Ames Thorndike Brown III

Ames Thorndike Brown III, 62, a retired college administrator and professor, who lived in Painter and Greenbackville, died at home on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

He was the companion of Linda Cicoira, of Painter, and husband of the late Mechtild R. Schongan, an English Literature professor, who passed away in 2012.

Brown was born in Manhattan, N.Y., on April 11, 1963, to the now late Muriel Brown, a high school math teacher, and Ames Thorndike Brown Jr., an Airforce officer. His paternal grandfather, who died a couple of years before he was born, was the New York's Brigadier General during World War II.

In the first several years of his life, his family lived in Manhattan. They moved to New Jersey for his middle childhood years and later to Ithaca, N.Y., where his parents eventually retired.

He discovered the Eastern Shore of Virginia when looking along the Atlantic Coast for an undeveloped hideaway. He was a city boy at heart but found peace from the hectic world on the Shore.

Brown had two undergraduate degrees from Cornell University, and a Master's and a Doctorate from Penn State University, which was among the schools where he later taught. He worked in computer science in the 1990s when technology advanced by leaps and bounds and kept current on all related subjects. As an administrator, he helped to keep the most up-to-date computer programs available to students and faculty.

After leaving academia following his wife's death and moving to Greenbackville, he worked beside his dear friend, Ed Parker, and sometimes Parker's twin brother Steve, to rebuild older houses in that town from the bones up. Brown enjoyed the work and planned to refurbish a house not far from the harbor.

Brown was a master of all cuisines and an accomplished swimmer and diver. He was meticulous at succeeding at everything he attempted. He loved watching films and taking day trips.

A few years ago, he and Linda adopted their Siberian Husky, Skye. It was the first dog he ever had, and he spoiled her every minute of every day, cooking her meals from scratch, buying her special vitamins and lots of toys, and taking her for long walks.

A private service will be held. Condolences may be sent to shoredog@verizon.net