Virginia Brown's Obituary
Virginia Baldwin Brown (Ginny) was born in Brooklyn NY and adopted before her first birthday by her aunt and uncle, Helen and Thomas Baldwin of Lawrence MA. She graduated from Edward F. Searles High School and immediately embarked on a career as a sought-after contralto singer. Ginny began by touring France as an 18-year-old soloist with a select choral group before studying music performance at New England Conservatory in Boston. She then studied at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford CT where her singing career flourished. Her most celebrated performance was as a soloist in Verdi’s Requiem at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford. Throughout her life Ginny performed in operas, musicals and as a soloist at venues such as Boston’s Symphony Hall, the Methuen Memorial Music Hall, and in many churches and musical theaters in and around Hartford. Ginny took every opportunity to sing—no matter where she was. She was a lifelong performer.
Ginny had other interests beyond singing, many of which revolved around nature. As a teen she volunteered at the MSPCA Nevins Farm in Methuen, which was just down the street from her family’s home. She was particularly fond of working with the horses there. She also had an extensive knowledge of plants and birds and enjoyed hiking in the White Mountains because of her many summers spent at outdoor camps in New Hampshire. Later, as a mom, she turned the family hobby of gem and mineral collecting into a handmade jewelry business she called GinnyGems. Many family summers were spent collecting gems throughout New England and selling her jewelry at outdoor shows.
While rearing her children in Holyoke MA, Ginny also began raising pedigree cats for breeding and showing. As she always did, Ginny poured herself into this endeavor thoroughly. She raised many Grand Champion cats and won many other awards and accolades as well.
After moving to Beverly MA, Ginny took on yet another new challenge—returning to school for a nursing degree. She graduated at the top of her class at Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute and earned her LPN certification while in her 50s. Helping people was another passion of hers, and being a nurse was a perfect way for her to do that. Ginny also became involved in local politics. She worked on a successful mayoral campaign in Lynn MA and selectmen campaigns in Saugus MA.
With her booming voice and lively sense of humor, Ginny could be the life of the party, but she also liked working alone in her garden, reading, watching Jeopardy (where she often figured out the “question” long before the contestants did), and zipping over to Stop’n’Shop on her electric scooter on busy Route 1. She never learned to drive a car, but she was absolutely fearless when driving her scooter!
Ginny didn’t play sports, but she was an avid golf-watcher and a PGA member for many years. Tiger Woods was her favorite. She was thrilled to attend the 2001 US Senior Open practice rounds at Salem Country Club (while riding her scooter!) and get autographs from all the greats including Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
Ginny lived life fully but in later years her health did not always allow her to achieve her ambitions. She rarely shied from a challenge, though, and she accomplished more than most people because she saw beyond just the task at hand to a bigger vision or opportunity. Her mind was always active, even at the very end of her life.
The family is grateful for the care and compassion Ginny received from all the staff at Life Care Center of Stoneham MA, her oncologists at Massachusetts General Hospital, and from her at-home carer Susie Voight who she counted as a friend.
Ginny is survived by her two sons, Rick and wife Suzanne of Newbury MA, and Chris and wife Michele of Salem MA. She is also survived by granddaughters Hannah Nielsen (husband Jacob) of Haverford PA and Helen Brown of Newbury MA, great-grandchildren Sarah, Peter, and Joseph Nielsen of Haverford PA, and brother Richard Simpson and wife Rosalina of Hayward CA. She also leaves behind her dear friends Vincent Beard and wife Stacy Blake-Beard whose company she enjoyed so much.
A funeral service will be celebrated at All Saints Church, 69 Friend Street, Amesbury, MA on Friday, July 7, at 11 am. Guests are kindly asked to meet directly at the church. There will be no procession from the funeral home. Burial will take place at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the MSPCA at Nevins Farm, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen MA is honored to serve the Brown family.
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