Alice Marie DeSomma

Alice Marie DeSomma, age 88, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Mrs. DeSomma, daughter of George and Alice (DuFour) Brown, was born on May 30, 1937, in New York City. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Good Counsel College in White Plains, NY. After college, she joined the research staff of Sloan Kettering Institute in New York, focusing on pediatric cancer treatments.

She married Vincent V. DeSomma, DDS, on February 20, 1960, and they had two sons. Following their marriage, she and her husband moved to Brewster, New York where Dr. DeSomma established his first dental practice. Mrs. DeSomma remained an active member of the Brewster community for the next 40 years.

The couple’s love of Vermont led them to purchase a log cabin in Shaftsbury and later a home near Stratton Mountain. After Dr. DeSomma’s retirement in 2000, the couple divided their time between Stratton and a home in Venice, Florida.

Her love of nature, landscaping, and design led her to join the Brewster-Carmel Garden Club soon after arriving in Brewster. Over the following decades, her role in Garden Club grew. She eventually served as Director of the Ninth District and then President of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State. She later served on the National Council of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world. Mrs. DeSomma was a Lifetime Judge and won numerous awards in design.

In addition to her contributions to the Garden Club, Mrs. DeSomma was an active member of the Board of Trustees of The Harvey School in Katonah, NY. She was instrumental in the creation of a new high school level at Harvey, securing vital funding for the new venture. She was always proud of her role in helping to create what has become a vibrant educational institution.

Mrs. DeSomma was known for her kindness, her outgoing personality, and her dedication to her family. She was at her happiest when working in her gardens, creating new landscape designs, selecting shrubs, and patiently watching it all grow. She loved to entertain with her husband and always had time for others. One of her greatest joys was being ‘Nana’ to her five grandchildren.

Mrs. DeSomma was predeceased by her husband. She is survived by her sons, Vincent III (Kerry) of Bethesda, Maryland, and Christopher (Meredith) of Finksburg, Maryland; her five grandchildren, Alessandra, Victoria, Vincent IV, Aveline, and Veronique; her brother George Brown, Jr. (Gwendolyn) of Bel Air, MD, and her sister-in-law Norma (DeSomma) Holzschuh (Charles) of Boca Raton, Florida.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to Victoria Sackitey, who was her loving caregiver and companion in her final years.

A private burial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Mrs. DeSomma’s name be made to the projects of The Federated Garden Clubs of New York State, Inc. (www.fgcnys.com)