A USM employee was found dead in her cubicle in Luther Bonney hall at around midnight on Monday, Jan. 4 by a custodian on their evening rounds.
Ann Brushwein, 59 of Portland, was a software support specialist for Computing Services. She had worked at USM since 1999.
Police have not established a cause of death and are awaiting results from the Medical Examiner’s office in Augusta. They are not classifying her death as suspicious.
Cpt. Ted Ross of the Portland Police Department said Brushwein had underlying medical conditions that most likely contributed to her death. He would not disclose the nature of her health problems.
A representative from the Medical Examiner’s office said Brushwein’s cause of death may not be established for four to five months due to an “extremely large caseload.”
The custodian called the Portland Police after finding Brushwein lying face down on the floor of her work area near her desk, said Ross.
“The Medical Examiner is always contacted with unattended deaths,” he said. Police could not immediately verify Brushwein’s identity because rigor mortis and post-mortem lividity had set in, he said.
Brushwein had logged off of her computer at around 5:30 p.m. the night she died, said Bob Caswell, USM spokesman. “She apparently was alone in the office,” he said.
Stephen Houser, executive director of computing services, said Brushwein was active in the community and regularly worked with local domestic violence groups.
“She was a really good worker. She really contributed,” he said. “We’re going to miss the work and the attitude and the happiness she brought.”