Richard “Dick” Alva Brown

February 25, 1944 - December 06, 2025

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Obituary for Richard “Dick” Alva Brown

BROWN – Richard “Dick” Alva, age 81, of Milton. Entered into eternal rest on December 6, 2025, peacefully at home, his cherished sister by his side.

Dick was born in Boston and lived much of his life in Milton. He graduated from Boston College High School and Stonehill College, where he majored in political science, and later earned an M.A. from Boston State College. An educator, he taught in Canton, Jamaica Plain, North Quincy, and for some years in Franklin, N.H. For almost 30 years he taught middle school in Roxbury, first at the Phillis Wheatley Middle School, then at the Dearborn. “Mr. B” was devoted to his students, who repaid him with love and respect, and he was esteemed by his colleagues.

He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era, stationed in Germany.

A natural historian, Dick brought alive the Brown family tree going back 10 generations, starting in the pre-Internet shoe leather era. His primary life’s work, though, came in the expression of a deep-seated caring for family and friends, and he moved, often invisibly, to improve the lives of many both materially and spiritually.

Beloved son of the late Alva W. and Marie L. (Scully) Brown. Devoted brother of Robert F. of Leominster, Maureen A. of Milton, and the late Diane M. and Paul F. Brown. Loving brother-in-law of the late Lerita “Glee” Brown. Also survived by his longtime dear friend Virginia Blass of North Carolina as well as many close cousins, friends, and former colleagues and students.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 17th at St. Agatha Parish, 432 Adams Street, MILTON at 10:30 am. Interment in Milton Cemetery, MILTON. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, December 16th at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON SQUARE from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.

Donations in memory of Dick may be made to the Melanoma Research Alliance Foundation https://www.curemelanoma.org/ or to Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute https://www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center.

Services

16 Dec

Visiting Hours

04:00 PM - 07:00 PM

Dolan Funeral Homes and Cremation Services 460 Granite Avenue Milton, MA 02186 Get Directions »
17 Dec

Mass of Christian Burial

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Saint Agatha Church 432 Adams Street Milton, MA 02186 Get Directions »
17 Dec

Interment

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Milton Cemetery 211 Centre Street Milton, MA 02186 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

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Condolences

  • December 12, 2025

    Anne Mette Westjordet

    First of all a Thank You to Dick for being such a fantastic big brother to my friend , Maureen. You will always be remembered, referred to in conversations / emails between Maureen and me and always with gratitude and a smile. And to Maureen. I have admired you for your strength and your fight for Dick. To make sure he got the best treatment, the best care and when nothing more could be done you were prepared and ready to let him go to spare him from more pain. No love is greater than that. I might be far away in kilometers ( in Norway) but I am with you in my thoughts. I send you warmth, strength and support. Mette

  • December 12, 2025

    Virginia Blass

    I send my deepest sympathy to you, Maureen and Bob, and all of Dick's family and friends at this time of loss. I was so blessed to have him as a dear friend for so many years. He lived an extraordinary life of dedication, care, and generosity for all his family and friends. He is dearly missed. May he rest in peace.🙏

  • December 12, 2025

    Kathleen O’Brien

    Dick was a kind and generous man. He quietly made such a difference in many people's lives. He will be greatly missed.

  • December 10, 2025

    Debra Pepi-Jones

    Dear Maureen and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Maureen , thank you for always being there and taking such good care of Dick when he needed you most. You were a wonderful sister to him.