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James Robert Matthew Farrer '1998

James Robert Matthew Farrer, "Matt", 34, born Exeter, NH February 2, 1980. After a courageous battle with cancer, he died on June 7, 2014 in Seattle. He is survived by his mother Linda Varnell Farrer; brother Andrew, and grandmother Kathryn Varnell of Sewanee, Tn., and many uncles and cousins. His father Richard James Farrer, MD predeceased him. Matt, a "four year man" in both ice hockey and crew at the Brooks School, graduated 1998. Twice a member of the US Rowing Junior National Team, he rowed the coxed pair in Hazewinkle in 1997 and in 1998 won a silver medal in the coxed four at Linz, Austria. He graduated in 2002 from the University of Washington with a BA in history and was a proud member of the Husky Crew.

Cooking for crew mates led to a to a celebrated career in the Seattle restaurant scene with Restaurant Zoe, the Rainier Club, Crush, Canlis and the Willows Inn. Matt's many friends held benefit dinners, named Saint James, with the help of Big Table, a Spokane-based organization dedicated to caring for people in the restaurant and hospitality industry when in crisis. The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Swedish Hospital, Kindred Hospital, Minor and James, Big Table and his many friends for their support.

A memorial service will be held June 30, 2014 at 12:00 noon at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Thomsen Chapel,1245 Tenth Ave. East, Seattle WA 98102. Interment will be at the University of the South cemetery, Sewanee, Tn.

May Light Eternal Shine upon him and all the Faithful Departed

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by Phil McNeill

George “Lex” Whitney ‘96 was killed in Afghanistan in December of 2016.  He served his country with honor and distinction until the very end.   Charismatic and kind, Lex was one of those folks that other people gravitate towards.  A funny man, he was quick with a joke and had a contagious laugh. He was kind to friends and strangers alike, and he possessed a cast-iron loyalty to the people he cared about.  Those of us that knew him mourn his loss but take comfort in knowing the world is a better place for him having been in it.

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by Stan Macdonald '61

Albert "Tag" Goodhue III, a member of the class of 1961, died peacefully at his home at Salem, MA, on October 20, 2019. He was 77.

Tag played hockey and football at Brooks and he is remembered for his friendliness and good nature.

He attended Boston University, served in the Marine Corps Reserve, and had a long career as a stockbroker, retiring from Moors & Cabot of Boston in 2010. He loved tinkering with and driving classic British sports cars like the Austin-Healey, and he was a skilled sailor, racing and cruising his 40-foot sloop Quadrille, which was once captained by his late father, Albert Goodhue Jr.

Tag’s wife, Sherrie Hovey Goodhue, predeceased him. They are survived by two sons, Leland, also of Salem, and Nathaniel, of Parris Island, S.C.

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by Michael Keating '58, P'97

In the fall of 1943, in the midst of World War II, Jack Keating, eleven years old, boarded a train in Miami, Florida and traveled, all by himself, to Brooks School, a place he had never seen. His entrance into the First Form was the result of a generous invitation by Headmaster Frank Ashburn who responded to a letter from Jack’s father, a Naval officer serving at sea, who sought a fine education for his oldest son. At eleven years old, Jack was probably the youngest student ever to attend Brooks and from the day of his arrival, he was welcomed with warmth and support by everyone in the Brooks community. He graduated in 1950, as the Russell House Prefect and the recipient of the Faculty Prize. His affection for Brooks never diminished -- he served as his Class Secretary and faithful attendee at reunions for the rest of his life. Jack always cherished his days at Brooks and he was always grateful to Brooks for its warmth and for the values it imparted to him and to his many family members who followed him to the school.

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Steve Ekstrom, a good friend to all, followed his father with a career in Dentistry. In retirement, he continued to actively compete in golf tournaments achieving considerable success.

