Obituary for Felix Alexander Brow-Westbrook
ASTORIA, NY - Felix A. Brow-Westbrook, a member of the vibrant art and culture of NYC, and former long-time resident of Concord, MA., passed away Wednesday December 12, 2018 at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, NY after a year-long, courageous battle with Biphasic Pleural Mesothelioma.
Felix was born on September 26, 1989 in Nashua, NH to young, energetic parents who swept him into their fun-loving lives. He was the most “hip” baby in his vintage suede coat and doc martens boots. He joined his parents in everything they did from outdoor music festivals to vintage clothes shopping and skateboarding. He even started coming to his mothers ballet rehearsals at Granite State Ballet at only two week sold, and was backstage for her Nutcracker performances at ten weeks old. The music of Tchaikovsky resonated with him for his entire life.
In 1991 he accompanied his parents to school in New York at Purchase College. There he made an impression on everyone who met him. Students, faculty, and staff wrote down his words of wisdom and cherished the art he created. One student still carries a quote of his with her to this day.
In 1997 Felix at the age of 8, moved to Concord, MA with his mother who opened a pottery studio, Thoreau ‘N’ Clay, that same year. He was an important part of running the studio, even at his young age.
In Concord Felix found home. He blossomed artistically and in life. He fell in love with art, architecture, and history. He became an avid reader and thinker. And made some of the strongest and most enduring friendships. He was active with the home schooling community from 6th grade through high school graduation. Homeschooling allowed him to learn with a depth and breath not afforded to many young people. He expanded his study of architecture through classes at Concord-Carlisle High School, MIT, Minuteman Tech, Museum of Science, Boston Architectural College and Pratt Institute.
In 2007 Felix found his way back to Purchase College to study scenic design, receiving his degree in Design Technology, Scenic Concentration in 2011.
After graduation Felix worked as a freelance designer creating scenery and props for dramatic productions. His most notable work during his time working at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina.
Felix as an accomplished designed for window displays creating windows for Ralph Lauren, Club Monaco and Tory Burch in their top stores internationally.
Felix lived and breathed art. There was no separation between the two. He continued to create throughout his hard-fought battle with cancer. He worked on displays for Anthropologie with a completely collapsed lung. In New York Presbytarian Hospital he fashioned designs out of his hospital gown, putting on a fashion show for his nurses. And he created headpieces for a production of Peter Pan at Bard College even as he was going through powerful chemotherapy and had dangerous low blood counts.
Felix never asked for much and appreciated all that he was given no matter how small. He loved his younger siblings fully whether he was playing games with them, watching their performances, taking them to a class or appointment, or was comforting them when they were sick. He was close with his Uncle David who is only six weeks younger.
Felix is survived by his mother, Elizabeth (Brow) Parise, stepfather, Frank Parise and siblings; Frank, Rebekah, Lillian, Jack and Luke, all from Westbury, NY, father, Jeffrey Westbrook and stepmother, Kristin Westbrook of Astoria, NY, grandparents David and Jill Brow of Dunstable, MA, and Ben and Garnette Westbrook of Nashua, NH, aunt, Sarah Brow-Hill and her husband Marc Hill of Dunstable MA and uncle, David Brow of Dunstable MA. He also leaves his close friends Walter Holm and Eli Denby Wood and many cousins.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 8 pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. His Funeral Service will be on Saturday at 9 o'clock at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 2 Westford St., CHELMSFORD. KINDLY MEET AT THE CHURCH. Interment will follow in Forefather's Burial Ground Cemetery located behind the church.
Felix was born on September 26, 1989 in Nashua, NH to young, energetic parents who swept him into their fun-loving lives. He was the most “hip” baby in his vintage suede coat and doc martens boots. He joined his parents in everything they did from outdoor music festivals to vintage clothes shopping and skateboarding. He even started coming to his mothers ballet rehearsals at Granite State Ballet at only two week sold, and was backstage for her Nutcracker performances at ten weeks old. The music of Tchaikovsky resonated with him for his entire life.
In 1991 he accompanied his parents to school in New York at Purchase College. There he made an impression on everyone who met him. Students, faculty, and staff wrote down his words of wisdom and cherished the art he created. One student still carries a quote of his with her to this day.
In 1997 Felix at the age of 8, moved to Concord, MA with his mother who opened a pottery studio, Thoreau ‘N’ Clay, that same year. He was an important part of running the studio, even at his young age.
In Concord Felix found home. He blossomed artistically and in life. He fell in love with art, architecture, and history. He became an avid reader and thinker. And made some of the strongest and most enduring friendships. He was active with the home schooling community from 6th grade through high school graduation. Homeschooling allowed him to learn with a depth and breath not afforded to many young people. He expanded his study of architecture through classes at Concord-Carlisle High School, MIT, Minuteman Tech, Museum of Science, Boston Architectural College and Pratt Institute.
In 2007 Felix found his way back to Purchase College to study scenic design, receiving his degree in Design Technology, Scenic Concentration in 2011.
After graduation Felix worked as a freelance designer creating scenery and props for dramatic productions. His most notable work during his time working at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina.
Felix as an accomplished designed for window displays creating windows for Ralph Lauren, Club Monaco and Tory Burch in their top stores internationally.
Felix lived and breathed art. There was no separation between the two. He continued to create throughout his hard-fought battle with cancer. He worked on displays for Anthropologie with a completely collapsed lung. In New York Presbytarian Hospital he fashioned designs out of his hospital gown, putting on a fashion show for his nurses. And he created headpieces for a production of Peter Pan at Bard College even as he was going through powerful chemotherapy and had dangerous low blood counts.
Felix never asked for much and appreciated all that he was given no matter how small. He loved his younger siblings fully whether he was playing games with them, watching their performances, taking them to a class or appointment, or was comforting them when they were sick. He was close with his Uncle David who is only six weeks younger.
Felix is survived by his mother, Elizabeth (Brow) Parise, stepfather, Frank Parise and siblings; Frank, Rebekah, Lillian, Jack and Luke, all from Westbury, NY, father, Jeffrey Westbrook and stepmother, Kristin Westbrook of Astoria, NY, grandparents David and Jill Brow of Dunstable, MA, and Ben and Garnette Westbrook of Nashua, NH, aunt, Sarah Brow-Hill and her husband Marc Hill of Dunstable MA and uncle, David Brow of Dunstable MA. He also leaves his close friends Walter Holm and Eli Denby Wood and many cousins.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 8 pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. His Funeral Service will be on Saturday at 9 o'clock at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 2 Westford St., CHELMSFORD. KINDLY MEET AT THE CHURCH. Interment will follow in Forefather's Burial Ground Cemetery located behind the church.