Deanne Brewster
In Memorium
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Deanne graduated from Mount Union College and went on to explore a career in social work. It broke her heart to realize that she couldn’t fix people who didn’t want to be helped—but that didn’t stop her from trying. She had a deep desire to take care of others, even if it came at a personal cost.
Following her time as a social worker, it was, in part, a passion for math that resulted in a career shift towards working in technology. She eventually crafted a decades-long career for herself at IBM. Her journey took her from Cleveland to Dallas, to White Plains, San Francisco, and beyond, where she grew into a powerhouse of technical knowledge and managerial skills in a male-dominated field. She wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted. And she both wanted and accomplished a great deal—with her usual strength, grace and, always, collaboration. |
While it would be easy to stay focused on her many accomplishments, it’s also important to remember that Deanne never lost her sense of fun nor her collaborative approach to life. She was fully aware of how both kept her going and how much she had benefited from both. She wasn’t a conformist, but she wasn’t a rebel either. She had a way of redesigning the world around her to make it fit who she was without alienating others. That never changed—not even in her final days. From her hospital bed, she was still handing out to-do lists, making sure subscriptions were canceled and bills were paid, loved ones were taken care of, right down to the electricity staying on at her house. That was Deanne: thoughtful, thorough, and always taking care of others. She will be greatly missed by all of us.
Deanne requested that all donations in her memory go to Mud Makers, 1597 E. Yorkshire Dr, Chino Valley, AZ 86323. She also requested that her remaining pottery inventory be sold during the Studio Tour, October 3, 4 & 5, 2025 with all proceeds from sales going to fund children's art programs through the Studio Tour. Her work will be available in Studio 15 during the Tour. |