MARY C. BROOKS Jan. 9, 1926 – March 19, 2017
“Someone Special”
Mary C. Brooks, age 91 of Los Alamos, NM died March 19th at Palmilla Senior Center Living in Albuquerque, NM of natural causes.
Mary was born on January 09, 1926 to Norman and Ruth Carls of Allegany, NY. After graduating from Allegany High School and acing her chemistry regents, she attended Syracuse University and majored in Chemical Engineering.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1948 and met her soon to be husband Thomas Brooks. They were married at Hendricks Chapel on the campus of Syracuse University. They both moved to Los Alamos, NM in 1960 to work at Los Alamos National Labs. Mary worked at HRL (Health Research Labs) where she happily remained for the next 40 If you knew Mary, you knew that she was a BIG Dallas Cowboys football fan and subscribed to the Dallas Cowboys Magazine since 1960, she was a HUGE dog lover, a BIG fan of Syracuse University – especially the basketball and football teams, family was very important, her favorite place to visit was upstate NY and she enjoyed a cold beer.
She was a fiscal conservative, a social liberal and was always well informed about local and national politics. She loved Los Alamos and felt it was always important to give back to the community and people she loved so much – her friends at the Senior Center, The United Church of Los Alamos, the Los Alamos Concert Association, Retired Public Employees Association, Los Alamos Women’s Golf Association, the Art Center at Fuller Lodge, Los Alamos Historical Society, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and the Los Alamos Federated Republican Women, just to name a few.
She also was very active with keeping a healthy lifestyle and was proud to mention she had attended Curves 1,000 times and had a t-shirt to prove it! Walking her dogs, Indy, Jackie, Boomer and Carter, were among her favorite pastimes and happy hour was seldom missed with friends and family even up the last few months of her life. Her favorite motto and the words she lived by were “Everything in moderation”.
In 2010, Mary was nominated as a Living Treasure of Los Alamos to celebrate her enormous role among other senior citizens in contributing to the history of Los Alamos. Through her voluntary efforts she served as a model and mentor by providing inspiration through her involvement, commitment, perseverance, hope, heart and wisdom. She was the folk hero among the residents of Los Alamos.
Mary is survived by two daughters, Carol Wood of Florida and Susie Fiorini of New York, a son Benjamin Brooks of Tennessee, a brother-in-law Jim Brooks of Guam, seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, several cousins and her dog Carter.
She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas, her parents, Norman and Ruth, her stepmother, Barbara, three brothers, William, Tommy, and Leo and her dogs, Indy, Jackie and Boomer.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The United Church of Los Alamos or The Los Alamos Animal Shelter. A remembrance memorial will be held on Saturday April 1st from 11-1 at the United Church of Los Alamos. The family of Mary Brooks has entrusted her care to Rivera Family Funeral Home of Santa Fe. www.riverafamilyfuneralhome.com.
