Owen Brooks

Obituary of Owen E. Brooks

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Owen E. Brooks, 91, Retired Pfizer Executive Mr. Brooks passed away on October 25th at his home in Amityville leaving his loving wife of 65 years, Marilyn Blank Brooks. He started his Pfizer career in 1948 as a chemical engineer working as a Production Supervisor in the Brooklyn Plant Penicillin Fermentation Department, the first plant in the world to produce penicillin in bulk. This was followed by positions of increasing responsibility in citric acid production, Terramycin production, and Corporate Headquarters. In 1972 he became Brooklyn Plant Manager, which at the time with over 2,300 employees was the largest industrial plant in New York City. While in this role he became heavily involved in community activities including the Municipal Club of Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Kiwanis Club, joined the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, became President of the Faith Home Foundation, and until just recently served as a member of the Board of Trustees (Vice Chairman) of Helen Keller Services for the Blind. Among many community recognitions received while in Brooklyn he was most proud of the Good Scout Award from the greater New York Councils of the Boy Scouts of America for Outstanding Service. In 1983 he was promoted to Vice President Corporate Engineering and Manufacturing Technology Services Division where Mr. Brooks had the responsibility for the delivery of global expansion projects including new manufacturing plants and research facilities. In 1987 he retired after almost 39 years of service so he could spend more time with his family and pursue his interest in sailing. Mr. Brooks was born at home in Wantagh, N.Y. in 1924, the son of Marvin and Irene (Edwards) Brooks and brother of the late Malcolm Brooks. He attended Wantagh Elementary School, Amityville High School, class of 1942, and received his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. At R.P.I. he was a member of the Naval R.O.T.C., battalion on active duty during World War II. The program was accelerated enabling him to receive his degree and Navy commission at age 20, and was awarded the Naval Science and Tactics Medal for the highest average in Naval courses. Mr. Brooks was assigned as a radar officer on the Essex Class carrier USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), served in the Pacific, and proudly was present for the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay to end the war. Following the war he worked as a full time instructor in the chemistry department at R.P.I. and completed his Master of Arts Degree in School Administration at Columbia University. By graduation he decided that his career should be in engineering and not in education so he began his work at Pfizer the next month. Mr. Brooks was an avid sailor for both pleasure and competition. This was always a family activity including his wife, children, and his grandchildren, and they all continue in that tradition today. He served as Commodore of the Narrasketuck Yacht Club in Amityville, President of the Great South Bay Yacht Racing Association, served on the Unqua Corinthian Yacht Club Board of Governors as Chairman of the Regatta Committee in Amityville, and was Chairman of the Great South Bay Yacht Racing Association Regatta Committee. Mr. Brooks won his last race with his son Jonathan just a year ago on his 90th birthday in his beloved Herreshoff 12 1/2. Mr. Brooks believed strongly that Christians should try, "To lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Col 1.10. He was an affiliate member of the First Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach, FL and a full confessing member of the Massapequa Reformed Church. Mr. Brooks was predeceased by his daughter, Alison Brooks Callahan (Thomas J.) who passed away recently after a heroic eight year battle with breast cancer. In addition to his wife Marilyn, He is survived by two sons, Owen E. Brooks, Jr. (Margaret) and Jonathan E. Brooks (Elice) and nine grandchildren, Lt. Owen E. Brooks III, USN (Jayme), Rev. William C. Brooks, Kathryn E. Callahan, Robert T. Brooks, Peter T. Callahan, Meghan E. Brooks, Rebecca M.E. Brooks, Rachael E.M. Brooks, and Lauren C. Brooks. Visitation will be at Powell Funeral Home on Friday, October 30, 2015 from 2-4:30 & 7-9:30 PM. In lieu of flowers gifts may be made to the Massapequa Reformed Church or Helen Keller Services for the Blind. A memorial service will be held at the Massapequa Reformed Church on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in the family plot in East Marion, Long Island.
Friday
30
October

Visitation at Funeral Home

2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Friday, October 30, 2015
Powell Funeral Home Inc.
67 Broadway
Amityville, New York, United States
Friday
30
October

Visitation

7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Friday, October 30, 2015
Powell Funeral Home Inc.
67 Broadway
Amityville, New York, United States
Saturday
31
October

Funeral Service

10:00 am
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Massapequa Reformed Church
302 Ocean Avenue
Massapequa, New York, United States
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Owen Brooks

In Loving Memory

Owen Brooks

1924 - 2015

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