Ralph E. Brown III

Ralph E. Brown of Hingham, a retired Boston Globe technology editor, died February 4, 2026. He was 81.

Mr. Brown was a member of First Parish in Hingham, Unitarian Universalist, and was vice president of the parish from 2010 to 2012. He was a member of the board of directors of the Ballou Channing district of the Unitarian Universalist Association, serving as secretary from 2013 to 2015. A lifelong sailor, he was a member of Hull Yacht Club and was vice commodore from 2012 to 2013. He also served as a member of the Board of Managers for Island View Condominium.

Mr. Brown was born in Waltham, the son of Ralph E. Brown, Jr., M.D., and Louise Taylor Remick. He was graduated from high school in Peterborough, N.H., in 1962, and in 1972 received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts at Boston. He completed coursework for a master's degree in journalism at Stanford University in 1973, but the following year took a job as a reporter at The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, before graduating.

Mr. Brown served as a photographer in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1969 and spent 18 months in Thailand and Vietnam during the Vietnam War. A photograph of his, showing USAF Col. Robin Olds carried on the shoulders of his fellow fliers as he returned from his 100th mission as a fighter pilot, appeared often, accompanying his obituary and the cover of a biography by his daughter. Mr. Brown first encountered newspaper publishing systems as one was installed at the Eagle and was especially drawn to the parts of the system that produced type.

After leaving the Eagle, he worked for Atex, Inc., a maker of newspaper publishing systems, as a trainer, then product manager, with responsibilities for composition and typography. He joined the Globe in 1993 as a systems editor, helping to manage the relationship between the reporters, editors and photographers and the computer systems they used to produce the paper. He also managed the Globe's type library. He retired from the Globe in 2009 and began part-time work that year at the Apple Store at Derby Street, Hingham. He resigned in 2011 to make a six-week road trip to California to visit his niece and nephew, and a dozen friends and family members along the way.

Mr. Brown is survived by his niece, Holly E. Brown, of Sunnyvale, California; his nephew, Jesse T. Brown of Oakland, California; and his partner, Nan Doyle of Cambridge and Hull. He was predeceased by his cousins Holly MacLean and Susan Russell of Worcester; and Vicki Caleb of Evanston, Illinois. His brother Geoffrey died in 2006. His sister, Sarah Ivanov, died in 2012.

These facts of Mr. Brown’s life – written by him in a style true to his training as a reporter – hint at the qualities and passions that shaped him and drew people to him: presence, listener, dependable, guileless, technology, curiosity, loyal, spiritual, patient, teacher, Italy, genealogy, dog-lover (especially Tessa!), uncomplaining, photography, trustworthy confidant, twinkle in the eye, jazz and classical music, rich conversation, martinis, oysters and a Ceasar, intelligence, sailor, vast knowledge, so much more. We were indeed lucky to have him for so long.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Ralph’s honor to: First Parish, Hingham MA (www.oldshipchurch.org), Science Club for Girls (www.scienceclubforgirls.org), SOLA (www.sola-afghanistan.org) or another nonprofit that you think Ralph would like.

Arrangements are pending for a remembrance service at Old Ship Church, Hingham. See www.Keohane.com for the date, directions and online condolences.