Obituary of Suzanne Brown

Suzanne Schumacher Brown, a long time resident of Bernardsville, NJ, was surrounded by her devoted children when she passed away at Morristown Medical Center on Friday, July 3, 2015. She was 87. Sue was born September 25, 1927 in Evanston, Illinois to Irwin Charles Schumacher and Alice Pottinger Schumacher. She grew up in Evanston, Hyde Park and Wilmette, Illinois enjoying Lake Michigan and the Chicago area. After graduating from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois in 1945, she attended the University of Colorado in Boulder. She graduated in 1949, majoring in Education. While at CU, she was active in establishing the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority chapter on campus. Later after college, she made many lifelong friends as part of a Zeta alumni group in New Jersey. While at CU, Sue met her sweetheart Bob Brown from Denver, Colorado. Shortly after graduation she married Bob in Wilmette, Illinois and moved to New Jersey, living in Mountainside and teaching kindergarten at Lincoln School in Westfield. In 1961 she and Bob built a new home together and moved to Bernardsville, where she was active in PTA, a room mother for her children's classes, a volunteer elementary school librarian, an assistant Girl Scout leader, a member of the Somerset Hills Committee for Camp Brett Endeavor where she was Treasurer for a few years, a member of the Somerset Committee for Plaid House, a docent at Morristown Memorial's Mansion in May fundraisers, a member of the Women's Association of Morristown Medical Center, and a member of the American Association of University Women. Together with family and friends, Sue enjoyed spending time at vacation homes in Winter Park, Colorado and Pinehurst, North Carolina. She enjoyed many family activities such as skiing, golfing and hiking. She was a member of Mendham Golf & Tennis Club, Pinehurst Country Club, and the Nassau Club in Princeton. Sue also enjoyed many trips throughout the US and to Europe, China and Japan. In more recent years, Sue enjoyed lunches with friends, auditing classes at Princeton University, and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great granddaughter. Sue was very interested in science and innovation. She also followed current events and was very patriotic. She enjoyed sharing the arts and the theater with family. Among family and friends, she was known for her generosity and her kindness, and her empathy and concern for others. But most of all, she was a loving and devoted mother, always actively involved in the raising of her children. She leaves a devoted family who will miss her dearly. Surviving are her three children and their families: Kathryn Alison Brown of Basking Ridge, NJ; Robert Reading Brown Jr. and his wife Jayne Hamlyn Brown of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and their children Amy Caroline Schlagel, her fiancé Dusty Bakker, and Bradley Keith Schlagel; and James Schuyler Brown II and his wife Suzanne Thompson Brown of Basking Ridge and their children Kristin Elizabeth Brown and her fiancé Brian Arrigoni of White House Station, NJ, James Schuyler Brown III and his wife Lauren Tissot Brown of Parsippany, NJ, and their daughter Khloe Mae Brown. Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 10 at 11:00 am at the Church of St. John on the Mountain, 379 Mt. Harmony Road, Bernardsville, NJ. For more information please contact the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home 908-766-0250 or to light an online condolence candle please visit our website www.gcfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so may make donations in her name to Plaid House, a favorite charity of hers, or donate to a charity of their choice. The address for Plaid House is 54 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960. The mission of the non-profit Plaid House is to provide residential and supportive services to adolescents. Plaid House teaches skills which foster positive growth, independence and family reunification.