Allyn L. Brown Jr.

1915 - 2014

Allyn L. Brown, Jr. May 21, 1915 - Apr. 19, 2014 PRESTON - Allyn L. Brown, Jr., 98, of Preston died peacefully at home on Saturday, April 19, 2014 surrounded by his family. He was born in Norwich, CT on May 21, 1915 to Allyn L. and Marion M. Brown. He married Barbara C. Eddy who predeceased him on November 22, 1999. Allyn attended Norwich Free Academy, graduating from Deerfield Academy in 1933, Brown University in 1937, and the Yale School of Law in 1940. He was associated with the Hartford law firms of Day, Berry & Howard and Alcorn, Bakewell & Alcorn before his entry into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1942, where he served as Captain of the Port of Bridgeport, and later as communications and watch officer on the USS Ramsden DE 382 in the north and south Atlantic and Mediterranean. Upon retirement as a Lieutenant in 1946, he became associated with Attorney George C. Morgan of New London, and in 1947 formed the firm of Brown, Jewett & Driscoll in Norwich, specializing in trial practice. Thereafter, in 1966 he became associated with the firm of Brown, Jacobson, Jewett & Laudone, and thereafter with its present successor. He was admitted to the Connecticut and federal bar in 1940. He was deputy judge of the city court of Norwich. In 1952 he was appointed as State's Attorney for New London County, in which capacity he served with distinction until 1965. He served on the Council and as an officer of the State Bar Association of Connecticut, serving as President in 1954 and 1955. He was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1961, and the American Bar Foundation. He served as attorney trial referee from1985 to 1991. He has always given a great deal of time and effort to community affairs, and was designated as Norwich Man of the Year in 1953. From 1948 to 1952 he was the organizer and chairman of the Citizens Committee for Better Norwich Government, which accomplished, despite the opposition of all political parties, the consolidation of the city and town of Norwich, and a new charter providing for the city manager form of government. He served on the executive and other committees of The William W. Backus Hospital and as its President from 1967 to 1969. He was Vice-President of the United Way of Southeastern CT. He was President of the Norwich YMCA in 1965-1966, and later of the YMCA of Southeastern CT in 1985-1986. He also served for many years as Trustee of the Hazen Foundation of New Haven, the Central Baptist Church of Norwich, as Chairman of the Holt-Elwell Foundation of East Hebron, NH, and as a Trustee of the Eastern States Exposition of West Springfield, MA. From 1952, he resided at Maple Lane Farms in Preston City, served as a Director of Franklin Mushroom Farms, Treasurer of Jacobs Rubber Co. in Killingly, and for many years as President of Brown, Jacobson, Jewett & Laudone. He served as Director of Chelsea Savings Bank, now Chelsea Groton Savings Bank, for 39 year, from 1951 to 1990. He is survived by six children, Gail M. Brown and Allyn L. Brown, III of Preston City, Sarah C. Brown of Encinitas, CA, Paul M. Brown of North Fayston, VT, Daniel E. Brown of Lebanon, NH and Jean Brown of Hope, Maine, and seven grandchildren. A private Memorial Service will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the NFA Foundation, 321 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360 where a scholarship has been established in his memory. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.labenskifuneralhome.com