Robert F. Brown It is with heartfelt sorrow that Robs family announced his passing on January 24, 2026, after a difficult struggle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was 69 years old. Rob was born on September 30, 1956, in Middletown. He was the son of Frederick Palmer Brown and the late Patricia (Dawson) Brown. Rob grew up in Colchester and graduated from Norwich Tech. He married his high school sweetheart, Donna Sanzone on August 30, 1980. The couple made their home in Colchester where they raised their family and became actively involved with the community.

He was a lifelong member of the Colchester Bible Baptist Church and had a personal strong sense of faith and devotion. Rob was an accomplished carpenter, but his true passion and successful career was as a fire fighter. Rob began as a volunteer and quickly earned his rank, becoming the first paid Fire fighter in the Colchester Fire Department. His accomplishments were widespread over the years he served. He helped build the Fire house which is currently in use by the Colchester fire department. He was an instructor for firefighting 1 & 2 and was a state fire instructor as well. Rob earned the Life Saving Award during an emergency call while on duty. He was Fire Fighter of the Year in Colchester on two separate occasions. He was one of the first to volunteer to go to New York City after 911 to help with cleaning up, search, and rescue. Most recently, Rob was actively involved with the Salem Fire Department, serving as a Captain with the department there. In other areas, Rob was instrumental and one of the best customers at Salem Valley Farms where he had an ice cream named after him. Red Rose in Colchester was also a recipient of his dedication to sweets. Most importantly, Rob was a family man, who selflessly would stop at nothing to provide, protect, love, and serve them. A trait which he extended to his entire community with compassion and generosity.

Rob will be sadly missed but always remembered with love by all who knew him, especially his beloved wife of 45 years, Donna; his children, Samantha and her husband, Stephen Elias of Cranston, RI, Robert F. Brown III and companion, Jamie Sacilowski of Colchester; siblings, Jon Brown of Colchester, Kevin (Christina) Brown of Colchester, Karen (Hutch) Hutchins of Salem, Debbi (David) Hockman of Spring Grove, PA, sister-in-law, Heidi Brown of Enfield; grandchildren, Carter and Colton Elias, Remi and Cora Brown; numerous extended family and a host of friends through the Colchester and Salem Fire Departments and communities. In addition to his mother, he was predeceased by a brother, Jeff Brown.

A celebration of life will be held at 11am on Saturday, February 7th at the Colchester Fire Department. Burial will be private in the Exeter Cemetery in Lebanon. Donations in Robs memory may be made to the Colchester Volunteer Fire Company, 52 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester 06415 or the Salem Fire Company, 424 Hartford Rd. Salem, CT 06420 or Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, www.cancer.org. For online condolences or to share a story of Rob, please visit www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com

Events
Celebration of Life

Saturday, February 7, 2026
11:00AM
Colchester Fire Department
52 Old Hartford Rd
Colchester, CT 06415

Memorial Contributions
Salem Fire Company

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Colchester Volunteer Fire Company