A friend, fellow disability advocate and just a good person passed over the weekend. Harry was always there as a member of Ability Chicago, was a sounding board, but as a Public Transit advocate - disability related or not, the CTA was his Public Transit, and he did offer his insight (and his two cents). Harry was a regular at CTA Board meetings, with the follow up at RTA Board meetings as needed. Harry also was a deeply religious man, offering his time for his church. Harry was also a sponsor with the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, Illinois & would share information, and hound you until you would accompany him there, it was a nice day spent with my friend. And Harry was a great fan of Tina Turner and her music.
But Harry loved High School Basketball; below is a article from the Chicago Sun Times Aug 27, 2012....
Harry Brooks, 65, dedicated official scorer of Chicago Public League basketball
By CLYDE TRAVIS August 27, 2012 | Chicago Sun Times
He wasn’t a coach or a player, but Harry Brooks was an integral part of Chicago’s basketball community. Mr. Brooks was the city’s dedicated official scorer, working every big high school event and games for several colleges, including Chicago State.
Mr. Brooks, 65, suffered a stroke last month and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and then to Columbus Park nursing home, where he stayed for two weeks before being returned to Mount Sinai, where he died Saturday night.
“Harry was a very sincere and dedicated person,” said Public League Sports Director Calvin Davis. “He was one of the very best official scorers I have ever worked with and a true professional. We will all miss him.”
Mr. Brooks was a Chicago Public League Coaches Association board member and was inducted into both the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Chicago Public League Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
“Harry was an icon. Everyone in basketball knew Harry Brooks,” said Marshall athletic director Dorothy Gaters. “He was the consummate professional.”
Mr. Brooks worked at Westinghouse through four coaching regimes: Roy Condotti, Frank Grisetto, Chris Head and Quitman Dillard.
“I took over the program in 1985 “ said Condotti “He showed up and volunteered to do the clock for the varsity and sophomore games. He was dependable, never missed a game. Later, he started assigning officials. ”
“He was a big Tina Turner fan and used to always tell us that he was simply the best and that’s how I will always remember him,” said Head.
“He helped me become the person that I am today,” said Dillard.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/14748728-418/harry-brooks-65-dedicated-official-scorer-of-chicago-public-league-basketball.html
.....
Though Harry was born with disabilities, he never thought of himself as disabled, he just went forward in his live touching others lives, finding ways to support himself, and live the best quality of live as possible and just turned 65 yrs old in the last year. I will miss my friend Harry, who was a very rare person, and yes was 'simple the best'.
Jim Watkins
Ability Chicago
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Services
Mr. Brooks was born on April 1, 1947 and passed away on Saturday, August 25, 2012.
Mr. Brooks was a resident of Chicago, Illinois at the time of his passing.
VISITATION
Friday, August 31FUNERAL SERVICE
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
East Side Bible Church
10524 South Avenue N
Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 731-4674
Friday, August 31INTERMENT
11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
East Side Bible Church
10524 South Avenue N
Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 731-4674
Friday, August 31
1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Mt. Glenwood Cemetery
Glenwood, IL
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