Deborah E. Brasher

1936 - 2021

BORN

1936

DIED

2021

About

Rye Country Day School Columbia University Elmira College

Deborah Brasher Obituary

Deborah Evanz Brasher died on February 23rd, 2021, she was 84 years old. The daughter of Milton Evans and Marie A. Brasher, Deborah was born on February 29th, 1936. At the age of 10 the family moved to the home of her great uncle, Rex Brasher, famed artist and ornithologist. This home is called Chickadee Valley and is located near Kent, CT. Deborah is the last of the Brashers to inhabit this home which has been in family since 1911. Deborah graduated from Elmira College cum laude in 1957 with a BA and double major, Classic (ancient Greek & Latin) and French. Deborah taught Latin in a middle school in New Jersey for one year, and while taking graduate courses in history at Columbia University, she taught Latin at Rye Country Day School in Rye, New York for five years. In 1964 Deborah moved to West Hartford Ct to teach Latin and History and served as a History department head at the Renbrook School, until her retirement in 2005. Upon Deborah's retirement she returned back to the family home at Chickadee Valley, here she lived for fourteen years with her sister, Melode Brasher, a retired teacher. Melode died in May 2019 leaving Deborah alone at the family home. Extremely lucky to have been born into the ME Brasher family, the idyllic life of the family is described in the hand lettered and beautifully illustrated book written by her sister, Melode. A copy of this limited-edition book entitled "The Milton E Brasher Family Story" can be found at the Kent Memorial Library. Deborah served as a member of the Rex Brasher Association Board of Directors. A private memorial service to celebrate the life of Deborah will be held at the Chickadee Valley family home at a later date.

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Published by Hartford Courant on Mar. 28, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Deborah Brasher

Sponsored by the family.

10 Entries

Susan Patricelli Regan

September 29, 2022

Deborah was a very good friend and loyal confidant. She had a great sense of humor and although highly educated, she had a substantive sense of respect for those who did not have the same opportunity to be exposed to traditional academia. She was a hard marker for those who were fortunate enough to come across her path whether a student, colleague or friend but that was the a benefit to recipient. A great life, well lived.

Christopher Francklyn

April 15, 2021

Even now, 50 years later, my memories of Deb Brasher’s history classes are vivid. I remember reading Herodotus and Thucydides, unaware that I’d been walking my biochemistry students through the Athenian plagues decades later. We read Alexis DeTocqueville’s Democracy in America. And now of course it’s all under attack.

Virginia King

April 15, 2021

For me, you were that teacher. The one that found something inside of me that I didn't know was there. The one I will not, can never, forget. Thank you for that, Miss Brasher.

Jim Goldschlager

April 15, 2021

I was lucky enough to be her student in the 80's and first hand witness to the breadth of her impact. We learned the value of being lifelong learners from her. We learned that if you want to have an opinion on a topic you should study and understand all the perspectives. We also learned that if you truly want to know something, you should teach it and then realize how much more there is to discover.

I am one of the fortunate many who are grateful and better for being a student of Deborah Brasher.

Peter Kolp

April 15, 2021

She taught history. Old school. Often wrote on blackboard sentences at a time.

And as little mischievous kids we’d pass notes and make noises to get her to turn around. “Class focus!” We'd yell it to others at random times to make things light. "Focus!"

She could be strict and I think in 9th grade we pushed back but in hindsight there was a caring about her we couldn't see at the time. And she was beyond bright. She taught us about history but really I think she taught us about learning by writing down a ton of stuff. I can still picture that blackboard and her yelling at me but I cant recall what about but I can recall her softer moments outside class and has sweet she could be to us , as if to say "Oh that Deb Brasher the tough teacher whop wants you to learn, I really care about all you kids as people" There's magic in that. Life lessons in that. My own guilt in that for being mischievous at the time. My own appreciation for who she was and as my homeroom teacher (I think?) and I can picture that whole room 35 yrs later and her kindness outside of class to this day. Rest In Peace Mrs Brasher, likely you will be sainted for having to deal with class of 1990 and we thank you .

Katharine King

April 15, 2021

Miss Brasher was a wonderful and memorable teacher! She had powerful impact. And be sure and pronounce her name correctly ;)) One of Renbrook's greats along with Stoddard Reynolds and so many others.

Stephen Kates

April 5, 2021

I worked at Renbrook as a History teacher for 9 years, and it was a true privilege to work with, and learn from, Debbie Brasher. She was a wonderful colleague, Department Head, and friend-I felt very fortunate to be able to turn to her (and I often did) for advice and encouragement. I will always remember her generosity, her amazing breadth of of knowledge, and her wonderful sense of humor.

Dave Blodgett

March 29, 2021

Deb was a mentor to me when I joined the history department in 1994, and my roommate in 204 for around ten years. I always marveled at her command of world affairs, economics, and the history of, well, everything, it often seemed. She was generous with her time, helping me craft better lesson plans and paper topics, and we’d often blow our planning periods talking about an election or a Supreme Court decision. No matter how much I thought I knew my way around an issue, she always had more knowledge about it and would always broaden my perspective, usually with a smile and twinkle in her eye. With both her colleagues and students, she knew how to get those around her to consider all angles and learn a lot *before* developing an opinion — a mindset that’s in short supply today. I am so fortunate and grateful to have known Debbie.

Ty Howe

March 28, 2021

Miss Brasher was a powerful force in Renbrook School classrooms, coping with sassy 7th to 9th grade students. We worried about her tests and pop quizzes, but she taught us so much. A great teacher.

Nancy Rethmeier

March 28, 2021

Deborah Brasher was a true Renbrook School icon. Her decades of teaching language and history enriched the learning experiences of all of her students, and she was revered by her fellow faculty and staff members. Her contributions to the school will always be remembered with both admiration and fondness for her presence among us.

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