Peter G. Brown

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

 The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame  

Peter G. Brown passed away on April 3, 2018 at the age of 72.  Peter was born in New York City on April 12th, 1945 to Rollins Brown and Lillian (Rafson) Brown. The family quickly relocated to his ancestral home in Wakefield, NH.  He went on to attend Brewster Academy class of 1963, and UNH class of 1967.  He entered the US Army in the fall of 1967 and was deployed to Vietnam as a First Lieutenant.

Anyone who knew him understood Peter’s love of boats, which began at an early age during summers on Great East Lake with life-long friends.  During his teenage years, Peter’s passion developed as he worked at Goodhue & Hawkins Navy Yard in Wolfeboro, NH.  Under the mentorship Nat Goodhue, he developed a passion for classic the Downeast boat designs of Will Frost, who designed Goodhue & Hawkins Good Utility boats. Upon his return from Vietnam, he purchased Goodhue & Hawkins from Nat, and was the owner until 1975.  He continued in the boating industry working for the Sisu Boat Company in Dover, NH from 1977. The venerable Sisu 22’ was designed by Royal Lowell, grandson of Will Frost. His love for the Sisu, and the customers who purchased them, helped him build a lasting reputation in the boating community. He is remembered for his willingness to help any boaters with their questions about Downeast boats. In 1988 he opened the Portsmouth Boat Company in Seabrook, NH, where he built the former Sisu 30’ and later the Sisu 22’ under the Portsmouth name.  In 1993 he left the boat industry and went on to work in sales at Affinity in Ossipee, NH.  In 2014, with the encouragement of his loving wife Lauren, he established the Wakefield Corner Boat Shop where he brokered boats for private owners, Eastern Boats and Rosborough USA (of Milton, NH). He operated this passion project until his death.

Peter had a deep love for the Wakefield community he called home. His roots are held within the walls of the house that has been in his family since the 1850s.  He was active in the Wakefield Heritage Commission and President of the Wakefield Library Association.  He volunteered his time giving tours of the village and talks about the history of the area and its people. 

Most of all, Peter loved his family. He leaves behind his wife of forty-nine years Lauren C.  Brown, his daughter Dana Doherty of Annandale VA and her family Neil Doherty, Abby, Brighid, Kellyn, and Jack.  His son Peter G. Brown of Ipswich, MA and his children Piper, Peter (Ross), and Charlotte. 

A special thanks to the caring community at Seacoast Cancer Center and Garrison 3 of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital for their amazing dedication to the care of their patients and their patient’s families.

A private celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2018, per his request.  In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Peter’s memory to the: Wakefield Public Library, PO Box 904, Sanbornville, NH 03872 or to the Wakefield Heritage Commission, 2 High Street, Sanbornville, NH 03872

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