Robin Lynn Brooks

1952 - 2022

Robin Lynn Brooks

Colrain, MA — Robin Lynn Brooks of Colrain, Massachusetts has passed away at home at the age of 69 years.

Robin was loved by so many. She was soft-spoken, kind, highly-creative and filled with light. Above all else, she loved her land adjacent to the Catamount State Forest, and she loved her children Will and Asa Bates.

In her professional life, she was a book designer, artist, writer, group facilitator and so much more. Her book design website shows more than anything her profound and exquisite book design capabilities: www.thebeautyofbooks.com.

She was a highly-valued member of the APH (Association of Personal Historians) who saw her as a mentor and teacher. She was certified as an instructor of GAB (Guided Autobiography) and was an enthusiastic collaborator in the GAB community. Her GAB workshops were just taking off when she passed. She loved the freedom and heart-felt connection that came with these workshops. The depth of connection that resulted in her workshops have prompted the group members to continue to meet, despite her no longer participating. Her GAB website was: www.writingyourwayhome.com.

She loved her town of Colrain, having lived there for almost 40 years, publishing the Colrain Clarion, making signs for the covered bridge in Colrain, and volunteering in many other ways.

Her computer password was "LOVE." Her email address was "Alight in Life." That was her. It says it all. She will be greatly missed.

Robin was born in Tokyo on November 10, 1952, the daughter of Robert Thomas Brooks, and L. Frances (Kennard) Brooks where they began an international marketing business at the end of WWII. They eventually moved to Greenwich CT where she attended the Greenwich Country Day School. She graduated from the Madeira School in 1970, Mount Holyoke College in 1974 where she received her BA in Studio Art, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School in 1993 where she received her MFA in Sculpture. Her artwork has been compared to that of Cuban artist, Ana Mendieta, and that of Georgia O'Keefe.

Robin is survived by her two children, Willis Bates of Ashfield, MA, and Nolka "Asa" Bates of Shelburne Falls, MA; her twin sister Leslie Ann Brooks, also of Colrain; her sisters, Karen Jean Brooks of Heath, and Susan Frances (Brooks) Brody of Bethlehem, NH; her brother, Peter Lloyd Brooks of Vilamoura, Portugal; her half-sister, Mary "Molly" Twohy of Portland, OR; her half-brothers, Robert Thomas Brooks, Jr. of Austin, TX, and Michael Pierce Brooks of Santa Barbara, CA; her five nieces, Sarah Jean Burke of Sausalito, CA, Liza Marie (Burke) Bates of Brookline, MA, Rebecca Brooks of Santa Barbara, CA, Ashley Joy (Hunter) Arnold of Twin Mountain, NH, and Emily Simone Brody of Bethlehem, NH; her three nephews, Loren Andrew Burke of Turners Falls, MA, Patrick Hayes Burke of Portland, OR and Taylor Brooks of Santa Barbara, CA; her great-niece Sienna Brooks; and her four great-nephews, Sawyer and Hunter Arnold, Charlie Bates, and Calvin Burke. She was a beloved aunt and great-aunt.

There will be a community gathering to celebrate Robin's life on Saturday, April 2nd from 1:00-3:00pm at the Shelburne-Buckland Community Center at 53 Main St in Shelburne Falls, MA.