Mathilda Brown

Mathilda “Tibby” Brown, born on September 2, 1925, died peacefully on October 10, 2016, at the age of 91. She is survived by her four children: Larry (and Kate Nasse), Barbara (and Tim Wiepking), Allison, and Elizabeth; her granddaughter Sophie Wiepking-Brown; as well as her brother, Sammy Sharpe. Her nephew Larry Datz and Kathy and Jessica were at her side as she passed, as was her best friend, Gloria Laskow.

Tibby was born in Brooklyn (Bensonhurst), New York, daughter of Morris and Rose Shapiro. Her two sisters, Finny Barmash and Mildy Datz, predeceased her. Tibby graduated from Lafayette High School and then married Irving Brown in 1947. They moved to Old Bridge, New Jersey, ultimately settling in Dix Hills on Long Island. Irv died on February 10, 1980, but Tibby remained in the family home for a total of 50 years. In 2010, Tibby moved 3 miles away to the Gurwin Jewish Faye J. Lindner assisted living residences. She spent six very happy years there, delighted that someone else was doing the cooking.

Tibby was a lifelong fan of theater and film, supporting Huntington Long Island’s Cinema Arts Centre from the very beginning and serving as a volunteer there throughout her life. She rarely missed a film opening at the Cinema … or in her later years, the daily film at Gurwin. Her collection of original Broadway Playbills is truly impressive!

Tibby loved to travel, and with her two sisters she visited Australia, China, Thailand, Haiti, Panama … too many to list. She spent time in Alaska, Massachusetts, Berlin, and San Francisco as she visited her children in many different time zones, and her kids flew in and out of Long Island often.

Tibby was always on the move, crediting her long life to daily exercise. She relentlessly powerwalked – even in later years with a walker.

In her earlier years, Tibby was a stenographer and switchboard operator, and (when her kids were in school) she was the lunchroom monitor. She distinguished herself on Long Island as Deputy Court Clerk of Family Court for Suffolk County, based out of the Hauppauge offices. Her kids are especially proud of her union activism to win equal pay for the female court clerks. After 33 years, she retired in 1996 with accolades and many friends. Her badge number was officially retired as well.

A group of Tibby’s friends, the “Bubbes,” met every Sunday for breakfast for many, many years. Tibby loved people and made friends of everyone she came in contact with: the staff at her local bank, the crew at Weight Watchers, the gang at the Y, and of course the staff, aides, and residents of Gurwin. All who touched her felt her warmth and enthusiasm.

Tibby was a lifelong Democrat, once holding political office in New Jersey, and is certainly sorry to miss this election.

Tibby is buried next to Irv at Calverton National Cemetery, but her spirit remains with her four children and the people who loved her.

In lieu of gifts, your vote for Hillary would be appreciated.