CARTHAGE – Stephen H. Brown, 75 of Carthage, died in Lewiston on Thursday, August 16, from complications of cancer. Steve was born in Northampton Massachusetts on August 8, 1943, the son of Stephen Brown and Elsa Parshley Brown.
He grew up in Northampton and Amherst and graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1968. He received a Masters Degree in Psychology from Rutgers University where he conducted research on brain function. In 1971, Steve and a group of relatives purchased land in Carthage. After living there during summers for seven years, he moved permanently to Carthage and began working in the woods. He was elected first selectman in 1980. Very quickly, advocacy for his town replaced woods work as his full-time job. In his first year, he convinced the state to allow Carthage to design and build their own bridge, saving money for the town and providing employment for residents. That project led to many more practical and thrifty solutions to town problems.
In his 38 years as first selectman, Steve reached out to neighboring towns, collaborating with county, regional and statewide organizations. In 1988, he was a leader in the creation of the Northern Oxford Regional Ambulance Service (Med-Care). As president from the founding until his death, he guided the group through transitions and major expansions. He was also active, often as an officer, in Western Maine Community Action (CAP Agency), Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, Franklin County Municipal Officers Association, Franklin County Budget Committee, Maine Municipal Association, Western Mountains Alliance, and Carthage Historical Society.
Growing up in a musical family, Steve took lessons and performed with various groups. As an adult he played piano for pleasure and was an avid concertgoer. He maintained lifelong friendships with a closely-knit group from high school and college. They often shared boating adventures in New England and Canada, and even a transatlantic 41-day journey on the Ernestina, a 100-year old schooner.
Although Steve never married, he enjoyed a rich family life, not only with his family of origin but with the many people he befriended, and the beloved residents of Carthage. He had a gift for recognizing and nurturing each person’s unique qualities.
He is survived by siblings, Anne (and Robert) Keith of New Gloucester, Laurie Kennedy (and Mark Silber) of Carthage, Edward (and Candelaria) Brown of Santiago, Chile, and Nancy (and Robert) Beacham of Farmington; cousin, Elisabeth (and Richard) Crane and daughter Alice of Middletown, NY; nieces and nephews, Rebecca (and Scott) Matusovich of New Gloucester, Roberto Keith of Portland, Katie Kennedy (and Eric Dahlin) of Tariffville, CT, Julia (and Van) Carney of Woodville, VA, Elsa (and Jacob) Brown of Berlin, Germany, Diana Brown (and Alvaro Carreño) of Santiago, Chile, Edward Brown (and Nicole Chavez) of Santiago Chile, Adrienne Beacham (and Jake Allen) of Augusta, and Gwen Beacham of Farmington; grandnieces and nephews, Emma, Abigail, Caroline and Charlotte Matusovich, Adam Rodriguez, Martin and Elias Dahlin, Worth, Hall, and Wells Carney, Thomas Brown, and Milan Carreño.
A memorial gathering will be held at Northern Oxford Regional Ambulance Service (MedCare), 290 Highland Terrace, Mexico ME on Sunday, August 26 at 1 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: Western Maine Community Action (CAP) Agency, PO Box 200, East Wilton, ME 04234 or Carthage Generations Club, 703A Carthage Rd. Carthage, ME 04224.
Steve was well recognized outside of Carthage for his municipal leadership. The Northern Oxford Regional Ambulance Service for which he was president is but one example.
Sincere condolences
Steve was a man of great integrity! I thoroughly enjoyed working with him over the fifteen years that I was the executive director for the Greater Franklin Development Council. One of my fondest memories of Steve is the day he took me on a tour of the Town of Carthage. His wealth of knowledge was incredible. He will be greatly missed! My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Impossible to believe this fixture and rock of Carthage is now missing. I have two memories..how Steve negotiated the land for windmills by researching in the UMF library and finding those old records to be inaccurate. He brought the township together in the tense discussions regarding those windmills. And I will always remember how, when the lights went out one night, he sensed immediately that someone had driven into an electric pole and rushed to the scene, which unfortunately, was a death. . He was a wonder at telling a story, he could fix a tractor, he navigated the complexities of the ambulance service with its need to be handicap accessible while standing so many yards from the main road, etc. With others he built the bridge over the Webb River using parts from abandoned bridges, and the authorities determined it was better than th eone they had expensively proposed . He drove a car that used old oil from restaurants. He knew how to help everyone, from providing food or furniture to people in need, to managing the taxes for Carthage, an onerous job, He was always there for all of us in any way in which we needed help. I found myself saying to myself about ten times tonight, “we can ask Stevie.”
It was an honor to work with Steve on the board of the Sandy River Recycling Association…and there was something about the twinkle in his eyes that made the impossible seem possible..
I also worked with Steve on the Board of Directors of the Sandy River Recycling Association. It was an honor and a pleasure to call him a friend. Many words can describe him, such as , frugal, professional, personable, honorable and fun. He was a great guy to be around and if you listened he’d teach you something. I know he truly loved his adopted home town. I remember sitting next to him at one meeting and whispered to him ” don’t raise your hand or they’ll give you another project ” he just smiled and said ‘I know”.
I had the pleasure of working with Steve for many years. His thoughtful and kind words helped me grow and take pause many times. I am so very happy we were able to visit earlier this year. No gentler man have I ever known.
Steve was a wonderful man and I always enjoyed finding him working late in the
Steve was a wonderful man and the county has lost one of the best.
Steve was a good man, he cared for and about his friends and his community
I remember Steve from the short time that I work ed with Med-Care Ambulance. Steve was very supportive, action driven and while he know the direction a issue haad to be address, he listened to the “boots on the ground” and took that input to make his decision. I always found him to be fair, compassionate and very structured. I held alot of respect for Steve. May he RIP.
Steve was an amazing leader who dedicated his life to making our community better. His leadership at the Ambulance service, Community Action, The Town of Carthage, and Franklin County was critical to our evolution. As a community leader Steve quietly helped build consensus around very complex issues. He valued every person’s opinion and made each person feel important. He was filled with compassion and could clearly articulate the importance of the community working together. He was selfless, humble, committed, and grateful to be of service .Steve will be missed in Carthage, Franklin County and all over Maine. Thank you Steve for serving our community and making it a better place. .
Fen Fowler
Steve was a fine individual. We should all aspire to be just half the person he was.
I met Steve while working on forest land in Carthage. Always a pleasure to be with Steve, I crossed the Webb River Bridge many times ,a very practical monument to Steve and his life of service. I will miss his joy of helping others. My condolences to his family and contemporaries .