James Lawrence Brooks

Just another cowboy, firefighter, outdoorsman, engineer, dancing comic. Jim was born in a small town in Kansas and was raised in the impossibly small town of Manhattan, Illinois. As A child he was hit by a car, inflicting injuries that were horrible yet never defined him. He was an active Boy Scout, where he acquired a love for the outdoors. His first job was as a cowboy in New Mexico. He cared for the breeding bulls and became an arguable horseman. At 16, he was a National Forest Service fire lookout on Klone Peak in the Wenatchee National Forest in Washington State. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1956 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was employed by Alcoa Aluminum in Massena N.Y. where he misbehaved with bachelor engineers and lacrosse sticks, and where he met and married Mary Alice. They moved to Cincinnati where he developed rocket motors with G.E. He next relocated to Webster N.Y. where he developed a copy machine at Xerox. His team invented a thing that became the desk top computer, controlled by a device they named “mouse”. In the 1960’s, a musical celebrating this era of Xerox was produced, and echoes can still be found on YouTube. He earned a master’s degree in business from R.I.T. in 1971. He relocated his family to the Netherlands in the mid 1970s, working for Rank Xerox. Upon returning to the U.S.he was promoted to Corporate Staff. He and his family travelled extensively throughout Europe. After retiring from Xerox, he worked for a small computer consulting business, and later was employed by Monroe County in N.Y. as a Financial Analyst in Public Safety.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and gave freely of his time as the need arose.

He was a Little League coach for years because someone had to do it, and despite not having any idea about how to coach baseball those teams were both doomed and blessed. He attended countless sons’ sports competitions and music concerts, instilling an enduring love of athletic competition and music in his children.

He enjoyed relaxing at Faun Lake in N.Y. (where he served as community President), then retired to Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in Ft. Pierce. FL. At Spanish Lakes he served as community Web Master for 17 years, was active in the Tennis Club, ran the Bocce club, and performed with the Player’s Guild. He was a decent fly fisherman, at best average bowler, comedic yet enthusiastic golfer, and beginning senior tennis player. He square, round and ballroom danced. He was active with a community Player’s Guild and exhibited a gift for comedy suitable for vaudeville. Whether it involved a dress or a beanie with a spinner, he was ready for a role. Despite few gifts as a vocalist, he performed with humor and gusto.

He was extraordinarily bright, ferociously witty, absolutely corny and will be missed tremendously.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.aycock-hillcrest.com for the Brooks family.