Kevin Scott Brownell Obituary

Kevin Scott Brownell attended R L Thomas High School in Webster, NY. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Kevin Scott Brownell.

Graduation Year	Class of 1966
Date of Passing	Dec 18, 2022
About	Kevin Scott Brownell - November 7, 1948, to December 18, 2018 The airways were silenced on December 18, 2022, when Kevin Scott Brownell, 74, passed away, at UCONN Health Center in Farmington, CT. Kevin was born on November 7, 1948, in Rochester, NY, the first son of Kenneth S. Brownell and Dorothy R. (Thompson) Brownell. The young family moved to the rural setting of Webster, NY where Kevin attended R.L. Thomas HS until his family moved to West Simsbury, CT in 1964. Kevin was a competitive swimmer and held the 100m CT state record for butterfly in 1966. It was at this time that Kevin gained his interest in radio, spending countless hours on his Ham Radio set combing the airways as WN1DWJ. Kevin spent many wonderful summers of his youth and experienced many fond memories with his Canadian cousins on Baptiste Lake in Bancroft, Ontario, CA. Kevin graduated from Simsbury High School in 1966 then headed off to the University of Rochester to study electrical engineering. While at U of R Kevin got his first taste of commercial radio as Program Director of WRUR. In 1967 he moved his studies to Ithaca College graduating in 1972 with a BA in General Studies/Communications, volunteering at WICB AM, participating in the student congress and summer repertory theater. One of Kevin’s favorite professors at Ithaca was Rod Serling. Many classes were spent studying Twilight Zone teleplays and reviewing a new Serling concept known as The Night Gallery. During his college years, Kevin took some time off and worked on transport ships and headed to Europe with his Honda motorcycle. He toured most of Europe, getting into some trouble at the Berlin Wall and then onto France where his bike broke down forcing him to return home. Kevin was drafted into the US Army during the Vietnam War in 1969. He did his basic training at Fort Dix, NJ, and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal before being honorably discharged. In 1969 Kevin found himself being arrested at The National Mall during a peaceful Vietnam War protest while he was working as a reporter. Kevin started his professional radio and television career in 1972 at WTKO in Ithaca, NY. Over the next 34 years Kevin would work at 13 different stations in CT, NY, MA, and SC until retiring in 2006. A few very notable stations and people would be WDRC working with Brad Davis and Jerry Kristofer and WVIT Channel 30 with Gerry Brooks and Joanne Nesti. Over his long career Kevin made many personal, professional, and political friends. Besides focusing on his family and later in life his granddaughters Kevin enjoyed many aspects of life. He was an avid sports fan, primarily of the New England Patriots and New York Mets. Kevin was very fortunate to attend the entire 1986 World Series at Shea Stadium vs the Red Sox, Game 6 with his mom and Game 7 with brother David. Kevin enjoyed Broadway musicals, acting, and supporting the Simsbury Summer Theater for Youth from his high school years and beyond. In 2008, with permission from the Serling family, Kevin directed Rod Serling’s teleplay It’s A Good Life at the Hole in the Wall Theater in New Britain, CT. Kevin loved music and enjoyed either playing his guitar or keeping dance floors packed disc jockeying in the 70’s and 80’s at the General Store Café in Canton, CT or Lorien in Hartford, CT. Kevin enjoyed all types of media, movies, news, good political debates and was a staunch defender of The Constitution. He was a veracious reader and enjoyed spending time outside in nature. Kevin was a master of Trivial Pursuit and an avid fan of Jeopardy! Kevin is survived by his son Robert Brownell of Houston, TX, daughter Shannon Brownell, granddaughters Pearl and Delia, and former wife Bonnie Piccolo Zibell, all of Avon, CT, sister Kimberly Page of Waxhaw, NC, brother David and partner Linda Rutkauskas of West Hartford, CT, and brother K. Scott Brownell of Raleigh, NC. Kevin is also survived by many nieces and nephews scattered throughout the US and Canada. He is predeceased by his Canadian cousins Martin and Janis Brownell, Judith Bothwell and his dear friends Barbara and Bill Tucker. The Brownell family would like to give special thanks to Ex-Post Commander Pat Harrell for his friendship, love, and compassion and all the men and women of Hayes-Velhage Post 96, West Hartford, CT and the many doctors, nurses, and caregivers at UCONN Health Center for their devotion in caring for Kevin. There will not be any calling hours. The family is planning a springtime 2023 grave side service with military honors at Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford, CT. A future announcement will be posted.