Rev. Frederick Robert Brown

The beloved Reverend Frederick Robert “Bob” Brown, 91, of Westboro, MA passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, November 16, 2025.

Predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Barbara “Bobbie” (Barnes) Brown, in 2008, and a son In law, Michael Hogan, Bob is survived by his sister Betsy (Brown) Dietrich of Providence, RI, his five children- Allyson Roose (Bob) of Redwood City, CA; Cindy Hogan of Tucson, AZ, Tamara Wolfe (Dan) of Herndon, VA, Glenn Brown (Carol) of Medfield, MA, and Jim Brown (Carrie Ann) of Westborough, MA. He also leaves 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Born in Princeton, NJ on August 24, 1934, to Frederick William Brown and Lillian (Calder) Brown, Bob was raised in Scarsdale, NY. A self- described ‘terrible student,’ he managed to attend Colby College in Waterville, ME where he played football, was a member of the Deke fraternity, and met his future wife. After abandoning a plan to major in Geology at the advice of a perceptive adviser who saw Bob’s gift of working with people even before he saw it in himself, he graduated with a BA in Philosophy and later earned a Masters in Divinity at Andover Newton Seminary in Newton, MA in 1959.

His professional life began at the Lyman School for Boys in Westboro where he was first installed as Chaplain, later holding administrative positions. Simultaneously he was called to be Associate Pastor at the Congregational Church of Westborough leading youth groups where his influence was permanent on many who would later be parents in Westboro and never forget him.

His mark on the State of MA criminal justice system- whether as Chaplain at the Lyman School or Walpole State Prison, overseeing juvenile offender locked units, or his eventual position of Director of Training of the Department of Youth Services – was his advocacy for troubled youth, the so called ‘least among us.’ His demand of those working with juvenile offenders was ‘you will dress respectfully, you will learn the kids’ names, and you will model a way of life that is worthy of pursuit.’ He never considered himself better than any other person- ever.

Today, a DYS training facility in North Grafton, MA bears his name and speaks to the successes of his approach. Of far more significance are the scores of kids who developed into contributing members of society – many achieving great personal success and positions of leadership.

The life that began for Bob when the days’ work was over was as remarkable as his professional accomplishments. After horsing around with his kids and having dinner, he would head out to his garage to work on a boat for a ‘B & S Boats’ customer or to the woodpile to split one of the 120 cords of firewood he’d process annually- his energy was endless. And that was on the nights when he wasn’t fulfilling his duties as Scoutmaster of Troop 100, or attending board and committee meetings that built schools and new police stations. On autumn Thursday afternoons throughout the ‘60’s and 70’s, he’d work with the Westboro High School football team punters.

Weekends saw Bob clearing land with his chainsaw or operating his massive TD20 International bulldozer. He started a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, organizing a group that built multiple homes for those in need. Somehow there was time to counsel families who were suffering with troubled kids or end of life situations. He married countless couples and filled in for vacationing ministers, preaching breathtaking sermons, drawing experiences from his own life and often leaving the congregation in tears.

When Bobby Orr arrived in Boston in the late 60’s, Bob was the 1st one in the neighborhood to build a skating rink in the backyard for his and neighborhood kids, later being among those parents in town who pushed to solidify a hockey program for the town’s kids.

And if he hadn’t done any of the above and had only built ‘The Camp’ on Nickerson Lake in Houlton, ME with his Westboro buddy, George Walgrove, he’d have achieved hero status with his family for the countless memories created there.

In this life however, there will be trouble and that came with the far too young diagnosis of Alzheimer’s for his adored partner in life, Bobbie. Bob’s devotion to his wife and to her needs in that awful decline was total and presented more opportunities to bring people together to cope. His participation in support groups, fundraising efforts, and advocacy with those in similar positions was a defining time in Bob’s life and was consistent with the exemplary way he chose to live.

F. Robert ‘Bob’ Brown was an icon of a man who chose to pursue life as Christ would have us. The guiding principles of his life were humility, grace, and hard work, dedicating himself completely to the service of others. The prayers he recited publicly always began with the words ‘Ever Living and Ever Loving God…’ In this prayer at the conclusion of this wonderful life, the ending reads, ‘Thank you for blessing us with this beloved figure.’

Calling Hours are Friday evening, January 9, 2026, from 5:00- 7:00 P.M. in the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. in the Congregational Church of Westborough, 57 West Main St., Westborough, preceded by a private interment at Pine Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.