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BARBARA BROOKS Obituary

BROOKS--Barbara, 60, passed away on April 12, 2013 at home after a long battle with breast cancer. A scholar of Japan and professor of History at the City College of New York and the CUNY Graduate Center, Barbara received a B.A. and M.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D from Princeton University. The mother of Isadora Brooks Jaffee and spouse of David Jaffee, she is also survived by her parents William and Margaret Brooks, her sister Sarah Brooks, and her brother Tom Brooks. Barbara took great joy in learning, writing, and teaching about Japan, working on her garden, and taking care of Oscar the dachshund. Her keen intelligence, boundless curiosity, and deep devotion to her students, friends, and family will be sorely missed by all of those whose lives she touched.

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Published by New York Times on Apr. 16, 2013.

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Barbara Voorhees

April 10, 2019

Will never forget Barbara. Wonder where her daughter is - last I heard Oberlin. So glad and at the same time sad you are remembering her on this day.

Barbara Voorhees

May 11, 2013

Barbara Brooks was one of my closest friends in high school in Bangkok. She was the inspiration for a group of us who remain close to this very day. I am very saddened by this news.

May 1, 2013

I only knew Barbara in the past few years, but my grief is no less for it.

John Treat
Yale University

April 25, 2013

I just learned of Barbara's passing a few days ago and I am deeply saddened. She was my MA advisor at City College and she helped me tremendously during the writing of my thesis. She was also very funny, witty and easy to talk to her. I will miss her.

Anthony Volpe, former student, Astoria, NY

April 18, 2013

I loved talking with Barbara at our recent mini-reunion and am so very sorry to learn this terribly sad news. She was warm and funny, interesting and wise, and will be remembered with love and missed .
Kim Rosenfield

Andy Robertsaon

April 17, 2013

Barbara was a superb scholar, a fine teacher and a wonderful colleague. She will be sorely missed by her many firends at the Graduate Center

Michael Barnhart

April 17, 2013

I followed Barbara's growth as a scholar with the greatest interest and enthusiasm over the years, and had the pleasure of knowing her socially as well. My colleagues, my friends and I will deeply miss her professionally and socially. Sayonara, Barbara-san.

Meredith Golden

April 16, 2013

Barbara epitomized the traits that we all strived for as a "New Blue"- incredibly bright, fearless, and passionate about exploring new realms. She was not only beautiful, but exceptionally kind. I'm so glad I had a chance to see her again at our Yale mini-reunion in January. She never mentioned her illness- only talked about the loves of her life- teaching and family. She touched all our lives. My sincere condolences.

Tommy Bourgeois

April 16, 2013

Please accept my deepest sympathy.

Tom Przybylski

April 16, 2013

Tragic. Too bad she's passed so young.

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