Josiah
Whitney
Brown
June 7, 1922 - October 31, 2018
Born in Newton, MA
Resided in Jamestown, RI
Josiah Whitney Brown died peacefully at his home in Jamestown RI on Wednesday, October 31. He was 96.
Whitney was born in Newton, Massachusetts to Josiah Henry and Mary Crowe Brown. He was educated at Vermont Academy, Dartmouth College and the Long Island School of Medicine, where he received his MD.
Whitney married Leonor Holmes on August 4, 1945 at Riverside Church in New York City. After two years in New York, they moved to Guam where he served as a Commissioned Naval Officer. They moved to Needham, MA in 1950, where he had a private practice in General Practice/Family Medicine for 25 years, until moving to Jamestown RI.
Whit served as President of the Medical Staff at Glover Hospital in Needham, and as President of the Massachusetts Association of General Practitioners. He contributed to the development of Family Medicine as a specialty practice, in which he taught classes at Harvard and UMass Medical Schools. When he retired from his private practice and from teaching, he served on the medical staff at the Naval Hospital in Newport.
As well as his lifetime commitment to family medicine, Whitney embraced many other personal interests; his love of chess, painting, sailing, and of course, the Red Sox was contagious. Music was an integral part of both his and Leo’s life together. They were members of their church choirs at Needham Congregational Church and at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown; and they sang with the Navy Choristers in Newport, and the Jamestown Chorus. They were subscribers to the Boston Symphony for many years. They also enjoyed the theater, and supported local community theaters as well as Trinity Rep in Providence. Whit and Leo were part of a walking group and a movie group in Jamestown for many years. They traveled extensively both at home and abroad, and for many years they were avid RV campers. Whitney and Leonor created a welcoming home that was full of warmth and love.
Whit was predeceased by his beloved wife of 69 years in 2015. Their legacy of love continues on with their four children: Mobby Larson (husband Dave) of Gales Ferry CT, Susi Pendlebury (husband Duncan) of Jamestown, David Brown (wife Cydney) of Greenacres WA, and Steven Brown (wife Mary) of Wakefield RI. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren include: Eric Larson (Tracie; Rachael, William); Mark Larson (Louise); Peter Larson (Lauren; Amy, Andrew); Jeremy Thomas (daughter Haileigh); Benjamin Thomas; Kathryn Jennings (Dean; Jack, Grant, Olive); Christina Cowell (Craig; Matthew, Annie, Alex, Lucy, Sam); Jennifer Griffin (Naaman; Elijah, Isaiah); Josiah Brown (Mara); Mason Brown and Tyler Brown. He had two step-grandchildren as well: Erica Ford (Guy; Mason, Ryder); and Jake Pendlebury (Kathy). He is also survived by four nephews and their families, whom he always embraced as important members of his family: Tom Holmes (Mary), Andy Holmes (Margie), Peter Holmes (Karen), and Dan Blum (Ginny).
A funeral service will be held at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown on November 13 at 3:00 PM, with a reception to follow at the Bay Voyage. Those attending are invited to wear bright colors, reflecting Whitney’s eye for color and his appreciation of the glorious wonders of creation. His ashes will be scattered with Leo’s by the family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Doctors Without Borders https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org,
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 87 Narragansett Ave Jamestown RI 02835
Kindred Hospice https://www.kindredhealthcare.com/our-services/hospice/hospice-foundation/donate
Whitney was born in Newton, Massachusetts to Josiah Henry and Mary Crowe Brown. He was educated at Vermont Academy, Dartmouth College and the Long Island School of Medicine, where he received his MD.
Whitney married Leonor Holmes on August 4, 1945 at Riverside Church in New York City. After two years in New York, they moved to Guam where he served as a Commissioned Naval Officer. They moved to Needham, MA in 1950, where he had a private practice in General Practice/Family Medicine for 25 years, until moving to Jamestown RI.
Whit served as President of the Medical Staff at Glover Hospital in Needham, and as President of the Massachusetts Association of General Practitioners. He contributed to the development of Family Medicine as a specialty practice, in which he taught classes at Harvard and UMass Medical Schools. When he retired from his private practice and from teaching, he served on the medical staff at the Naval Hospital in Newport.
As well as his lifetime commitment to family medicine, Whitney embraced many other personal interests; his love of chess, painting, sailing, and of course, the Red Sox was contagious. Music was an integral part of both his and Leo’s life together. They were members of their church choirs at Needham Congregational Church and at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown; and they sang with the Navy Choristers in Newport, and the Jamestown Chorus. They were subscribers to the Boston Symphony for many years. They also enjoyed the theater, and supported local community theaters as well as Trinity Rep in Providence. Whit and Leo were part of a walking group and a movie group in Jamestown for many years. They traveled extensively both at home and abroad, and for many years they were avid RV campers. Whitney and Leonor created a welcoming home that was full of warmth and love.
Whit was predeceased by his beloved wife of 69 years in 2015. Their legacy of love continues on with their four children: Mobby Larson (husband Dave) of Gales Ferry CT, Susi Pendlebury (husband Duncan) of Jamestown, David Brown (wife Cydney) of Greenacres WA, and Steven Brown (wife Mary) of Wakefield RI. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren include: Eric Larson (Tracie; Rachael, William); Mark Larson (Louise); Peter Larson (Lauren; Amy, Andrew); Jeremy Thomas (daughter Haileigh); Benjamin Thomas; Kathryn Jennings (Dean; Jack, Grant, Olive); Christina Cowell (Craig; Matthew, Annie, Alex, Lucy, Sam); Jennifer Griffin (Naaman; Elijah, Isaiah); Josiah Brown (Mara); Mason Brown and Tyler Brown. He had two step-grandchildren as well: Erica Ford (Guy; Mason, Ryder); and Jake Pendlebury (Kathy). He is also survived by four nephews and their families, whom he always embraced as important members of his family: Tom Holmes (Mary), Andy Holmes (Margie), Peter Holmes (Karen), and Dan Blum (Ginny).
A funeral service will be held at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown on November 13 at 3:00 PM, with a reception to follow at the Bay Voyage. Those attending are invited to wear bright colors, reflecting Whitney’s eye for color and his appreciation of the glorious wonders of creation. His ashes will be scattered with Leo’s by the family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Doctors Without Borders https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org,
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 87 Narragansett Ave Jamestown RI 02835
Kindred Hospice https://www.kindredhealthcare.com/our-services/hospice/hospice-foundation/donate
Service
St. Matthews' Episcopal Church
87 Narragansett Avenue
Jamestown, RI US 02835
Jamestown, RI US 02835
