John Trimble Brook

John Trimble Brook, age 82, of Newark, DE, died on Friday, April 16, 2021, from cancer. He was born on June 14, 1938, in Parkersburg, WV, across the Ohio River from his hometown of Belpre, OH, to the late Lee Scott and Irma Breetz Brook. John was the oldest of three brothers and he remained close to his brothers, Richard and David, and their families, throughout his life. John attended Belpre High School, where he played football and basketball for the Golden Eagles. And because he was the only band member strong enough to carry it, he played the double-bell euphonium with the Belpre High band! John graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, with a degree in history. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and Pi Gamma Mu honor society, and was on the track and field team. At Allegheny, John met his best friend and the love of his life, Katherine “Kay” Ellis. After his graduation, John and Kay were married and the couple moved to Columbus, OH, where he earned his juris doctor degree from Ohio State University. John was a member of the Ohio Bar, and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. John was recruited by the FBI after earning his law degree. For the next seven years, he served as an FBI special agent, investigating bank robberies, kidnappings, and other crimes. In one of his more challenging assignments, he served as the case manager for a spy from the former Soviet Union. John’s FBI assignments took him from Springfield, IL, to Rock Island, IL, Baltimore, MD and Wilmington. At every stop, John and Kay made lifelong friends with his fellow agents and their families. When an opportunity opened for a Director of Public Safety at the University of Delaware in 1970, John took the job. It was a time of student protests and turmoil. He was hired to provide a steady hand while building a professional security department capable of sensitively handling law enforcement issues on campus. Over the course of the next several years, John modernized the security department into a professional police force, introduced the campus bus system, installed student safety measures and built the parking garage on Main Street. His work led to increasing responsibilities. John was named assistant to the president for special projects, then vice president of personnel and employee relations, before being named vice president of government and public relations. He became a fixture advocating for university funding in the legislative halls of Dover and Washington, D.C., until retiring in 1997, following a 27-year university career. John’s retirement enabled him to do what he loved best: spend time with his family. He was the patriarch, whose natural charm, good nature, ability to sense what really matters, and deep love for Kay, his three children and six grandchildren, made him the true rock of the family. He was always there to help or give advice. John was a truly wonderful grandparent. He was the kind of grandpa who took his grandchildren on month-long camping trips; who responded to knock-knock jokes with a deep, booming laugh; who volunteered to babysit at every opportunity; who always had a candy bar in his glove compartment; who everyone wanted to sit next to during Sunday family dinner; who hinted at forbidden limericks; and who loved unconditionally. John seemed to know everyone in Delaware, and he served his adopted state well. For two years, he served as chairman of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. After retiring from the University of Delaware, John served as executive director of the Small Business Alliance of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Historic Review Board of New Castle County, the corporate Board of Directors and Management Committee of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware, the Committee of 100 and the board of the Diabetes Association. John was also a long-time member of the Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church, where he sang in the choir and served as an elder. He also served as president of the Head of Christiana Church Cemetery board. John never forgot his roots, especially his time at Allegheny. He was awarded a Blue Citation from the Allegheny College Alumni Association for his volunteer work and fundraising efforts. John served as an Allegheny Ambassador, and he and Kay were longtime members of Allegheny’s Timothy Alden Council and the William Bentley Legacy Society. John and Kay traveled extensively, and he was never happier than when camping in the Rocky Mountains. John remained an avid follower of the University of Delaware football and basketball teams. John is survived by his wife of 60 years, Katherine E. Brook; three children who were precious to him, Laura B. Tipton (Daniel) of Landenberg, PA; Susan Stauffer Brook and William Scott Brook (Lori), both of Newark; a source of constant joy to him were his six grandchildren, John Daniel Tipton, Sarah Brook Tipton, Michael Scott Tipton, Matthew Thomas Tipton, Megan Nicole Brook and Cara Rylee Brook. He is also survived by his brothers, Richard (Sonja) of Huntley, IL and David (Mary Ashley) of Raleigh, NC; two nieces; and two nephews. A visitation will be held from 9 am until 10 am on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church, 1100 West Church Road, Newark, DE, followed by a memorial service at 10 am. Interment will follow in Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Face masks will be required for all in attendance. In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s name may be made to Allegheny College, 520 North Main Street, Meadville, PA 16335, or the Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church, 1100 West Church Road, Newark, DE 19702.

John Trimble Brook

June 14, 1938 - April 16, 2021