Obituary of Margery L. Brown

Margery Lemon Brown, of Huntington, New York, peacefully passed away Wednesday, May 3, 2018. Born January 16, 1950, in West Palm Beach, Florida to Cecil and Mary Rose Lemon, she was one of six siblings. She graduated from Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, class of 1968.

In 1972, Margery married Raymond N Brown III. Together they moved to New York, where they remained happily for 46 years, much of it with their two children and granddaughter. She attended Stony Brook University and received highest honors with her B.A. in 1978, before continuing at the University to complete her Comparative Literature Ph.D. in 1988.

She started at Farmingdale State College in 1990 as an Associate Professor, rising to the honored position of English and Humanities Department Chair over the course of her career. Throughout her years at Farmingdale, she pioneered distance learning programs, eventually sitting on the Distance Learning Advisory Board. She held positions as the director of the Writing Center, and the Visiting Writers Program. She served on numerous committees, including Auxiliary Service and Public Art. In 2008 Margery’s extraordinary dedication to her students and craft was celebrated with SUNY's highest honor, the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

An ardent champion of books and art in every form, Margery was a frequent supporter of New York Public Library and The Met. A voracious reader, quick-witted, and adept at the art of conversation, she did the New York Times Crossword in pen and maintained an ever-changing cast of cats. She loved her children and granddaughter fiercely, and enjoyed countless afternoons in Yankee Stadium with them.

She is survived by her husband Raymond Nicholas Brown III, her son Raymond Nicholas Brown IV, her daughter Rachel (Hope) Brown-Littenberg, and her granddaughter Theresa Littenberg. She is also survived by her mother Mary Rose Lemon and siblings Cecilia Ioannides, Theresa Jeanne McCabe, Mary Hope Rappa, Thomas Anthony Lemon and Robert Michael Lemon.

The wake will be held Monday, May 7, 2018, from 2 - 5 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. at the Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home in Northport. The funeral will be Tuesday, May 8, 10:30 a.m., at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Centerport.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations are made to the Dr Margery Brown Award, care of Marcia Littenberg, P.O. Box 478, Aquebogue, NY 11931.