Dorothy Judd Curtis Brown

"Well done, good and faithful servant."

Dorothy Judd Curtis Brown, whose quiet dedication transformed countless lives through decades of selfless service, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2024, surrounded by those who loved her most. At 97, she left behind a legacy of compassion, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to education and nature conservation that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Born to Josephine Crocker and George Bartlett Curtis on July 30, 1927, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Dorothy belonged to the Greatest Generation, embodying their distinctive resilience, practical wisdom, and dedication to community. These qualities would become the foundation of her remarkable life journey.

Her love of learning led her to Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1949 with a degree in Education. It was during these formative years that fate intervened at a Sigma Chi Sweetheart Formal, introducing her to William Robert Brown, who went by "Bill." Their meeting blossomed into a profound 61-year marriage beginning in 1950 and lasting until Bill's passing on October 9, 2011, creating a partnership devoted to family, service, and shared purpose.

Together, Dorothy and Bill built a life marked by love and community across multiple states-from Jefferson City, Missouri, to Maryland, to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, before eventually retiring to Estero, Florida in 1996. At each stop along their journey, Dorothy wove herself into the fabric of her community, leaving it richer than she found it.

Dorothy embraced the role of what she called a "professional volunteer," a title that perfectly captured her approach to life as a vocation of service. Early in her adult life, she devoted herself to the Girl Scouts, serving as both member and leader, guiding young women toward confidence and capability. This passion for mentorship extended naturally to her role as a Sunday school teacher, where she shared not just knowledge but the depth of her faith and wisdom.

Dorothy's deep connection to the natural world began in her childhood during the Depression and World War II, when her family maintained a Victory Garden outside the city. There, as she helped plant and harvest food for her family's table, she developed an early appreciation for nature's rhythms and bounty-a foundation that would blossom throughout her life. This childhood affinity for the natural world flourished in her adult years, especially after her daughters, Ann and Darmae, left home. As a camp counselor, she found new avenues to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with others. For nearly three decades, visitors to Harpers Ferry National Historic Park benefited from her extensive understanding as she guided them through the area's rich ecosystem, including her work at the fish hatchery. Later, at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida, Dorothy spent 25 years as a boardwalk guide, transforming what might have been casual visits into moments of discovery and wonder as she revealed the hidden life of Florida's delicate wetlands.

Her commitment to preservation extended beyond the guided tours, as she and Bill created and donated educational nature videos to the Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Library, ensuring their knowledge would continue to educate and inspire long after their time there ended.

Music provided another avenue for Dorothy's generosity of spirit. She found deep joy in singing with church choirs and community choral groups, and in playing the piano-her melodies and voice enriching worship services and community gatherings alike.

Dorothy's dedication to education found formal expression in her devoted membership to PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization). For her, PEO represented far more than an organizational commitment; it was a true sisterhood built on shared values of friendship, education, and compassion. Understanding the transformative power of education in her own life, Dorothy established two scholarship programs to support others in their educational journeys-quiet investments in futures she believed in profoundly.

Life asked much of Dorothy, taking from her those she loved most deeply: her husband Bill, her brother Robert Curtis, and in life's cruelest twist, both her daughters, Ann Brown Nutt and Darmae Judd Brown. Yet through these profound losses, Dorothy demonstrated perhaps her greatest strength-the ability to transform grief into greater compassion, finding renewed purpose in nature's continuous cycles of renewal and in the joy of her growing family.

She leaves behind her son-in-law, Charles Nutt; her grandsons, Jonathan Nutt (Natalie) and Steven Nutt (Kristen); and her great-grandchildren, Solden, Judah, Asher, and Cora Nutt-all of whom brought immense joy to her later years.

Dorothy's approach to both nature and life might best be summarized by words she often shared with visitors observing seemingly quiet landscapes: the most meaningful things require both patience and attention to truly see. This principle illuminated her nearly century-long journey-a life spent noticing what others might overlook, nurturing what needed care, and celebrating the quiet wonders that make life beautiful.

Those wishing to honor Dorothy's memory may make donations to the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve or PEO International, organizations that embodied her lifelong commitments.