Obituary: Jeffrey Brooks, 68

From Spear-Miller Funeral Home:

Jeffrey Brooks, age 68, of Stamford, passed away on April 6, 2022, after a brief battle with cancer. He was a loving and devoted husband to his wife, Betsy, and son to Shirley (Parks) Brooks of Old Greenwich and Keith Brooks of Weston. He was predeceased by his sister, Laura Fast. Survivors include his brother, Norman Brooks, of Norwalk, and sister Keisa McPartland and her husband Andy McPartland of Trumbull, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Jeff was an artist, poet and philosopher. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts, he started his career as a graphic designer and moved into advertising and video production. He was the creative director at Image Productions in Norwalk.

Jeff had a deep love for art, music and literature. His passions were surrealism and magical realism. He was happiest sitting on the back porch of his and Betsy’s home in Westerly, Rhode Island, debating esoteric concepts with his friend, Greg; watching football and discussing it with his mother-in-law (affectionately called “Peaches”); visiting museums with his friend, Maryanne (who served as the best person at their wedding); watching old movies; collecting comic books; listening to jazz; and playing chess in Washington Square Park.

Jeff was always willing to share stories of his colorful past, including the time he hitchhiked to Woodstock when he was 16, spent a summer in Nantucket living in a tent with his brother, Norman, had hotdogs with Elvis Costello at a 7-Eleven, ate lunch with Stan Lee, and met John Lennon and Yoko Ono at an art opening.

Jeff loved working out and competing in area 5Ks and participated in the Old Greenwich triathlon for several years. He was an avid writer and completed many short stories and screenplays. He expressed his philosophy of life in his story, “Old Doc’s Spirit Shop”:

“We live in a world where the magical and the mundane are one and the same, the extraordinary resides within the ordinary. The keys to great mysteries lay quietly ensconced in simple, unfailing, truths. We are the caretakers of miracles: marvelous gifts, unknown treasures, wondrous surprises.”

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 13, 4 to 7 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 S. Benson Road, Fairfield. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Westerly Library and Wilcox Park (https://www.westerlylibrary.org/supportus). In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to honor Jeff’s life should create something of beauty, say a kind word or bring joy to others.