BANGOR – John W. Brookings, a man who dearly loved his family, friends and country, died Dec. 3, 2007, at his home, in the loving embrace of his precious family. John spent 59 wonderful years with the love of his life, Barbara (Wood) Brookings. John was born April 21, 1924, in Gardiner, to Wilmot Irving and Heloise (Lovejoy) Brookings. He spent his early years involved with Boy Scouts at Camp Roosevelt, where in 1937, at age 13, he became the youngest Eagle Scout in the country. John graduated from Bangor High School, Class of 1942. Proud to serve the country he loved, John entered the U.S. Army in World War II. John was a captain in the 145th Infantry Battalion stationed in the Philippines and was part of the Asiatic Pacific Theatre. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and three Bronze Medals. Returning to his beloved State of Maine, John graduated from the University of Maine in 1949 and Tufts Dental School in 1953. He established a dental practice in Bangor, where he practiced for 40 years, retiring in 1993. His son, Robert continues his Dad’s practice. John was very active with the Maine Dental Association and proudly served as the president from 1979-1980. John loved his community and happily served on many boards and clubs. Especially dear to him were the Bangor Rotary Club and the Bangor School Board, where he worked on establishing the Southern Penobscot Vocational School. John’s kindness, generosity and quiet gentleness have inspired the lives of his family. He was the proud Dad of Linda, Judy, Jack, Bruce, Barby, Dave and Rob and joyfully added along the way their spouses, Charlie, Phil, Dick, Jeannie, Vicki, John, Kelly and Denise. He celebrated the arrival of each grandchild, Mindy, Jenn, Julie, Johnny, Phil, Jill, Abby, Holly, Becky, Jana, Jack, Bret, Andy, Mike, Quinn, Anya, David, Tyler, Alex, Molly, Robby, Reed, Emily, Ryan and Maddie; and great-grandchildren, Ella and Kaiden. John dearly loved his sister, Mary and brother, Peter. His family will forever remember Christmas stockings on the front room hearth, Sunday morning with blueberry pancakes at the lake and seven kids in a station wagon traveling across country. Friends were a very important part of John’s life; he always held them dear to his heart. A graveside service for the family will be held Friday at Pine Grove Cemetery, Bangor, with the Rev. Marguerite A.H. Steadman, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Bangor, officiating. Please join us at an open house to celebrate John’s life, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Lucerne Inn. Those who wish to remember John in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Katahdin Area Council Boy Scouts, P.O. Box 1869, Bangor, ME 04402-1869, or the American Diabetes Association, Maine Affiliate, 80 Elm St., Portland, ME 04101. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
JOHN W. BROOKINGS, DMD