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Shelton Pitney, III ‘66

by Ted Ritchie ‘66

Shel was ‘all in’ guy. Whatever his involvement, it had his full attention and effort.  He loved sports, biking, the outdoors, and just being with people.  And his engagement in all these areas was infectious. He went out of his way to support causes in which he believed and would annually make the trek to Massachusetts to participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge – a grueling two-day 211 mile bike-a-thon to raise funds for cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. His exuberance and friendship will be missed by us all.

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Nick Greene effortlessly straddled genres. He was a star athlete—football, wrestling and crew (as captain, leading Brooks to the Royal Henley Regatta in 1966)—choir leader under Tom Vennum, a top talent in Mike King’s art class, yearbook editor and more.  Even-tempered and possessed of Nordic good looks, Greene was a jock who was also endlessly curious.

Nick’s life after Brooks required a lot of him. He joined the Marines as an interpreter in Vietnam and barely survived a Viet Cong attack.  Alongside art studies back home, he earned economics degrees at Harvard and NYU, launching a career in international banking that eventually landed him in Dusseldorf, Germany.  We contacted Nick there for the 50th reunion show, and he planned to send new paintings over,  but the communications suddenly ended. It turned out he had suddenly fallen ill from the effects of Agent-Orange-acquired Parkinson’s disease. He died May 20, 2016, just when our reunion was underway. He was buried, with full honors, at Arlington National Cemetery.

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Nick Norris, though not understood by most of us, accomplished much. A graduate of BU with a Masters degree in African studies, he moved to Chicago where he worked for the state of Illinois until his retirement. Nick was actively engaged in state and city politics. He also loved trains and traveled on them both in the US and Europe whenever possible.

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RIP Nick Sung.
He had a true heart and a great sense of humor. Even towards the end he still stayed positive and lived and loved and appreciated the little things in life. We didn't talk much for so many years but when we connected on Facebook a couple years ago we had some good conversations and I enjoyed reading his posts...about his art or a simple but tasty meal in a hospital.  You will be missed,  my friend.  Always remember the good times and the good people.

-Stefan

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by Jim Bride '56

Michael F Drummey, Jr., perhaps the most erudite English classmate, as well as competent basketball and baseball competitor, entered Brooks in 1952. He was the first North Andover Scholarship Day Boy, besides Skip Perkins. Although accepted into Amherst College in June 1956, he opted instead for a two year Army intelligence commitment at the Presidio, San Francisco, California. Eventually, he entered Harvard College class '62, to a distinguishing career as scholar/athlete. Several years later he received his Masters in English from the Middlebury Bread Loaf School.

While at Brooks, Michael was an exceptional basketball and baseball player, leading championship teams as a basketball guard or shortstop. His exceptional hand-eye coordination guided his tennis and golf swing for most of his adult years.

Like three other Brooks '56 classmates (Bride, Ford & Perkins), he choose the life of teaching and coaching, first at Holderness School,  then completing a distinguished career at Philips Exeter Academy. Because our educational careers were parallel in nature, I often chatted with him about Exeter, Harvard and his Brooks experiences.

Several anecdotes worth recalling illustrate Michael's witty and endearing character. When a 1998 documentary about FDA was being produced, Michael offered a personal atonement. Sometime in 1954 while sitting in Room M, Michael heard Mr. Ashburn's rebuke about a mischievous cutlery fork bender. On camera Michael owned up to his foolish juvenile action.

While visiting Michael and Adrianne in Exeter several months before he died, our conversation revolved around Brooks School memories. Without any hesitation and still fresh in his mind he whispered two embarrassing First Form recollections.  First, that he earned only a D- in senior math (me too); still uncomfortable for him. Second, as a guard on the championship 1956 Brooks Basketball team, he lamented the loss at a post season Connecticut tournament final because," I dribbled too much!"

What he didn't mention was winning the Charles H. Blair bat for leading batsman in the Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League. Nor did he refer to the Harvard /Yale baseball victory memorialized in the Boston Herald sports page photos featuring his sizzling throw from third to first base, while on his knees, to help defeat Yale in 1962. Nor did he cite his Brooks Athletic Alumni Hall of Fame recognition, nor his being one of ten recipients of the prestigious Exeter Endowed Chair, the Woodbridge Odlin Professor in English!

