Eileen O’Connell Brown, Lady Ei, died peacefully at home in Morristown, N.J. on Jan. 30, surrounded by her loving family. She was 88.

Eileen was a happy soul, sharing life’s adventures with family and friends around the world. Her motto was, “Good morning life and all things beautiful.”

A force of nature, she impressed everyone she encountered with her enthusiasm for learning, intellectual growth, reading, the arts, weekly tennis, bridge games, paddle tennis, and she was always keen to debate no matter the subject. Along with family, music was a pillar in her life. She had a great voice and loved to write her own songs having a whimsical way with words. Her poems written just for you were highly treasured as was her published poetry.

Born in 1930 in Worcester, she was the oldest of four girls. She graduated from Trinity College in Washington, D.C., in 1952, summa cum laude with a degree in political science, moving to New York city as young graduate. In 1954, she married Philip J. Brown Jr., of Staten Island, a U.S. Marine Corps captain and a former chairman of Marsh McLennan Europe. They were married 42 years and raised six children.

Eileen was a world traveler throughout her life, exploring numerous countries across six continents. She confidently led her family as they built their lives abroad instilling the importance of independent thought, self-reliance and acceptance. In 1959, they moved to Caracas, Venezuela where Eileen mastered the Spanish language and culture. After a brief time in the U.S. they moved to Brussels, Belgium where Eileen became proficient in French, her third language. They returned to the U.S. in 1967. Following years of cheering her children on in the classroom and on the fields of sport, Eileen and Phil relocated to London, England in 1988.

Upon their return to the U.S. in 1996, Eileen was actively involved in her community into her eighties, volunteering for the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center, the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, (Music in the Atrium), the Morristown Library and Mrs. Wilson’s Halfway House in Morristown, N.J. In

the summers, Eileen returned to her New England roots and became a resident and loving member of the Martha’s Vineyard community. She spent over 35 years as a volunteer and contributor to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Foundation and was also instrumental in the development of the Farm Neck Golf Club mission, especially the tennis vision.

She was predeceased by her husband, her eldest daughter Kathleen B. Smith, her eldest son PJ Brown, and her two sisters Christine Breen and Maureen Dourney. She is survived by her son Barrett Brown, daughters Suzy Brown van Dijk, Lisa Brown Langley and Victoria Brown Van Keer; sister Alice Cole, 11 grandchildren and 10 nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held in March.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in made in memory of Eileen O. Brown to the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, 475 South Street, 1st Floor, Morristown, N.J. 07960, online at www.f4mmc.org.