In Loving Memory of Col. John J. Brooks Jr.

John Jackson Brooks Jr. was born in Savannah, Georgia, on September 12, 1937, to
Florence and John J. Brooks Sr. He grew up in the Boston area alongside his younger
sister Patricia, helping with the family egg business and developing a lifelong love of
aviation while watching planes at Logan Airport.
John attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he met the love of his
life, Joyce Brightman. He pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon, played varsity lacrosse, and
served as a cadet in Air Force ROTC. In 1960, he and Joyce married and began their
life together in Texas as John entered active duty with the Air Force.
Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, John earned his wings as a navigator in 1961
and as a pilot in 1966. He flew the KC135 Stratotanker and later served in Vietnam,
flying C123s and KC135s. His skill and bravery were well known—on one mission,
against regulations, he crossed enemy lines to rescue a shot fighter plane and pilot.
John’s career took the family of five “Js” across the country, eventually leading to an
assignment with the Maine Air National Guard, where he helped transition the refueling
mission to the Guard. After his promotion to Colonel, he served at Seymour Johnson
AFB until retiring in 1985. His service earned him numerous honors, including the
Bronze Star and the Air Force Fairchild Trophy.
In retirement, John built a second career in insurance and later fulfilled a dream of living
on Cape Cod. He and Joyce traveled widely, made lifelong friends, and cherished time
with their growing family. Moves to North Carolina and later Templeton of Cary brought
new adventures, new friendships, and treasured time with children, grandchildren, and
greatgrandchildren.
John is survived by Joyce, their three children, his sister, six grandchildren, and four
greatgrandchildren. His legacy of courage, service, love, and curiosity lives on in all who
knew him.
In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to your favorite charity or The
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research | Parkinson's Disease.