Donald Kennedy Brush, 89, beloved husband of Judith (Hill) Brush, died Tuesday, January 1, 2019 at Duncaster Retirement Community in Bloomfield, CT. Born December 6, 1929 to the late Graham M. Brush, Sr. and Marjorie (Gilbert) Brush, Don spent his childhood in Greenwich, CT. He was a graduate of Pomfret Prep School and Yale University, Class of 1951, and after having received his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering he worked at Bethlehem Steel in Quincy Massachusetts. He met Judy while teaching her to water ski and impressed with her skills married her and took up residence in Manhattan and Hingham Massachusetts before settling in Ridgefield, CT. He later joined Barden Corp. in Danbury in 1963 and became Vice President and General Manager of Manufacturing. After retiring, they settled in Norfolk, CT where they spent many wonderful years on Doolittle Lake. In the course of his lifetime, Don found it important to give back to his community and did so in many ways which included serving as President of Silver Spring Country Club, President of Doolittle Lake Company, and a Board Member of the Ridgefield Library, Savings Bank of Danbury, Danbury Hospital, Rippowam Cisqua School and Emma Willard School. Don’s greatest pride was his grandchildren and teaching them anything they asked of him which included birding, fishing, nature, playing the piano, golf, tennis, shelling, woodworking, construction, personal finance, sound advice, singing, writing poems and photography. Don loved family gatherings, telling stories and enjoyed traveling, wine, and opera with Judy. To his three daughters, if he gave his word, it was as good as gold and he personified class, as defined by an unknown author as “one who could walk with kings and keep his virtue and talk with crowds and keep the common touch.” He was a man who everyone was comfortable with because he was comfortable with himself.
In addition to his loving wife of 63 years, he is survived by his three daughters, Laurie Matson and her husband Michael of Brookfield, CT, Lise Read and her husband Marshal of New Fairfield, CT and Carrie O’Connor and her husband John of Loudonville, NY; his 7 grandchildren, Kyle and Kate Matson, Ben Read, John (wife Carlene), Ryan, Annabel and Andrew O’Connor; his sisters-in-law, Kay Brush and Louise Davis and her husband David and a number of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his two brothers, Dave M. Brush and Graham M. Brush.
There are no calling hours and services will be private. Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 825 Brook Street, I-91 Tech Ctr., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Please visit Don’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.