Obituary: Dr. John M. Brewster, Age 82

Dr. John M. Brewster passed away unexpectedly, in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 19, 2013.

He was born on October 13, 1930 in Westfield, New Jersey, the younger of two children born to William Keefer Brewster and Sue Beardsley Brewster.

John graduated as salutatorian from Shelton High School, Shelton, CT in 1948. He studied business at Earlham College in Indiana after which he attended the New York Chiropractor Institute; graduating in 1952 as Doctor of Chiropractic. Although John had been in the naval reserve, he was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1952. He was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany and helped with the restoration following the war. Dr. Brewster worked in the hospital as an x-ray technician and on the ambulance crew.

Upon his honorable discharge, John joined his sister’s practice in Shelton, CT. Their practice was one of the first chiropractic offices in Connecticut and was well known in the area. He was predeceased by his sister, Dr. Jeanette Brewster LaMacchia, June of 2007.

At the age of 78, John finally retired from a very active practice. Many of his patients had become lifelong friends. In December of 2008, he and his wife Jan moved to Alfred, Maine to live next to their youngest daughter, Carol. John was an avid skier and he and Jan enjoyed many family ski trips within the US and Europe. John loved spending time laughing with his family, working in the woods, going out to eat and doted on their newly adopted stray Maine coon cat. He and Jan were known for their beautiful handcrafted wooden Christmas ornaments. John loved his retirement in Alfred and woke every day to “another day in paradise.”

John is survived by his best friend of 56 years, Jan (Davis) Brewster of Alfred, ME; his daughter Allison Brewster and husband Ole Mathiesen of Niva, Denmark; and his daughter Carol and son-in-law, Rudy Skowronski and his grandchildren, Jesse and Mia Skowronski all from Alfred, ME.

The ancient Egyptians had a belief about death. When their souls got to the entrance of heaven, the gods asked them two questions: Did you find joy in life? Did your life bring joy to others? The answer to these two questions is a resounding YES for the life of Dr. John Brewster.

A Celebration of John’s life will be held on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Autumn Green Funeral Home, 47 Oak Street in Alfred, with Pastor Larry Greer, presiding. Later in the spring, there will be a memorial service at the White Hills Baptist Church, Shelton, CT.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Alfred Fire and Rescue, P.O. 36, Alfred, ME 04402.

The Autumn Green Funeral Home is respectfully handling arrangements.