Nancy Brunn, Montauk Teacher

Nancy Brunn, who taught art and a high school-level art history class at the Montauk School, died at home on Accabonac Road in East Hampton on Dec. 31. She was 67 and had primary progressive aphasia, a degenerative brain disease, her family said.

Ms. Brunn began her 32 years at the Montauk School after receiving a master’s degree in education from Southampton College. Her undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the New York Institute of Technology. There was a short stint teaching art in Amesville, Ohio, and then she found the Montauk post in 1973. Older graduates of the Montauk School may remember her as Mrs. Doherty; she reverted to using her family name after a divorce.

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Brunn was a member of the board of the Music for Montauk concert series and would work to tie its programming and performances into student activities at the school.

She was a supporter of Guild Hall in East Hampton, becoming its director of education after her retirement from teaching in 2005 and organizing its annual student art exhibits. She was also a gourmet cook, serious gardener, and world traveler, leading a trip for educators to Costa Rica in 2003.

Ms. Brunn was born on Dec. 23, 1947, in East Meadow to George Brunn and the former Lillian Batton. She grew up in Bethpage.

She is survived by a brother, George S. Brunn of Virginia, and three nephews, including Todd Brunn of East Hampton, who teaches sixth grade at the Montauk School and with whom she worked during her final years there. His brothers, Douglas and Keith, and their sister, Christine Mauro, became very close with her after their mother’s death when they were young adults.

“She was always looking to help people out,” Mr. Brunn said. “She was a tremendous, caring person.”

Visiting hours for her were on Friday at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. There was no service.

Ms. Brunn’s family has suggested donations in her memory to Music for Montauk, P.O. Box 846, Montauk 11954, or to the Nature Conservancy at support.nature.org.