Obituary: Morgan Brown
December 21, 2025 Editor’s Note: The following obituary for longtime Vermont homeless advocate Morgan Brown was shared by Brenda Siegel, executive director of End Homelessness Vermont, with this message:
“We are so sorry to share the passing of Morgan Brown. His family has asked me to share his obituary across the state. I was at his bedside throughout his final day and read him all of his own poetry to him. He has been an advocate in the State House and across the state for a long time. He notably advocated in the State House daily while he was unsheltered. There is hardly an organization, or humane policy on housing, homelessness and disability justice that was not touched by him in the last 30 years. I hope you will honor him as you would any other leader in our state, as his work is unparalleled. The loss of Morgan has sent grief and remembrance across our state.”
See this report on Morgan Brown’s life published by VTDigger on Dec. 17, and an interview with him published on June 1. 2025.
Morgan Walker Brown died peacefully, surrounded by love, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. He was 70.
A person of enduring determination and wise compassion, to the very end, he used his prose and his voice to advocate for people in need. Morgan inspired many to follow in his example of empathy, kindness, and compassion.
Morgan Brown and his cat Cleo. Photo courtesy of Morgan Brown via VtDigger
Among the many hats that Morgan wore, he was primarily a writer and activist in the Montpelier community. In recent years, he even began to show up around the community in a Santa suit to bring a smile and joy to those often forgotten in his role of Wandering Santa; this role had started as a small act of love for his visiting granddaughter and blossomed into a much larger deed as he subsequently brought holiday cheer to homeless encampments during the coldest months.
His poetry was read aloud in press conferences and by legislators in the State House. Most importantly, he presented it as a tool to advocate for people to have shelter and housing.
Morgan spent many years experiencing homelessness in the latter half of his life. He was never afraid to push people to truly understand disability justice. Even while unsheltered, he never missed an opportunity to advocate for those who had less than he did.
He spent his days surrounded by those in suits and tidy haircuts advocating for change, sticking out intentionally to draw attention to his cause. Morgan was not paid for this work; it was not a job but a calling in every sense of the word. It was who he was and was in every stitch of his being.
After decades of experiencing homelessness, he found what he recently referred to as his “forever home,” which brought him stability, real community and deep friendships. He lived his life out in a small studio apartment that was “enough” for him. He had longed for all of this while he lived unsheltered and worked his whole life for all people to have the privilege of a place to call home.
At the end of his life, he was clear that he had found peace.
Morgan leaves behind his beloved cat Cleopatra, whom he adopted from the Central Vermont Humane Society 11 years ago. She lives up to her name as the Queen of his house. She brought him so much comfort and love, especially in the final year of his life, in which she bestowed upon him strength and the ability to bear his trials with grace and dignity. She was most definitely his heart.
He is survived by his siblings Alison Lawson and Jeff Hackett, his two children Justin Brown and Alex Grey, his daughter-in-law Rina Brown, and his beloved granddaughter Kirana Brown; and also by his many friends, his beloved community, and those who have not yet found home.
There is no better way to represent his wishes except in his own words. Morgan asked for all of us left behind to bring his empathy, love and compassion into all aspects of our lives. His challenge to us is to care for those who are experiencing homelessness; to fight for humane policies that treat all people like fellow human beings, every single day.
In 2021, he wrote this poem while there was a 27-night protest on the State House steps to keep people sheltered:
In Lieu of Flowers
(Remember and Care for the Living)
By Morgan Brown
For those living unhoused,
abandoned to the streets,
left to live in the woods,
underneath bridges,
sleep in dumpsters and the like;
it is far too late to think of,
remember fondly, send flowers
or otherwise honor and memorialize them
after they have languished and died from lying wet,
frozen, alone and forgotten,
due to deliberate indifference
as well as from a lack
of sufficient caring and empathy
Morgan Brown fought for people; he represented people; and he showed up for people. In his final days, he asked that his legacy be carried on in all of us. Let us show up as he would have. In his own words, let us care for and remember the living each time we think of him.
Morgan asked that donations in his honor be made online to End Homelessness Vermont and Another Way. Alternatively, checks may be sent to End Homelessness Vermont, 1205 North Avenue, Suite 13, Burlington, VT 05408, or Another Way, P.O. Box 506, Montpelier, VT 05601.
Brown will be honored during a vigil at the State House for unhoused people who have died in the past year. That will be held on Monday, Dec. 22, at 4:15 p.m. Friends and family say a memorial service for Brown will be scheduled at a future date.