Obituary: Alice Gorman Brandon Of Brewster

From Beecher Funeral Home

Alice Gorman Brandon passed away surrounded by her family, at home, in Brewster NY on February 26, 2020.

Alice was born, at home, in Queens Village, NY to George and Alice {Gordon} Gorman. She grew up there with her 5 brothers, playing in alley Pond Park, competing in PAL athletics, and excelling as a student. Her academic achievements earned her scholarship to St. Joseph’s College, where she met her lifelong best friend, Katharine Driscoll Reggio. She also continued with her athletics, competing nationally as a world class athlete in track and field. She ran with the fastest relay team in the country, in the 1948 Olympic trials.

Throughout her life she continued with her athletics competing in senior Olympics.
Her family had started visiting Tonetta Lake in the 1940’s, and in 1949 she met the love of her life, Bernard Brandon. They married in 1950 at Our Lady of Lourdes, and started a lifelong legacy of love generosity and kindness. Barney predeceased her in 2008. They raised their 6 daughters in Brewster, NY.

Alice was very active in St Lawrence O’Toole Church, as an Ecumenical Minister, and parishioner. she was a member of the Catholic Daughters and one of her most special moments in life was getting Holy Communion from Pope John Paul at Yankee Stadium. She was also active in political and environmental causes. She and Barney loved to travel and made annual trips from Brewster to Jekyll Island and visited friends and family along the way. They traveled with the St. Lawrence Globetrotters, and the Emerald Society.

Alice worked as a teacher for many years, then after “retirement”, went to work for the Department of Social Services until her true retirement at 85. She had a lifelong love of gardening and nature. In recent years she loved her walks along the bike path and at Muscoot Farm. Every child and grandchild remembers catching fire flies, frogs or salamanders to show her and getting a big thumbs up!

Alice was kind and generous. There was always a place at the table for friends and family who all knew that they had an ear to listen to them, and a space to lay their head. “You are always welcome to stay here.”

Alice was a champion- a champion in life, for her kindness and compassion, a champion teacher, environmentalist, a champion for her beloved Brewster, and a champion to all of her 6 children 14 grandchildren and 11 great grand children.

Alice was predeceased by her husband Bernard, her parents, Alice and George Gorman, her Brothers George and J Kenneth., and her sisters in law Constance, Sophia, and Jeannette. She is survived by her six daughters, Kathleen, Alice {David Quattrocchi}, Constance {Emerson Phillips}, Anne, Theresa {John Simao}, and Bernadette. She is also survived by her Brothers, Robert, Thomas, and Francis {Pati}, and sisters in law Elizabeth, Constance, and Maria. 14 Grand children, 11 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday February 29, 2020 at 11am at St. Lawrence O’ Toole Church, Prospect St., Brewster, NY. Interment will be private. Friends and family may visit Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Avenue, Brewster, NY on Friday February 28, 2020 from 4pm-8pm.

In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Alice may be made to St. Lawrence O’ Toole Church, 31 Prospect Street, Brewster, NY, 10509.