 One of the most dedicated members of The Hundred
Club, Richard H. “Dick”
Brown, died suddenly Oct. 12 at New Britain
General Hospital. Mr. Brown was president of The
Hundred Club in 1994 and remained active
following his presidency as a director. During
the past decade he served on several committees
and at the time of his death was chairman of the
Special Assistance Committee. Mr. Brown’s wise
counsel was often sought by the men who have
held the club’s top office in recent years.
Born in Bristol June 20, 1932, the son of Harry
and Florence (Uffendale)
Brown, he was educated in local schools. During
the Korean Conflict he served with the 7th
Infantry unit, 13th Engineers Battalion in
Korea. As a civilian he heeded the advice of his
wife, Gloria, and undertook a career in law
enforcement.
Mr. Brown joined the State Police
Dept. in 1957 and served in that agency until
1968 when he accepted an appointment as an
investigator of major felonies in the State’s
Attorney’s office for Hartford County. Ten years
later he was named chief inspector for major
crime investigations and supervisor of
inspectors for the office of the Chief State’s
Attorney.
In these positions Mr. Brown was
highly instrumental in the resolution of
numerous highly publicized cases including the
massacre in 1974 at the Donna Lee Bakery in New
Britain. Five people were murdered. Despite a
scarcity of evidence, Mr. Brown, working with
other professional investigators, tracked down
the two shooters who were subsequently
convicted.
The murder of Plainville Officer Robert
Holcomb in 1977 was another case in which Mr.
Brown’s talents helped bring about the arrest
and conviction of the guilty party.
Following his retirement from state service,
Mr. Brown served as Director of Corporate
Security for Tilcon, Inc.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by
Rev. Michael J. Dolan in Our Lady of Mercy
Church, Plainville. In his eulogy, Father Dolan
described Mr. Brown as a man who was “the salt
of the earth.” He observed that Mr. Brown died a
few days short of his 53rd wedding anniversary
and that the Brown family had lived in
Plainville for 43 years.
Father Dolan said, “Mr. Brown was a man of
convictions — a man who lived a difficult life
well.”
In addition to his wife, the former Gloria
Anastasion, Mr. Brown leaves a son, Richard H.
Brown, Jr. and his wife Akika of New Britain;
two daughters and sons-inlaw Laura and Jeffrey
Schaefer of Plainville; and Patricia and Ralph
Giansanti of Avon; five grandchildren, two
brothers and sisters-in-law Donald and Margaret
Brown of Harwinton; and David and Ruth Brown of
Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial with full military honors was in St.
Joseph Cemetery, Plainville. A State Police
Honor Guard was present at the wake and the
funeral services. |
