Brian Wesley Brooks

Brian Brooks passed away on July 30, 2023 at the age of 64 surrounded by his loved ones. For over 45 years, he remained a devoted husband to JoAnn Brooks. As a caring father, he cherished Kelly Ford and Brian Brooks II along with their respective partners, Rob Kuhn and Jenna Bryant. To Noah and Zoey Ford, he was affectionately known as "Pop Pop," showcasing his love as an adoring grandfather. He was the beloved brother of Bruce Brooks and their late brothers, Alan and Larry Brooks.

Brian lived his entire life in Baltimore, a city he deeply loved and understood. He was never far from a history book on Dundalk, Sparrows Point, or Bethlehem Steel as he took great interest in the city's rich past. For many years, he worked as a tow truck driver where he learned every street in the city by heart. Before the days of GPS apps, he was the frequent recipient of calls from panicked loved ones who were lost somewhere in the city. He never failed to help them get where they were going.

Brian spent most of his career working as a Field Service Technician at Cummins-Wagner. For decades, he drove his white work van all over the Mid-Atlantic working behind the scenes at factories, hospitals, government buildings, and countless other places that most never get the chance to see. An expert in his field, he later transitioned to Assistant Service Manager before retiring and then returning as a part-time contractor. Brian had a faultless work ethic, and he took great pride in everything he did. No detail was ever too small for perfection.

All his life, Brian had a love for cars. He would often daydream with his wife, JoAnn, about the antique cars they would buy. As a former mechanic, he shared his passion for cars with his children by teaching them the value of maintaining them -- changing the oil, properly washing and drying them, and even changing the brakes -- but more than that, he taught them how to take care of things and in doing so how to take care of each other.

Like any true Baltimorean, Brian could often be found sitting outside in the summertime, reading the Baltimore Sun with a Coors Light in hand, waiting for the crabs to finish steaming. When they were done, he'd spread that very same newspaper out on the deck table and gather around his family to enjoy the meal together.

Brian was steadfast and kind with a quiet strength. His family never doubted how much he loved them, because he never hung up the phone without an "I love you." Even when he got sick, Brian never complained, and he fought to stay with the love of his life, JoAnn, until the very end. He will be missed dearly.

The family will receive friends at the Connelly Funeral Home of Dundalk, 7110 Sollers Point Road on Thursday from 2-4 & 6-8 pm. A funeral service for Brian will be held on Friday at noon at the funeral home. Interment to follow at Gardens of Faith Memorial Gardens, 5598 Trumps Mill Road, Baltimore, MD 21206.