June 26, 2002
Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1487/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: loweryr@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Central Washington University campus community is mourning the death of Justin M. Brooks, 21, who died June 25. His father, CWU music professor Joseph Brooks has been a member of the faculty since 1994.
Peter Gries, CWU music department chair, says, “The faculty and staff of the Central music department express their shock and sorrow at the news of the death of Justin Brooks. While not a musician, Justin was well known to many of the music department community.”
Brooks, a 1999 graduate of Ellensburg High School and former Running Start student at CWU, had been majoring in administrative management with a specialization in office systems at Central before withdrawing from school following winter quarter. At CWU, he had also served as a student employee in the computing and telecommunications department.
“He spent many hours in Hertz Hall, cheerfully maintaining and repairing the department’s ancient Macintosh computers,” Gries recalls. “His ready smile, affable attitude and eagerness to accommodate the needs of the faculty members will be sorely missed. Our deepest sympathies go out to Joe and his wife Cheryl, and to Justin’s brother, Jeff.”
Staff members of the CWU student health and counseling center have provided grief support to CTS. Bob Trumpy, director, reminds students that the center is open summer quarter from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. University staff and faculty members may receive grief counseling through the Washington state Employee Advisory Service by calling (509) 482-3686.
Funeral arrangements for Brooks are still pending.
