Obituary
On March 13, 2022, we said goodbye to a great man. Thomas Richard (“Dick”) Brooke who was our dad, grampa, husband to Sandra, and Uncle Dick to so many has “gone to Mexico” where he will be rejoining his original nuclear family after almost 75 years since they have all been together.
It was a long goodbye following a dreaded Alzheimer’s diagnosis; a disease that ravaged and ultimately also claimed both of dad’s older siblings, Helen and Charlie.
Deekobaker was an unflappable optimist, almost to a fault. In an age of the “white privilege” catchphrase, nothing could be further from the truth about dad’s humble beginnings. Born in Winnipeg to August “Gus” and Charles Brooke on September 23, 1940, dad at 7 years old lost his own father who was a stone mason and was the sole breadwinner for the family. Afterward, Gus did what she could to provide for the Brooke family. Their household was austere but Gus, along with loving and aunts and uncles pitched in, as did dad’s sister Helen and her husband Tommy, and dad’s brother Charlie. What they lacked in money, they more than made up for in love and support.
Working a number of menial jobs, Dick funded his education and was fiercely self-reliant by necessity. After obtaining his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba in 1963, he migrated westward to British Columbia where he ultimately completed law school at UBC in 1969, and met and married the love of his life, Sandra Ball.
Dad never once in his life regretted his move west, and he and Sandra put down roots in Penticton where dad articled to F.H. Herbert Q.C. at Boyle & Company and was called to the bar May of 1970.
His early days in law saw him as a crown prosecutor and following one of his early victories in this role, several outlaw motorcycle enthusiasts arrived at our home after dark to rev their infernal machines on the Brooke family’s front yard at their Elm Avenue home. Soon after that, we presume dad took an interest in duck hunting, having purchased a trusty double-barrelled shotgun that would be just the thing for such a new passion.
Dad’s law practice at Boyle & Company was broad, varied and interesting, and while he claimed that “law is a jealous mistress” that required him to spend long hours at the “Boiling Company” his and Sandra’s marriage thrived, even despite the later arrival of three sons (Brian, David and Christopher). He was an indispensable source of information for his legal partners and the young associates, who would joke with the uninitiated who had not learned of dad’s vast knowledge, “you don’t know Dick!”
Such was his depth of legal knowledge, professionalism, and collegiality that in 1989 Dick “took silk” being appointed Queen’s Counsel – the only lawyer in the South Okanagan with such a distinction at the time.
In a truly Dick-styled midlife crisis, opting out of the usual fare, in1995 he instead took a year’s leave of absence from his role at Boyle & Company and slid into a teaching position at the law school at the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby. This was move that forever and indelibly changed Dick. He almost immediately became a favourite law professor among his students, and headed the Jessup Moot team, leading his stable of new advocates to a mock trial competition in Philadelphia. He maintained connections to the South Pacific for many years later and was always even quicker to pursue “tumas fun” after his time in the south Pacific. Not that Dick needed any refresher course on “not sweating the small stuff”, but his time in PNG provided a veritable PHD in it.
In his spare time dad was happiest with a book in hand, a warm beer between his knees, and a mutt by his feet. As a younger man he loved sailing, and after one of his bigger wins at trial, orchestrated the purchase of the “April O” a 24-foot sailboat, for himself (and, of course, his colleagues at Boyle & Company). He revelled in his large and diverse circle of friends and he and Sandra hosted many a memorable party at their character home, “Brooke Hollow”. Uncle Dick could roll in any crowd, in any setting and was equally comfortable talking with kids, adults or dogs.
He was quick to lend a hand or lend an ear and was generous with his time and was happy to dispense advice to those who sought it.
It was Dick’s lifelong dream to be a Supreme Court Justice and in January of 2000 he was “anointed” to the bench, a position he served with honour, pride and compassion for over a decade until his retirement in early 2011. He made fast friends of his “brothers” and “sisters” on the bench, and the job, despite its seriousness, was a natural fit for him. Of his victories with the Court of Appeal, he would say, “fooled them again!”
A burgeoning, un-remunerative side-gig emerged with Dick’s appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court as word spread like wildfire that he also possessed all of the powers of a marriage commissioner. Many happy unions were made official with Dick’s silk and seal, including his three sons, nephews, and old family friends.
Above all, Dick was a devoted family man who relished time at Brooke Hollow.
He was a happy soul. He had a spring in his step, a twinkle in his eye and strolled along whistling a happy tune. He effortlessly divined out the best in life, and jealously guarded a real perspective of what was important and what was not. He made people feel special because they were special to him. Parties were better with him present – the world was better for his presence.
We could all learn many important things from Uncle Dick.
He will be sorely missed but very fondly remembered by his soulmate, Sandra, his sons Brian (Michaela), David (Monika), Christopher (Alex), Chris Van Seters and his “honeybunnies” Lauren, Sophie, Caeden, Taveon, Nicola, and Ashton as well as Hana Joks who was so good to dad both before and after his diagnosis.
We would like to thank all of the staff at Haven Hill for their care and compassion, in what we know, was not always an easy task.
Dad always threatened that he would come back to haunt anyone who mourned his death. So, in Dick’s oft-quoted words, “Put a smile on your umbrella!”
Or, if that is not to your liking, “Leap, and a net will appear!”
There will be a simple graveside service with family and a proper celebration of Uncle Dick’s life will be planned for sunnier days.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. of the SPCA would be smiled upon.
To send flowers to Dick’s family, please visit our floral store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Dick Brooke September 23 1940 March 13 2022 (age 81)..
Death notice for the town of: Penticton, Province: Colombie britanique