Obituary: James M. Brine, 89, Of Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — (From Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home): Mr. James M. Brine, of Hamden, died on February 27, 2023. Born on April 4, 1933, he was a son of the late Clarence and Margaret Flanigan Brine. Dr. Brine earned his Masters and Doctoral degrees from the University of Massachusetts and Bachelors degree from Georgetown University and College of the Holy Cross.

As a young man, he served our country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a professionally accomplished man, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Dr. Brine had many significant contributions to the fields of Counseling and Mental Health during his over 60-year professional career. His many accomplishments included distinctions such as the Professional and former Chair of the Graduate Counseling and School Psychology program at Southern Connecticut State University and President of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision for the State of Connecticut.

In addition, he was a former member of the Mayor of New Haven’s Executive Committee serving the elderly. He conducted many workshops and developed masters level institutes in multiple areas such as Art Psychotherapy and issues in Divorce. As a member of the Commission on Aging with the American Personnel and Guidance Association in Washington DC, he was a keynote speaker addressing the needs of the elderly at the Lincoln Center at Tufts University along with lecturing in a number of graduate programs in Canada.

Most recently, Dr. Brine was an Adjunct Faculty at Albertus Magnus College, supervising interns in Human Services and Psychology.

Dr. Brine’s work was recognized with many awards for excellence and his contributions to the fields he dedicated his life to. Such recognition included the Connecticut Art Therapy Association Award, Professor Emeritus granted at SCSU and the Connecticut School of Counselor’s Association Award in the state of Connecticut on two occasions.

He will be remembered by his wife, Dr. Ragaa Mazen, a former Professor of Psychology at Southern Connecticut State University and former Director of the Human Services Programs at Albertus Magnus College; his son, Mark Brine and wife Linda; daughters, Molly Brine and husband Ian Paul, Omneya “Nini” Mazen and Nevert “Beata” Mazen and his spiritual son, John Parziale; his grandchildren, Max Brine and wife Jackie, Michael Brine and Kyle Mazen Carpentier; his sister, Carol Shea and husband Bill and their children, Bill, Tim, Karen, and Brenda; sister-in-law, Betty Anne Brine, and her children Denise, John and Evelyn. Predeceased by his brother, John Brine. He also leaves many dear family members in Cairo, Egypt.

Dr. Brine’s professional accomplishments, love for life, family and friends, impacted countless people. We will forever be grateful for the role he played in our lives.

Friends are invited to visit with his family on Saturday, March 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at BEECHER & BENNETT FUNERAL HOME, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, followed by a Celebration of Life at noon in the funeral home. Burial will be private.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home here.