From the terrace of Brown & Brown’s sleek headquarters, Cici Brown gazes over Daytona Beach, reflecting on a life defined by exploration—intellectual, artistic, and global. Her lifelong commitment to curiosity, especially in art, culture, and education, has not only shaped her own path but become a guiding force in her family’s values.
For Cici, exploration goes far beyond travel. It’s about fostering wonder, encouraging the next generation to imagine boldly, and leaving a legacy rooted in cultural appreciation. Raised in the culturally rich Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, she was surrounded by intellectual vibrancy. “I was lucky to have access to world-class academic institutions like Smith College, Mount Holyoke, and Amherst,” she recalls. “The Northeast is filled with schools on every street corner, and the arts are everywhere.”
Among her most vivid memories are the concerts at Smith College, always open to the community. “They have incredible music programs,” she says. “I remember going to performances that felt so special, even as a young girl.”
Equally influential was the access to world-class art throughout the region. “The nearby colleges all had extraordinary art collections,” Cici recalls. “And they shared them with everyone.” Renowned collections, including works by Renoir, were freely available in campus museums. That early exposure to great works planted a seed that grew into a lifelong devotion to the arts.
That devotion, it turns out, runs deeper than many know. Cici’s mother was an artist who once brought beauty to life with watercolors. “She stopped making art as life moved forward,” Cici shares softly, “but I have one of her pieces, and it’s incredibly special to me.” Now lovingly displayed in her home, that painting is a quiet but powerful reminder of where her own creative spirit first took root. In its soft strokes and subtle colors, Cici sees not just her mother’s hands, but a generational thread of imagination and love.
Hyatt Brown moved to Daytona Beach with his parents and older brother in 1939, when he was just two years old. He and Cici married in 1965, and two years later, they welcomed their first child in the same city. From the beginning, the couple was determined to raise their growing family—eventually three sons—with a strong sense of curiosity and discovery. “When Hyatt and I got married, we decided that travel was going to be a huge part of our children’s lives,” Cici shares. “It’s an essential part of education.”
True to their word, the Brown boys explored the world—from the galleries of Europe to African art collections—developing a deep appreciation for history, culture, and creativity. “All our boys have traveled extensively, and now they do the same with their own families,” she says proudly. “That’s the greatest gift you can give your children—exposure to the world and all its beauty.”
That spirit of giving has extended far beyond the Brown household. Through their philanthropy, the Browns have become cultural stewards for the Daytona Beach community. One of their most cherished family ventures was collecting African antiquities. “African art is something you can hold,” Cici says. “You can feel the weight of history in your hands.”
Their dedication to preserving and sharing the arts is perhaps most powerfully illustrated by a historic gift to the Museum of Arts and Sciences—one of the most substantial cultural donations in Florida’s history. This extraordinary contribution ensures that future generations will have access to the same kind of transformative experiences that shaped their own lives. Additional support for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Stetson University, and the Ormond Art Museum further underscores the Browns’ enduring commitment to education and the arts.
As Cici reflects on the family’s journey, she emphasizes that legacy isn’t about buildings or titles—it’s about the impact of wonder. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink,” she muses with a smile. “But if you give children the tools to explore the world, to travel, to experience art, you give them the ability to find their own passions.”
For Cici Brown and her family, exploration isn’t just a chapter—it’s the throughline of a life lived with open eyes and an open heart. From the wooded hills of her childhood to the sunlit shores of Daytona, and from the stillness of a mother’s painting to the echo of African drums, hers is a legacy that whispers: keep wondering, keep wandering, keep giving.
"The greatest gift to children is showing them the world’s beauty."
"Legacy is the lasting impact of wonder."