Obituary: Agnes (Aggie) de Keijzer Brackman, 96, Of Brookfield

Information and Photo Courtesy Cornell Memorial Home

BROOKFIELD, CT — Agnes (Aggie) de Keijzer Brackman passed away peacefully on Nov. 6, 2023 at River Glen Health Care Center. Born in the Dutch colony Surinam, S.A. (now independent Suriname), daughter of the late Henrikus and Betsy (Wong Swie San), Aggie resided in Brookfield for most of her adult life.

Upon graduating from high school, Aggie joined the Dutch army. As a sergeant, she went to Batavia (now Indonesia) in the Pacific Theater, to assist in the opening of Japanese POW camps.
In November 1948, on the eve of the U.S. Presidential election, she met her future husband, journalist Arnold (Brack) Brackman, who was taking bets that Truman would win, not Dewey. He had a jeep and wise betting skills--important dating factors for Aggie, a major fan of the Bar Jacket and "New Look."

Because Indonesia was fighting for independence, she had to leave the Dutch army before marrying an American journalist who was a friend of Sukarno, Hatta, and many revolutionaries working towards ending Dutch colonialism. After their marriage, Brack reported to the United Press, and Aggie was stringer to him and various Asian news agencies.

Aggie, Brack, and their daughter Cathay lived in Indonesia several years before relocating to New York City and then Brookfield. With Aggie's encouragement, Brack wrote Indonesia Communism: A History and became a full-time independent author. Aggie wrote a cookbook, taught Indonesian cooking, and developed skills as a watercolor artist. She and Brack entertained numerous friends and officials from Asia and Australia.

Brack died in 1983. Aggie continued to live independently in Brookfield, joined by her beloved beagle Beatrix Potter in 2008, until 2020, when she went to live at River Glen Health Care in Southbury.

Aggie is survived by her daughter Cathay of New York City, and her "little" brother Ronald of The Netherlands. She was predeceased by brothers Cecil and Armand, and sister Cornellie. Numerous nieces and nephews live in The Netherlands, Suriname, and California.

Aggie's family is forever grateful to the wonderfully loving staff of River Glen, the Friday lunch group (Allie, Betty, Judy, Lorraine, and Mai Mai), Elizabeth Blanchfield and family, Art and Karen Knudson, Lily Yang, the Brookfield Senior Center, and many others.

A celebration of her life will be held in the spring. Contributions in her name can be sent to Doctors Without Borders.