Hospital garden dedicated in honor of late Fremont Health Foundation president

On a warm spring morning, cloudy with just a slight drizzle, friends and family of the late Shawn Shanahan Brown gathered in front of Methodist Fremont Health on what would have been her 58th birthday to dedicate a new hospital garden — Shawn’s Garden — in her memory.

“What a beautiful day for an amazing event to celebrate Shawn,” said Chuck Johannsen, Fremont Health Foundation president. “And a little rain always makes a garden grow, right?”

Brown, who died of cancer in 2025, served five years as Fremont Health Foundation's executive director. Before that, she held the same position for more than 10 years at Fremont Area United Way.

Shawn’s Garden sits along the east side of the hospital, next to the cancer center. Over time, it will feature wildflowers and benches shaded by trees. Along one of the winding pathways sits a sculpture of a flame rising from the earth, which many felt was an appropriate symbol.

Fremont Tribune: Hospital garden dedicated in honor of late Fremont Health Foundation president