Philip Donald Thomas Brooks

May 1, 1924 - Feb 1, 2024

Philip Donald Thomas Brooks passed away peacefully in his 100th year, on February 1, 2024 in Toronto. He was predeceased by his parents Philip Francis Brooks and Ethel Helen (née Young), brother Robin Brooks (Ruth), granddaughter Devon Brooks, and infant great grandson Lucas Philip Abecasis.

Phil was survived by his loving wife of five decades, Donna Marie Brooks (née Tough), sister Lesley Lunger (née Brooks), and children Sheelagh Brooks Willer (Barry Willer), S. Michael Brooks (Cheryl Lord Brooks), Corey Brooks (Tara Thorne), Shannon Brooks (Shawn Mannion), and Erin Brooks. Proud grandfather of grandson Steven Willer (Amy Duong), and granddaughters Cristen Willer Abecasis (Gonçalo Abecasis), Darcy Brooks, Blair Brooks (Mike Cremasco), Robyn Brooks, Sarah Brooks, Keira Brooks, Kaia Brooks, Jaslyn Brooks, and Addison Brooks. Survived also by his great grandchildren Lucia, Emma, Alexandre, Samuel, and Isabel Willer Abecasis; Marcus, Roman, and Jasmine Duong Willer; and Sloane Cremasco Brooks, and many nieces and nephews.

Philip Brooks was born May 1, 1924 in England, the eldest son of Philip Francis and Ethel Brooks. Known in England as Don, he distinguished himself in school and enjoyed cycling around Exeter with his younger brother Rob. He left home at age 16 to train as an airplane mechanic for the British Royal Air Force and served in Europe during World War II on the 203rd squadron. He married Elizabeth (Cochrane), a WAAF member, shortly after the war and they had two children. In 1957, he emigrated to Canada, with his wife Elizabeth and children, Sheelagh and Mike, joining a couple of years later. Phil and Elizabeth divorced in 1967. Known as Phil in Canada, he worked as a computer engineer and was often called upon to repair mainframe computers across the country. In 1969 he married the love of his life, Donna, and their three children, Corey, Shannon and Erin, were born soon after. In the early 1970s the young family bought a cottage in the Kawarthas and spent every summer enjoying idyllic lake life. After retiring at age 63, Phil enjoyed a peaceful life with his family being home with the kids through their high school years and looking after home renovations and repairs, being active, enjoying tea time, and the occasional motorbike ride.

During Toronto’s winters he enjoyed skiing, writing his autobiography, researching genealogy, and watching his children and grandchildren play hockey. In the summers, Phil and Donna could be found at the cottage, Phil completing projects in woodworking, renovations or tinkering with motors and the boats, usually with various children and grandchildren running around. Many family members consider the Brooks cottage to be heaven on earth. Phil enjoyed sailing, windsurfing, and could sometimes be found rowing back and forth across the lake alongside Shannon swimming. He drove the big boat for the kids and grandkids to waterski or kneeboard. He loved traveling and had a youthful appearance and energy that was always several decades younger than his years. He had a remarkable and vivid memory until the end, and could recall addresses of hotels he’d stayed in decades before. He enthusiastically traveled to Portugal for a granddaughter’s wedding at age 79, encouraging his family to skip napping and go hiking instead. He played dodgeball at age 89 with his granddaughter’s hockey team, and danced at age 98 with his granddaughter Blair at her wedding. He was overjoyed to welcome his granddaughter Addison in 2023 and see his youngest daughter Erin become a mother. He was deeply loved and cherished by his family for his wisdom, quiet strength, compassion, laughter and gentle humor.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the War Amps, Scarborough Health Network, North York General Hospital, or the CNIB.

A visitation for Philip will be held Thursday, February 8, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Paul O'Connor Funeral Home, 1939 Lawrence Ave. E, Scarborough, ON M1R2Y8, followed by a funeral service at 3:00 PM.