Paul E. Brooks

Paul Edward Brooks, age 54 and a resident of Pine Point, Scarborough, who was held in high esteem as a person of good humor, great kindness, and deep loyalty by a wide circle of family and friends, died unexpectedly of a massive coronary on New Year’s eve in North Conway, New Hampshire.

Born January 2,1958, Mr. Brooks was the son of the late Franklin L. Brooks, Sr. and Priscilla L. Brooks, and grew up in Cape Elizabeth with three older siblings. After graduating from Cape Elizabeth High School, he completed his baccalaureate studies at the University of Southern Maine with a major in business administration. During his early adult years he resided in Florida, but returned to Maine to be closer to his family and to work in the insurance industry, including Harvard Pilgrim, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, and more recently at Unum where he worked with the long-term disabilities group.

Paul is survived by his brother Leonard Brooks of New Gloucester, his sister Joni Brooks Kelly and her husband Michael Kelly of Cape Elizabeth, and his brother Franklin L. Brooks, Jr. and his partner Marvin M. Ellison of Portland; by his beloved niece Jennifer Newman of St. Petersburg, Florida and by his beloved nephew Samuel Brooks, his wife Keisha Hudson, and grand-niece Maya Brooks of Philadelphia; by Beverly R. Ellison of Oakland, California; by many aunts, uncles, and cousins, including his first cousins Ann (Holt) Thaxter of New Gloucester and Lindy Holt of North Dakota; and by his “other family” Joni Mageles Hewitt of Cape Elizabeth and her family and Priscilla Mageles of Pine Point along with the extended Mageles clan. Another special friend, Sharman West of Portland, said this: “From the minute I met Paul, I knew he was a man of substance and depth. He was smart and insightful. He was filled with a zest for life and laughter. He was passionate and compassionate."

From early childhood Paul would run to greet friends and neighbors who came to the front door, and throughout his lifetime he made everyone feel welcomed. With an infectious laugh and spirited disposition, he took delight in any good story, kept friendships from grade school onward, and enjoyed life immensely, especially when cheering on the Red Sox and Patriots, maintaining his ties with an ever expanding network of devoted friends, or daily calling or visiting with his sister Joni and his other Joni with whom he had especially close bonds.

A sports enthusiast, Paul was a runner who enjoyed biking and snowshoeing, as well as working out at the gym. He was also a generous contributor to his community and in 2011 was recognized as Unum’s Volunteer of the Year, in part because of his efforts for the American Heart Association, the Beach to Beacon 5K race, and the Susan B. Komen Foundation. He taught English language learners at Learning Works and mentored a teenager through Unum who made Paul’s day when he first gave him a smile. As a proud gay man, he served as volunteer staff with the Maine Gay Men’s Chorus in Portland and more recently had worked long hours in support of Mainers United for Marriage. On December 28 he attended the midnight gathering at Portland City Hall to celebrate as same-sex couples received their marriage licenses. Later in January he was planning to travel with friends to Washington to attend the inaugural of President Obama, for whom he had co-sponsored a fundraising party this past summer.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 5 at 10:00 a.m. at State Street Congregational Church, Portland. The family will be holding visiting hours Friday, January 4 from 4-7 p.m. at Jones, Rich, Hutchins funeral home, 199 Woodford Street, Portland. For those who wish to make a donation in Paul’s memory, please consider contributing to Equality Maine, 550 Forest Avenue, Suite 201, Portland, Maine 04101 or to Preble Street Resource Center, PO Box 1459, Portland, Maine 04104.