It is with great sadness that the family of Carolyn (Ann Williams) Brown of Shelburne, Vt., shares the news of her passing on November 30, 2024, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by family and the dearest of friends. She leaves behind her husband of 42 years, Douglas Brown; sons, Derek and Cooper Brown; half brother, Christopher Trogan; and many lifelong friends.
Born in 1954, Carolyn was raised in Staten Island, N.Y., where her fierce spirit of adventure made an early mark and carried her throughout her life, as well as the lives of others. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, she received a bachelor of fine arts degree and began her work as a skilled and highly sought-after art director in the city’s publishing world. It was in this setting that Carolyn made lifelong friendships, with one recently describing her as, “All things golden: fun, feisty, smart, artistic, down to earth, a great listener, and always up for adventure. She was the type of person that once you met her,
you knew you wanted to be friends forever.”
Carolyn met her match with Doug, also a Staten Island native, whom she married on October 9, 1982. Five years later, along with their infant son Derek, they moved to Vermont, making homes in St. Albans and, lastly, Shelburne. Carolyn continued to work as a designer and art director for numerous local and national brands, including Brown Cow Graphics, Kehoe Design Agency, Vermont Teddy Bear and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, receiving design awards along the way. Additionally, she enjoyed painting with pastels and created exquisite collages filled with intricate color and texture, while also teaching others to explore the medium.
Carolyn enjoyed her times at Lake Carmi, Noyack Bay, in Long Island, N.Y., and had fond memories growing up with her cousins dotted throughout Long Island, New Jersey and North Carolina. She traveled throughout Europe, with Italy and France among her favorite places. A devout environmentalist, Carolyn loved her flower gardens, especially an abundance of black-eyed Susans.
The Browns would especially like to thank family members, neighbors and friends, as well as extending their gratitude to the nurses at the UVM Medical Center who supported their beloved wife and mother over the last year. Carolyn was predeceased by her parents, Michael Williams and Mona Williams Trogan; her brothers, Steven Williams and Michael Williams; and her stepfather, Roland Trogan.
A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held on April 5, 2025, 2 p.m., at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne, Vt., with a reception immediately following.
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 4, 2025.