Harry Brooks Dies, Amherst Selectman, Town Democratic Chair, Sports Leader

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 8, 2016 Contact: Bob Weiner 301-283-0821 or cell 202-306-1200 HARRY BROOKS DIES, AMHERST SELECTMAN, TOWN DEMOCRATIC CHAIR, SPORTS LEADER (AMHERST, MA) – Harry Oldham Brooks, who was Amherst Selectman, Town Democratic Chair, and Sugarloaf Moutain Athletic Club President, died 4PM yesterday (May 7) at Care One Rehabilitation in Northampton after a series of illnesses including a recent heart episode. He was 82. A memorial service the last weekend in May, during Memorial Day Weekend, is being planned by friends for Mr. Brooks and his wife, Paulette, who died July 24, 2014. Details will be on top of page on website link http://weinerpublic.com/actions.html as soon as confirmed. Brooks is survived by two daughters, Jerusha and Samantha, who reside in Virginia. Brooks was a long-time resident of Echo Hill, Amherst, on Hickory Lane. He was an elected Amherst Selectman in the early 90’s and elected member of the Town Meeting Coordinating Committee. He helped push Amherst into electronic voting. Despite recent illnesses, he returned as elected Town Meeting Member in the year before his death. Not only was Brooks Chairman of the Amherst Democratic Town Committee, but his wife, Paulette Carol Henderson Brooks, was Chairwoman of the Amherst Republican Committee at the same time. The combination created what Bob Weiner, also from Amherst, a long-time family friend (a best man in Brooks’ wedding) who was a Clinton White House spokesman and congressional committee chief of staff, called “The James Carville and Mary Matalin of Amherst, and possibly the most unique local political couple in the nation. Harry was always devoted to service, from giving in government to his sports leadership.” Jeff Lee, another former Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club president and fellow elected Town Meeting Member, said, “I remember Harry an avid runner who gave back to the running community. But beyond his running, he helped guide me in running for Town Meeting and in my first years as Town Meeting Member.” Lee added that Brooks was a many-time Chief Starter for the USA National Masters Track & Field Championships when held in Boston, “showing the depth of his service.” (Source: Robert Weiner Associates)