Award Winning Swimmer Nancy Brown Passes Away At Pasadena Home

PASADENA, MD — Renown Anne Arundel County swimmer Nancy Brown passed away Jan. 2 at her home in Pasadena at the age of 83. The award-winning swimmer, coach and mentor impacted thousands who loved the water as much as she did. She grew up swimming in the Magothy River at her grandmother's home, spending the entire day in the water, which earned her the nickname "water rat."

Brown began giving swimming lessons to Baltimore-area summer camp kids at just 16 years old and didn't stop until she retired from coaching five years ago. She also was on the swim team at Friends School in Baltimore, serving as its captain for two years. She helped kick start a Maryland Masters swimming club in 1974 in Catonsville and then she started another group in Anne Arundel County in 1986 where she taught and coached adults.

She formed another masters group at the Severna Park Community Center and guided that team to 10 YMCA Masters Nationals championships. Brown also swam and set records in the National Senior Olympics. In 2012, she was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame after she bravely fought a rare abdominal cancer.

“Nancy (was) a constant cheerleader, encouraging, supporting, coaxing, and in all ways possible, promoting Master’s swimming and instilling enthusiasm for the sport,” fellow USMS swimmer Kristina Henry told The Capital Gazette.

A memorial service will be held at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. in Severna Park, at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 18. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.