Kevin Patrick Brooks, a resident of Shelter Island and Brooklyn, died at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital on April 3, 2020 from complications of COVID-19. He was 75. His devoted wife of 53 years was at his side.
Kevin was a strong, proud and dedicated family man. He was a devout Catholic, a patriot and a Marine. A hard-working professional, Kevin positively influenced the insurance business. He was also passionate about his numerous interests, including Irish music, birding, basketball, boating, politics and civic life. He formed deep and lasting friendships with many people.
Kevin was born on April 13, 1944 to John J. and Margaret (née Gerrity) Brooks. He was raised in Washington Heights, Manhattan with his four siblings. After graduating from Incarnation School, Kevin attended St. Joseph’s Institute in Barrytown, NY with the De La Salle Christian Brothers, and continued his high school studies at La Salle Academy in New York City.
Kevin graduated from Manhattan College in 1966 with a degree in Psychology, and married Virginia (Ginny) Dorothy Tame in June, 1966. While a student at Manhattan, Kevin joined the U.S. Marine Corps under the PLC program. Upon graduation Kevin was commissioned as a 2nd LT in the USMCR, whereupon Ginny and Kevin reported to The Basic School at Quantico, VA to complete his training as an officer.
Kevin served one tour of duty in Vietnam from 1967-1968 as an Artillery Forward Observer. He continued to serve as a member of the reserves, completing 30 years of service with the USMCR and retiring as a Colonel in 1992. He ended his military career as Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines Reserve Unit in Garden City, Long Island.
Upon ending his active duty career with the Marine Corps in 1969, Kevin returned to New York City and joined General Reinsurance as a casualty facultative underwriter. He had a long and very successful career, rising through the ranks and retiring after 40+ years as Chairman, President and CEO of Gen Re Group subsidiary General Star, which Kevin led from its founding. Under Kevin’s leadership, General Star became a leading surplus lines insurer.
During his years with General Star, Kevin became quite active with the surplus lines industry trade group, NAPSLO, serving on its board for several years and as president from 1989 to 1990. In 1999 NAPSLO honored Kevin with the Charles McAlear award, recognizing his substantial contributions to the specialty insurance business. During Kevin’s professional career he also completed the NYU Graduate School of Business Administration program in 1978, and in 1984 attended the Executive Program at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business.
Meanwhile, the birth of Kevin and Ginny’s first child brought them to Park Slope, Brooklyn in 1971, buying a brownstone and tirelessly renovating it over the next decade or more. At that time Kevin became very active in neighborhood politics, joining the newly formed Independent Neighborhood Democrats, IND, which began the start of many years of long-lasting friendships. At the same time Kevin founded the United Block Association, UBA, to unite blocks across the neighborhood to work together to improve the quality of life in Park Slope. He was also a member and past trustee of the Park Slope Civic Council.
From 1989 until 2006 he served as Chairman of the Board of Consultors to the School of Arts, Science, and Education at Manhattan College. In 2007 he joined the Board of Consultors to the School of Business. From 2009 to present he served as Chairman of the Financial Services Advisory Council at Manhattan College. He was a former member of the Board of Trustees of Mashomack Preserve, the nature conservancy on Shelter Island. Kevin served on the Board of Directors of The Montauk Club, a private club in Brooklyn founded in 1889, and also served as its Treasurer for over 10 years. Kevin also served on the board of the Long Island Chapter of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation in 2009, becoming its Chairman in 2012.
Kevin was an avid birder for more than 55 years, and was equally as passionate about basketball and Irish music. When he wasn’t singing or playing his drum, the bodhrán, he could be found playing the bones, which he fit in his pocket, easily accessed whenever an opportunity to play presented itself.
Kevin’s refuge to Shelter Island began in 1980 after the birth of their third child. Kevin and Ginny built a family home which became a favorite gathering place for their children, and later their grandchildren, who could be found there on most summer and holiday weekends. After retirement, Shelter Island was where Kevin and Ginny spent more of their time than not, whether playing golf at Gardiner’s Bay Country Club or enjoying the tranquility of Mashomack Preserve. In the summer months, several members of the family would be at their Shelter Island home almost every weekend, just enjoying being together. For many years, annual family reunions with extended family from both sides would be held at their home on Shelter Island, where Kevin, a great storyteller, would “hold court,” whether over dinner or into the wee hours of the morning.
In addition to his wife, Kevin is survived by their three children, Kerry Brooks Mitchell of Mamaroneck, NY; Kieran (Johanna) Brooks of Port Washington, NY; and Michael (Sinéad) Brooks of New York, NY. He was Pop Pop to seven grandchildren, Madeline, Elizabeth, and Timothy Mitchell; Annalucia and Gabriela Brooks; and Grady and Leighton Brooks.
Other surviving relatives include his sisters, Maureen Klette McCausland (James), Sheila A. Corr (Peter), and brother, Donal J. Brooks. He was predeceased by his oldest brother and sister-in-law, John J. and Marianne Brooks. Kevin leaves behind 26 nieces and nephews and 20 grand nieces and nephews.
While his presence will be dearly missed by his family and friends, his spirit will be felt at many an Irish session and lively dinner conversation — his memory now living on in the stories friends and family share of his life well-lived, and of course, in their laughter.
Contributions in memory of Kevin, with the goal of creating the Colonel Kevin P. Brooks USMC Memorial Scholarship, can be made to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit that Kevin cared deeply about that provides scholarships to the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen in-need. Donations can be made at engage.mcsf.org.
Or mail a donation to MCSF, 909 N. Washington St, Ste. 400, Alexandria, VA 22314. Please include a note that your contribution is being made in memory of Kevin P. Brooks.
Due to the COVID-19 precautions, a funeral service cannot be held. A service at Our Lady of the Isle Cemetery on Shelter Island will be held for the immediate family; honoring Kevin’s wishes he will be buried in his Marine Corps full dress blues. The family will plan a celebration of his life in the future as the restrictions from the coronavirus are lifted.
The Shelter Island Funeral Home is serving the family.