Though I can't speculate Michael's parting thoughts when we said goodbye that afternoon, certainly the final line from Hamlet, "The rest is silence." seems appropriate for the circumstance! Like so many who played, learned or socialized with Michael, our appreciation for him and other Brooksians, who died this past year, saddens us to the core.

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David Wham was always ready with a quick reaction to accepted conventions. A frequent contributor to class notes, provocative to the core. What many did not appreciate was David’s love of organ music. Along the way he had time to build a miniature organ. Sadly he died of Covid-19. His restless energy will be missed.

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Bill Ward, a friend of all, balanced a successful career in finance with his great love for tennis. His contributions to both were positively felt in Nashville, Tennessee. Bill was a consummate host to anyone who came to his home.

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Bob Mills, after college, served as an advisor to the Vietnam government prior to the US involvement. Bob later served in a variety of foreign military operations. We are grateful for his service to our nation.

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60 years ago, David Chandler entered Brooks in the second form, along with about 20 other pioneers of the Class of 1966. An eclectic and rambunctious group we were in Merriman and Hell’s Corner dormitories. David was raised on his family’s apple orchard in Sterling, Massachusetts, where he returned after Brooks and college to work this land which is now in the fourth generation of his family’s stewardship.

Being raised on a farm, David knew how to “do things” that were way beyond the reach of the rest of us. As FDA said in a send-off poem at our graduation in 1966: “And when lots of things need doing, it is David that gets them done.” David, with his wife Kathy, devoted his life to improving and diversifying the orchard and this legacy is now carried forward by his son David Jr.

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Charlie was the first of our class to earn an athletic letter by skating on the varsity hockey team as a second former. While playing varsity hockey, he also won the school squash championships for his age group! His curious mind, particularly in the sciences, led him to discoveries in holography and the computer sciences.

Charlie loved nothing more than passing his insights on to others, and he was a passionate and gifted teacher. He pursued a life of inquiry and always made time for the restorative pastime that he loved: fly fishing on his family’s ranch in Montana. Charlie’s devotion to his family and friends was laudable and valiant, even amidst declining health. Charlie is remembered with great fondness by all of the class of 1966.

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Tony Brown ‘56

by Ellery McLanahan ‘56

Tony Brown graduated with us in ‘56. Then he attended the Univ of Colorado in Boulder before returning to NYC. In 1962 he married Leelee and they remained a couple for the remainder of his life living in both the Lenox House on East 78th in NYC and at their home in Easthampton, NY. Tony was listed as a financial person in his wedding announcement and as a development associate for the National Council of the AA in our 2003 Alumni Directory. Roy Plum reports he was at our 50th Reunion in North Andover and that he frequented the Maidstone Club in Easthampton. He apparently had little or no contact with Brooks classmates over the years. He will be remembered for his backfield play on our football team, where fellow backs McLanahan, Bride and Bliss remember his speed and grace.

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by Robin Marvel '56

Jim Lusk and wife Janet were lifelong  friends to Mary Jane and me. I remember at Brooks Jim played soccer and hockey. He was smart and amiable, and  was  Maintenance Prefect his senior year. In the spring terms Jim and I were managers of the very successful baseball team which featured Jerry Emmet as our star pitcher and Mr. Ashburn as our Coach!

Jim graduated from Yale!  I attended Trinity for three years,  and 14 months  in the Marine Corps in San Diego. We both worked at Bankers Trust in NYC  in the Trust Department for a few years. Later after working in the Bond Department, Jim and Janet moved to Chicago, where Jim had a successful career at Northern Trust.

We were  ushers in each other's weddings, and Jim later was a godfather to my son Jackson,  Brooks '91. Over the years we saw each other frequently spending time together during vacations in Florida and Rhode Island. Jim's  and my  kids have been good friends,  and we all exchange emails and remembrances of the Lusk and Marvel families.