Obituary of James Brooks

James H. Brooks "Lifelong Olean resident" Olean, NY James Herbert Brooks, 94, died Thursday (March 31, 2011) in the emergency room at Olean General Hospital after suffering a heart attack earlier in the day. Mr. Brooks was a lifelong resident of Olean and for the past eighty-seven years lived at the family home in Boardmanville. He was born on May 27, 1916 in Olean and was the son of Raymond A. and Mary Golden Brooks, Sr. His family's ties to Olean date back to Cornelius Brooks, a Revolutionary War soldier who was one of the original settlers of what was then called Olean Point, now Olean. He attended Boardmanville Elementary School (the former School #5), graduated from Olean High School in 1934 and also attended Syracuse University. On August 10, 1942 at the former St. Bonaventure University Immaculate Conception Chapel he married Josephine Ball who predeceased him February 15, 2005. Just prior to his marriage, he joined the U. S. Air Force. He trained in Florida, Louisiana, Idaho and Colorado Springs, CO as a navigator and served as a First Lieutenant during World War II. In early 1944, he was stationed at Attlebridge, England as part of the 8th Air Force, 466th Bomber Group. His squadron flew thirty two bombing missions, the second and third missions of which were over France on D-Day. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal. He kept an extensive diary of his wartime experiences, which he later printed privately for his crew and family. "Although we all know how it turned out, the entries for each mission were full of tension, leaving you wondering if they would return safely to their base in England." said his son, Mark J. Brooks. He joined the New York Telephone Company in 1940. After the war, he rejoined the company, working as an engineer in the Olean office until his retirement in 1979. In later years he was active in the Pioneers Club, a retirement group of the telephone company. Mr. Brooks was an avid golfer and played at most of the clubs in the area throughout his lifetime. In 1956, he won the President's Cup at Birch Run Country Club for winning his match. On the same day he was awarded the green jacket from the former local clothier Gavin- McCarthy Clothing Co. for making a hole-in-one. He also made a hole-in-one at the Bartlett Country Club during his golfing career. For several years he was an active member of the Olean High School Alumni Association where he served as President in 1959, the year of his 25th high school reunion. He also was a member of the Olean Elk's Lodge #491 and was a past president and board member of the Pleasant Valley Cemetery Association. His great-great grandfather, Judge James Brooks was active in the development of Methodism in this area in the early 19th century and his home was a favorite stopping point for itinerant preachers. Although Mr. Brooks was raised Methodist, he converted to Catholicism prior to his marriage in 1942 under the guidance of the Franciscans, particularly Rev. Cornelius Madden, OFM. Fr. Cornelius baptized him at St. Pacificus Church in Humphrey, NY and also performed he and Josephine's wedding ceremony that same year. He was an active parishioner at St. John's Roman Catholic Church for more than sixty-five years. Surviving are four children Janice Brooks Veno of Olean, Mark J. Brooks of Mamaroneck, NY, Daniel R. Brooks of New York City and Mary Jo Brooks of Johnson City; four grandchildren Michele Wagner of Syracuse, Matthew Veno of Rochester, Michael Veno of Carmel, Indiana and Marcus Veno of Rochester; one great granddaughter; six great grandsons; one brother Raymond A. Brooks, Jr. of Rohnert Park, CA; a sister-in-law Elizabeth Ball Cryan of Buffalo; a brother-in-law James J. Gilbert, Sr. of Rochester; a cousin Suzanne Havens Elsea McRae of Kennesaw, GA and three nieces and eight nephews. In addition to his wife he was predeceased by a sister Mary Ellen Gilbert in 2003. Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9pm. Funeral services will be held Saturday (April 9, 2011) beginning with a prayer service at 9:30am in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am in St. John's Church. Msgr William Wangler will be the principal celebrant. Also concelebrating will be Msgr. James D. Kane of Binghamton and Rev. Edward Sheedy of St. John's Church. Burial will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Olean. Memorials, if desired, may be made to Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts C/O St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY 14778 or to a charity of the donor's choice.