Stuart S. Brown of Katama Was Builder Lured by Island Living, Politically Astute

Stuart S. Brown, a retired home improvement contractor, died suddenly on Monday, June 20, at his Katama Road home.

He was born July 13, 1925 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Christiana and Willard P. Brown. Growing up in Douglaston and Great Neck, N.Y., Stuart and his brother, Bruce, and sister, Sally, spent summers at Oak Beach on Fire Island. His were happy memories of swimming, fishing and boating. A love of and appreciation of all things nautical was formed at this time.

April 1943 found a skinny enlistee at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois. In 2004, his grand nephew became an instructor there. The friendly family physician passed Stuart on his naval entrance physical, but further examinations revealed a heart murmur which prevented him from serving in the submarine service.

After training, he was sent to Pearl Harbor. It was there that he raised his hand and volunteered in response to the question "Can anyone handle a small boat?"

His duty was to pilot the launch that ferried the exec. and other officers about the harbor. There was still a film oil on the harbor surface, which made handling the lines dirty work and made keeping those Navy whites spotless difficult.

He served as a torpedo man on the USS Cabot (CVL-28), a light aircraft carrier, and saw action in the Pacific Theatre. He was on board during the Asiatic Pacific Raid, Hollandia, Marianas, Western Carolinas and Leyete Operations. His general quarters station was the after blister tub which hung below the flight deck. He never forgot the excitement of being so close to the take off and landing of the planes.

In recent years, Stuart became a member of the USS Cabot Association and he and Susan attended several reunions. Friendships were renewed between four of the original eight members of the Torpedo Gang.

In 1946, he entered Defiance College, Ohio and in 1950, was graduated from Adelphi University, N.Y. He married Marilyn J. McCrossin that year. They became the parents of Stuart Jr., Barbara, Douglas and Diane. With their young family, they moved to Smithtown where Stuart and the children formed friendships that continue today.

Marilyn died in 1959. During this time his work experience included shipyard and aircraft work and selling Cutco Cutlery. He began a 20 year career with Dun & Bradstreet, commercial collection division, with a sales territory that included part of Queens, all of Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, N.Y.

While living in Sayville, he became assistant sales manager of the CCD division in New York city. It was there that he met his future wife, Susan Aylward of Edgartown. In 1969, he became sales manager of the Boston office of Dun & Bradstreet. Stuart and Susan were married on July 11, 1970 in Edgartown. After the reception, the bridal party went swimming at Bend in the Road Beach. After honeymoon cruises on the Shenandoah and the Bremen, Stuart and Susan lived in Brookline.

The lure of Island living on the then quiet Martha's Vineyard proved to be irresistible and in 1972, they moved to their Katama Road home.

Stuart traded a suit, tie and briefcase for overalls, nail apron and a hammer holster. He apprenticed under Anthony S. (Tony) Duarte at Herring Creek Farm. Employment at Burnham & Magnuson gave him the opportunity to know the Island and work in many beautiful locations. The jolly upbeat crew with their practical jokes was a bonus. Utilizing his sales skills, he established his own business, Island Insulation Co, which he operated for 25 years. As a home improvement contractor, he provided blown in insulation, vinyl siding, replacement windows, and storm doors. He was affiliated with Harvey Industries of Waltham for a time and was also the Island agent for Terminix Pest Control and Boston Lightning Rod Co.

Careful attention to detail and respect for his customers became his hallmark. He treated your house as if it was his own. Every customer was his friend.

His family grew again with the births of a daughter, Cleveland, and a son, Gordon. He was proud of the remodeling and landscape improvements made at his home over a thirty-five year marriage.

His political acumen was gained by years of close reading and study. Political discussions with him were calm and reasoned. He considered Edgartown to be a well run town and would write to various town departments complimenting them on their work. He served a term on the financial advisory board.

After retiring, Stuart and Susan enjoyed quiet summers in Maine and Prince Edward Island, Canada, and warm winters in Long Key, Fla., where many new friendships were made. The Island Vagabonds was the nickname for Stuart and Susan as they made their seasonal journeys along the Atlantic seaboard. Stuart penned newsletters which detailed their adventures.

Retirement also brought the opportunity to reestablish friendships with Great Neck High School classmates. He and Susan attended several reunions, including the 50th reunion in Washington, D.C. Stuart's senior class trip had been canceled due to the war. Each spring he organized a lunch meeting with former Dun & Bradstreet colleagues. A considerate and ethical man, he cherished the friendships made through his social activities and business associations.

His wife, Susan, survives him, as do daughters Barbara Wolf of Foxboro, Diane Batley of Thomaston, Me., Cleveland Brown of Edgartown and Greenwich, Conn., and sons Douglas of Portland, Me. and Gordon of Edgartown. Also surviving are his sister Sally Case of Wilmington, N.C. and a half sister Nancie Gordon of Passaic, N.J. He is survived by eight grandchildren. His son Stuart Jr., brother Bruce and half brother, Willard predeceased him.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on July 13 at the Edgartown Methodist Church (Old Whaling Church). Big band music, his favorite, will be played. Stuart and his family truly appreciated that modern medicine had twice saved his life. He wrote thank you letters to his physicians and sent them his Island Vagabonds newsletters. He was a graduate of the first cardiac rehabilitation class at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital. He was an organ donor.

Please honor his memory by donating to the Edgartown Firemen's Association, Medical Equipment Fund, P.O. Box 1064, Edgartown 02539.