Lorian Rounsevell Brown

Lorian Rounsevell Brown died after a long illness due to a degenerative brain disease. She was the oldest child of Robert Vance Brown and Majorie Waldron Brown. Born on March 29, 1941, she is survived by her brother Richard Brown (Susan McClellan) and sister Dory Rice (Kate Olgiotti). She was predeceased by her husband Joseph Urner in 2011.

Lorian grew up in Washington DC and in Wellesley, MA, graduated from Radcliffe College Magna Cum Laude, and received her MA from Wheelock College. She had many careers, beginning as an editor at Houghton Mifflin; then a pre-school teacher and social worker in Quincy, MA; next an instructor at Wheelock College; and, finally, a poet.

She leaves behind her nieces Elizabeth Lindenberg (David), Susannah Scanlon (Jon), Laurel Rice, Shanti Rice, two great-nephews Zachary and Tate, her step-daughter Katharine Urner-Jones (Larry), and her dear friend and helper Margaret Harding. Her beloved dog Josie predeceased her.

Lorian and Joe lived in Lincoln, MA and loved working in their garden and going to the theater in Boston and concerts at Symphony Hall and Tanglewood. They also greatly enjoyed spending time at their second home in Gilmanton, NH, where they hiked the nearby White Mountains.

Lorian was a wordsmith and played a fierce game of scrabble. She was an inveterate reader; when she could no longer focus on a book, she would read all of the book titles, memos, and nametags around her.

Funny, stubborn, prickly, and smart, she was introspective and observant, with astonishing insight into the world around her.

There will be a private burial and gathering for friends and family in Lincoln. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Doctors Without Borders: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/