Michael Brown’s Journey from Liverpool’s Blitz to Today
From England to Edgehill, his story reflects a life rich with adventure, accomplishment and heart.
Michael Brown’s story is one of courage, curiosity and love—a life shaped by history and enriched by extraordinary experiences.
Early Life in Liverpool
Michael Brown was born in a mining and industrial town just outside Liverpool, England. His earliest memories are of the Blitz during the Second World War, when the area was heavily bombed for many months. He once spent eight nights in an overcrowded air-raid shelter as the city burned, carrying a gas mask to school and collecting fragments of shrapnel and even parts of a downed bomber. These experiences left lasting impressions of resilience and perspective.
His parents encouraged hard work. He attended school near Chester, England and left on his 16th birthday to enter the work force. He was employed by a firm of Chartered Accountants, qualifying at 21, winning a national prize for commercial law and practice.
Military and Early Career
Michael served as a conscript officer with the 12th Royal Lancers in Germany, including time with Military Intelligence in Berlin. The experience was “an enjoyable and constructive time” for Michael, offering valuable lessons about leadership and self-awareness.
After three more years in the reserves, he joined a large international construction firm and, by 28, oversaw a division with 5,000 employees. He later became the first non-newspaper director at the Times Newspapers before serving as Financial Director of Thomson Corporation (now Thomson Reuters). Over the years, he helped guide key business transitions and international projects until he retired on his 66th birthday.
A Love Story for the Ages
In 1966, at a tea party he was reluctant to attend, Michael met Jennifer, the woman who would become his partner in every sense. “I thought I was cool, but I fell in love at first sight,” he recalls. They spent the next 56 years together, sharing a love of opera, symphony, theater, skiing, biking across Europe, walking the Great Wall, snorkeling in the Galápagos, riding in Brazil’s Pantanal and safaris in Kenya. They visited 43 countries together, delighting in cuisine and wine. Their greatest adventure was raising their two daughters, Melissa and Camille.
After moving from Surrey, England, they settled in Greenwich, Connecticut, enjoying friends, mutual interests and their 160-acre Vermont-style farm, where they tapped maple syrup and created a wildflower meadow and butterfly pathway. Jennifer’s love of gardening, particularly daffodils, was legendary; she planted 20,000 bulbs across Greenwich and Vermont. Though her passing in 2022 was difficult, Michael still sees her in every blossom and flower.
A New Chapter at Edgehill
When Michael and Jennifer decided it was time to leave the house they had built, they quickly embraced life at Edgehill.
“The associates are patient and kind and there are so many genuinely interesting residents,” he says. He enjoys walks, exercise, lectures, movies and still drives to lunches several times a week, including a men’s group. “Life is not at all bad,” he adds with a twinkle.
Family and Community
Michael and Jennifer’s daughters remain central to his life. Melissa lives nearby in Greenwich with her husband John and Camille lives in New Haven with her husband, both doctors at Yale. Michael dotes on his grandchildren, Juliet and Austin, whom he sees regularly. He notes, “There was no pressure from the family to move, but they are pleased that I am well settled here.”
These connections—with family, longtime friends and the Edgehill community—bring a richness that extends beyond any career or achievement.
Staying Engaged
An avid reader of three newspapers a day, Michael stays intellectually and socially engaged. He participates in a book group at Edgehill, enjoys coffee with friends and reflects on life with perspective. “Life is full of opportunities,” he says. “You just have to filter out the right ones and stick with them. People matter above all else and the long view is the one worth taking.”
Pictured: Michael with Daughter Melisa, Son-in-Law John and their pup Ziva. Photo Credit: Tischman Pets