William P. Brooks ’44

Bill died of congestive heart failure Nov. 8, 2010.  

Coming from Bronxville, N.Y., and Choate, Bill roomed first with Herb Hobler and then with Carl Barton. A member of Charter Club and ROTC, he left Princeton to attend the University of Virginia. Unable to serve in the military due to a congenital spine deformity, he worked for the New York Central Railroad and then Farnsworth Television and Radio Co. in Indiana, and finally settled in Darien, Conn., for 27 years. After being in sales with several companies, he ended his career with Georgia-Pacific Co.  

Bill married Mary Dunlop in 1944 and they had four children. She died in 1973. In 1975 he married Constance Murray, retired, and traveled widely, especially in England. In 1984 they bought a house in Ludlow, Shropshire, where they lived for 20 years. Upon her death, he returned to live with his son, Peter, in Ballston Lake, N.Y.

Bill loved Big Band music and the beauty of summers on Lake Champlain, and he was known for his friendliness with all. His father was in the Class of 1905 and his late brother was John ’40.  

In addition to Peter, Bill is survived by his son, Stephen; daughters Elizabeth and Marcia; and eight grandchildren.