Nancy Lee (Brown) Snow

FALMOUTH – Nancy Lee (Brown) Snow, 95, of Falmouth, left her body peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Sept. 23, 2025 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.

Lee was born on Oct. 10, 1929, at her parent’s home in Berlin, N.H. She was the youngest of five children of her mother, Hildreth Burton-Smith Brown, from Atlanta, Ga. and her father, William Robinson Brown, from Portland. She graduated from Milton Academy in 1947 and from Vassar College in 1951 with a B.A. in Art.

She did a year of graduate study at Columbia and New York Universities with an apprenticeship in the conservation of paintings at the Brooklyn Museum. There, she met Sheldon and Caroline Keck, renowned painting conservators, who became lifelong friends and mentors. Lee spent two years as a Fulbright Scholar in Brussels, Belgium at the Institut Royal du Patrimoine Artistique studying conservation of works of art. In 1954, she worked as an Assistant in Conservation at the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University.

In 1956 Lee married Roger Vinton Snow, Jr., of Falmouth, a journalist, and owner and editor of a weekly newspaper. They had four children in the next six years and the family settled in Falmouth in 1960. During the next two decades she balanced raising four active, spirited children with maintaining her connection to the conservation of art in Maine. As a mother and grandmother she was kind and encouraging, supporting each of her children’s individual natures and enthusiasms. With her husband and family, she enjoyed joining and supporting Roger in his many ventures in journalism, education, and state and local politics, as well as his love of boats and skiing. They all shared a deep love for Moonahanis, the Brown family camp in the Rangeley Lakes region.

Professionally, Lee served ten years as a member of the Maine State Museum Commission and seven years as a member of the Advisory Panel for Museums/Conservation of the Maine Arts Commission. She conducted workshops, illustrated lectures and clinics, and volunteered, doing conservation work at a number of museums. In 1978, she started her private practice in paintings conservation in her home studio and served many private collectors, museums, historical societies and libraries until retiring in 2011.

In 1969 she became an active member of the Episcopal Church of St. Mary in Falmouth and delighted in 54 years in the choir and many other leadership and pastoral roles. It became the center of her life and world view, and the source of much joy and many deep friendships.

Lee was predeceased by her husband, Roger; two brothers, Brent and Newell, and her only sister, Frances Townes.

She is survived by four children, Brent Snow (Diane Wagener), Bert Snow (Leigh), Alida Snow (Phil Carey) and Lucy Snow (Patrick Bender), daughter-in-law, Annette Waterman; six grandchildren, Cameron Snow (Jenny Simmons), Erik Snow (Nina Vyedin), Allegra Waterman-Snow (David Becker), Martha Snow (Alvin Melathe), Miles Carey-Snow and Cece Carey-Snow (Charlie Klein); one great granddaughter, Meena Melathe Snow; her older brother, Fielding Brown; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Episcopal Church of St. Mary, 43 Foreside Rd. in Falmouth.

To share memories of Nancy or to offer the family on-line condolences please visit http://www.athutchins.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her name to either

Hospice of Southern Maine (www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/donate)

or Preble Street

(preblestreet.org).