Addison "Brownie" Brown

January 13, 1931 – December 10, 2018

WESTBROOK - Addison S. “Brownie” Brown of Portland, formerly of Brunswick, 87, died peacefully in his sleep at Avita of Stroudwater in Westbrook, after a four year battle with dementia.

He was born to Lawrence and Helen (Harrington) Brown in his parents’ home on Green Street in Brunswick on January 13, 1931. He attended local schools, and graduated from Brunswick High School in 1948. While homework and classes were not his forte (or favorite pastime), Brownie excelled in sports.

He enjoyed his high school years playing end on the varsity football team and pitching on the varsity baseball team, where he made many special friendships which lasted the length of his life.

He entered the US Army in 1952, ending his service two years later as a Corporal in the US Army with an honorable discharge in 1954. serving in post-war Germany in Mainz and Bremen.

He attended Portland Junior College after the Army, and transferred to Clark University in Worcester, MA, where he graduated in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration. He then worked at local banks, and was a member of the Lions Club and Toastmasters during that time.

He married the love of his life, Larraine Riopel, on June 29, 1968. They moved into their home in the Deering Highlands shortly thereafter, where he raised a family with Larraine and remained until the dementia took its toll.

His life’s “second act” started at his retirement from Maine Multiple Listing Service at the age of 62 in 1993. He worked on numerous projects (some that were completed and some that weren’t), researched his family genealogy, and took numerous trips across the US with Larraine, to historic locations. He attended dozens of Portland Sea Dogs games every season, enjoying the summer air (and many cold nights at the park as well) and games win or lose with family and new and old friends. He also loved his Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox, very much enjoying their success in his retired years, and making numerous trips to Fenway with his family to cheer on his beloved Red Sox.

He had an adventuresome spirit, climbing to the crown of the Statue of Liberty at 83, 66 years after last doing so on a high school trip, and walking daily to his local Dunkin’ Donuts, where his coffee group solved all the problems of the world. He enjoyed the great majority of his 25 years of retirement, knowing that his father died shortly after his own retirement, and so vowing to enjoy his to its fullest. He did, loving to talk history with his grandson Joshua, and getting school and hockey updates from his granddaughter Emily.

He is predeceased by his father, Lawrence Brown, his mother, Helen Brown, and his beloved sister Elizabeth “Betty” Brown, all of Brunswick. He dearly loved all his family pets over the years, and held his Butchie, Chappa, Willie, Mittie, and Murphy deep in his heart.

He is survived by his loving wife, Larraine (Riopel) Brown, of Portland; a daughter Jessica (Brown) Factor, of Brunswick, her husband Michael, two adored grandchildren Joshua and Emily; and a son, Gregory, of Portland, formerly of Cambridge, MA.

Brownie was a dignified man with a deep love of family, history, and country, and will never be forgotten by his family and friends.

The family would like to thank the entire staff of Avita of Stroudwater for making his last years comfortable ones, especially the staff on the Spring neighborhood and the medical staff, whose constant care and attention made his last years peaceful, and to the kitchen staff who fed him well up to the end. Larraine and Brownie were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with the help of Avita, something that their family and friends will never forget.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Mid Coast Humane Society of Brunswick, 30 Range Road, Brunswick, ME, 04011; the Portland Wheelers, PO Box 11314 Portland, ME 04104; or to

the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047.

Friends and family are invited to share their memories and offer their condolences by visiting Brownie’s online guestbook at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com

Friends and family are invited to attend a time of visitation at Jones Rich, & Barnes Funeral Home in Portland on Friday, December 14, 2018, from 9:00am to 11:00am. A funeral service will immediately follow at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home at 11:00am. A graveside committal service will be held at the Riverside Cemetery in Brunswick, ME at a later date in the spring. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland, Maine, 04103. 775-3763.