Michael M. Brown

Michael Mathison Brown, 80, of Westminster died peacefully at his home on Monday, August 30, 2021.  Born December 6, 1940, in Palmyra, PA, he was son of the late Donald Brown and Nancy Brown, nee Fegan; beloved husband of Marilyn Hanchett; loving father of Margaret Goodwin and her husband Robert of Spartanburg, SC, and Janet Walton and her husband Michael Dirr of North Bend, OH; devoted grandfather of Nick Krolczyk, and his wife Kate of Lakeland, FL, Christine Simpson and her husband Daniel of North Berwick, ME, and Julia, Jill, and Jenna Walton of North Bend, OH; cherished great grandfather of Lyle Simpson of North Berwick, ME; also survived by his brother Eric Brown of New York City, former spouse Beverly Brown, nee Anderson of Westminster, and numerous cousins, teaching colleagues, and many lifelong friends.

Michael received his PhD from the University of Delaware in 1968. He then moved to Westminster to begin what would become a 50-year affiliation with McDaniel College, formerly Western Maryland College. He served on the faculty from 1968 until his retirement in 2010. During those years he was the advisor for the pre-med program, co-founder and director of the Summer Science Institute, research mentor and Head of the Biology Department from 1979-1989. Within biology his primary sub-specialties were botany and microbiology. Michael enjoyed travel, camping and sailing. He was a lifetime Civil War history buff and an enthusiastic supporter of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, PA and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. During his lifetime he enjoyed live theater, ballroom dancing and was an avid reader of nonfiction. Although Michael always claimed to prefer dogs, he loved his wife’s cat Mac, and “his cat” Charlie.

A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 18, 2021, at the MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 91 Willis Street, Westminster (21157), with the Rev. F. Allan Weatherholt officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to McDaniel College Office of Institutional Advancement, 2 College Hill, Westminster, MD 21157.