Christopher Lamb Brookes, 69, died at home in North Yarmouth on Oct. 10.
Chris was born in Grand Rapids, Mich. in 1949, the first of four sons to Connie and Jack Brookes. The family moved from Detroit to Cleveland in 1961 and Chris graduated from The Leelanau School in 1967.
He met his first wife, Debbie Theobald in 1966 when they were both in high school. They married in 1971; Cameron was born in 1973, followed by Kylie in 1975, and Makenzie in 1977. Chris would marry two more times, once in Cleveland to Mary Ellen Kovach, and then in Minneapolis to Robin Larsen. Chris achieved his lifelong dream of moving to Maine in 1995, and between 2003 and 2012 he poured his heart and soul into a beautiful prerevolutionary home in Waldoboro. In 2012, Chris moved in with his mother to care for her.
Chris had retired in 2013 from a long career selling American cars, Jaguars, and Land Rovers, and managing dealerships in Cleveland, Minneapolis, and throughout Maine. Although he loved cars, the truth is, Chris could sell anything he put his mind to – and did, including stereo equipment, car washing fluid, collectible dolls on eBay, and once, it was said, ice to an Eskimo.
Chris stayed sober for 28 years and sponsored countless addicts. Inimitable, hugely spiritual, larger than life, and usually the funniest person in the room with the best story to tell, Chris lived his life in constant, restless pursuit of the people and objects that made him happy, listed here in no particular order except for his three daughters and three grandchildren who remained at the very top of the list until his death: his brothers and nieces and nephews, the cottages in South Bristol, God, cowboy boots, walking sticks, acorns, rocks, wool socks and Keds sneakers, Levis 501s, wool vests, mowing the grass, his tractor, Hartmann and Mulholland leather goods, pristine dress shirts, expensive loafers, Persian olive oil jugs, crows, watches, shearling coats, boat trips around the cove, tuna fish sammies, a properly grilled filet of beef or fish or leg of lamb, strong, well made coffee, skiing, building fires every single day, Filson and Barbour coats, wool cardigan sweaters, buckeyes, feathers, Cool Change by Little River Band, antique guns, fancy lighters, pocket knives, Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses, silver bracelets, tattoos, classic rock, Cuban cigars, LL Bean, key lime pie, toast, hummingbirds, owls, restoring antiques, silver dollars, Renys department store, Stephen King novels, The Big Lebowski, the Red Sox, the Patriots, handkerchiefs, binoculars, Howard’s Piccalilly, the Vineyard, turtlenecks, lupine, daily devotions, cookies, flirting.
Chris was preceded in death by his mother and father; and sister-in-law, Biggi. He and Debbie lost a son Case St. Clair in childbirth in 1979.
Chris is dearly missed and survived by daughters, Cameron and husband Brandon Brookes of Vineyard Haven, Mass., Kylie Brookes and husband Carlos Quesada of Alameda, Cal., and Makenzie Brookes and husband Christopher Anderson of West Tisbury, Mass.; grandchildren, March and Hartwin of West Tisbury, and Brookes of Vineyard Haven; step-son, Matthew Kovach of Huntington Beach, Cal.; dear friend, Ellen Garland of Brunswick; brothers, Jeff and wife Luanne of Cumberland, Jamie of Yarmouth, and Toby and wife Kelly of Palo Alto, Cal.; nieces and nephews, Jonathan Balzano-Brookes and wife Jackie of Portland, Adrianne and husband Henry Fouts of Yarmouth, Gabe Balzano-Brookes of Boston, Mass., Ashley Brookes of High Point, N.C., Kerry Brookes of Yarmouth, Jack Brookes of Tassajara, Cal., and Hadley Brookes of San Francisco, Cal.; and cousin, Mickey Gilmor and husband Henry Kahn of Atlanta, Ga.
As much as anyone, his beloved Yorkie Lulu sorely misses Chris. Depending on the time of day, she could be devotedly stationed at his feet or under his arm, and is now being cared for by good friend Ellen.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Maine Boys To Men, maineboystomen.org.
