Regretfully we report the death of Brooke Stoddard in Cleveland, Ohio July 14, 1965, following a long illness.
Brooke was well known to many of us in the Class during his college years, proving his versatility as a three-year member of the varsity crew and an honor student.
After leaving college, Brooke served for three years with the Central Hanover Bank in New York City before entering World War II via Squadron A. Commissioned shortly after entering the Army and after a variety of assignments in this country, Brooke went overseas and served with the 5219th Reconnaissance Battalion. Later as a G-3 of the First Reconnaissance Division, Brooke landed in Luzon by submarine about the time of the first Philippine invasion of Leyte in October, 1944. It was not until six months later that American forces landed in the Lingayen Gulf but during that time Brooke Stoddard proved extremely valuable as an advisor to Philippine guerrillas specializing in espionage and sabotage and harassing the Japanese. Brooke returned to civilian life having attained the rank of Captain and having been award the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf cluster for heroic action. He had one of the most distinguished combat records of any member of our Class. Brooke’s Army career was not completely finished as he was recalled to duty for a short time in 1951 during the Korean conflict. Eventually he became a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves In the interim he had been selling law books for the Banks-Baldwin Law Publishing Co. in Cleveland.
Brooke eventually joined the W. H. Drane Co., municipal code publishers, in 1956 and at the time of his death was president of the company.
Brooke was an enthusiastic member of the Class of 1937. He attended several reunions and was always interested in class affairs. His loss will be a big one.
To his widow Gracey; his three children Gracey, Brooke C., and Frances; his mother Mrs. Caswell Stoddard; and his brother John C. Stoddard '38, the Class of 1937 extends its sincere sympathies.