Richard D. Brown

Richard D. Brown, 90, of Newington, died comfortably at home surrounded by his family on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. He was the beloved husband for 66 years of Grace (Funari) Brown. Born and raised in New Britain, he was the son of the late Douglas W. Brown and Elizabeth (Schussler) Brown. At 15 he moved to Newington and after getting married, resided in Greentown, OH for a short time. The couple built their first house in Enfield where they lived for six years. In need of a larger home for their growing family, they built a home in Newington, where he lived the rest of his life.

Dick graduated from Newington High School in 1953 and from the University of Hartford in 1959. He retired from ABB/Combustion Engineering in 1997 after 37 years of service. He travelled to six continents during his employment and was world renowned for his design of industrial power plants. In 1997 he received the Distinguished Engineer of the Year Award from ABB.

As an adult, Dick proudly served as a volunteer firefighter in each town he resided - over 57 years of volunteer firefighter service with over 50 years in Newington. He rose through the ranks from Drillmaster to Captain of Newington Company 2 and was the first captain of the fire department's safety division. After retiring at age 80, he was a member and past secretary of the Newington Veteran Firefighters Association.

Dick was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of United Methodist Church, Newington, for more than 30 years. He loved to travel with Grace, and together they shared many memorable adventures, especially when cruising to new destinations and enjoying the beauty of the sea. At home, Dick's patience and craftsmanship came to life through his detailed ship and airplane models.

Over the years, Dick enjoyed summer weekends at their camper in Maine and in later years, time at the cottage on Lake Pocotopaug. Dick was an avid golfer, loved trips to the casino and was a passionate fan of the Boston Red Sox and UConn Women's basketball.

A devoted father and grandfather, he leaves his daughter Ann E.K. Brown of Newington; three sons, James R. Brown of Newington, Richard D. Brown, II, and his wife Lisa of Berlin, Donald N. Brown of Newington, his daughter-in-law Gail Brown of Newington; and three grandchildren Melissa, Elizabeth and Joshua Brown. He also leaves his sister Beverly Iskra of Newington, and several nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his son-in-law Ralph Castellon, Jr.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington. His funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 11:00 am at United Methodist Church, 401 New Britain Ave., Newington, CT 06111. He will be laid to rest in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. Memorial donations may be made to Newington Fire Department Company 2, 190 Richard St., Newington, CT 06111 or to the United Methodist Church. To share a memory of Dick, please visit us at www.duksa.net.