“There are moments that the words don’t reach.”
- Lin Manuel Miranda, Hamilton.

Losing Penelope Brassfield (nee, Fulton)to complications from
Alzheimer’s feels like one of those moments that the words don’t reach. Yet her
life so full and bright that we’re going to try and put
words to a spectacular woman. Penny was born in 1946 in Pittsburg,Pennsylvania. After her family moved to LA, Penny attended the Westlake School for Girls and then went to Duke University. Early in Penny’s time there, the Duke Dean of Women--upon seeing Penny and her
friends walking the quad and smoking--remarked that “Duke women do not walk around smoking.”  Perhaps as a foreshadowing of her commitment to the English language and its literal meaning, Penny sat down. To no one’s surprise, she excelled at Duke. Well, except for golf, which she took because she
thought it would be an easy class. She got a D. 

After graduation, she had two children, Brett and Anna. She became a single parent when her children were young and she worked nights as a server at the Gables restaurant in Corvallis while going to graduate school to become a teacher. She went on to teach English and film studies at Highland View Middle School and Crescent Valley High School. Penny loved teaching and being a mentor to her students, many of whom she kept in touch with for years.

One of her greatest joys was seeing her students grow and develop and become adults with their own families. She taught English in China and did a one-year Fulbright program in Budapest, Hungary.
She loved traveling and visited many countries with family and friends over the years. Penny had an amazing group of friends who shared her love of books and film. For decades, she was part of a book club. Her fellow book club members credit Penny’s deep understanding and comprehensive knowledge of literature that making the discussions invaluable. She also founded a film
club that continues to this day. She was also an avid runner and cyclist, running several marathons and riding Oregon’s Loop Tour. Penny loved Ashland’s Shakespeare Festival and went every year and organized a yearly trip for her students to see plays. 

Later in her life, she married John Brassfield, with whom she shared an extraordinary love. For more than 20 years they blended their families and their lives in Corvallis with their two cats, Marnie and Cleo. Even as her disease progressed, she retained her infectious laugh and love of chocolate. Penny is survived by her two children, her grandchildren Lauren and Emily, and many, many friends. Donations in her memory can be made to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.