents and in doing so, brought much joy to Carol's family, who deeply appreciate the staff's work. Thank you.

Donations in Carol's memory can be made to support the Richard Narkewicz Lectureship Fund at the Larner College of Medicine at UVM at https://go.uvm.edu/givemed or via check made payable to The UVM Foundation, 411 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 with "in memory of Carol Narkewicz" indicated in the note.

Family and friends will join in a private celebration of Carol's life at a future date.