Obituary of Hiram H. Brooks

Hiram “Boots” Brooks of Staten Island passed away on March 13, 2023 at the age of 88, with his family by his side.He was a beloved husband to Barbara Brooks for 67 years, loving father to Susan, Hiram Jr, Kirk, Jeannine and Kalonji Brooks, and cherished grandfather to fourteen grandchildren and twenty-two Great-Grandchildren. Hiram was born on December 7, 1934 in Queens, New York; the third of his parents’ eleven children. At age 5 he was given a pair of firemen boots and never took them off, thus cementing his nickname Boots for decades to follow. Hiram was always a hard worker, starting at age 9 delivering groceries. He was raised in Queens, then moved to Staten Island, where he attended McKee High School where he participated in track. He was married to Barbara Hunter in 1956. A year after, they had their first child, Susan, then their sons Hiram Jr and Kirk. Hiram helped with the home delivery of his fourth child, daughter Jeannine, and after they had their last child, son Kalonji. From then, he had a hand in raising many of his grandchildren, most of all Jeannine "Sho-Sho", Kenneth "Rashawn", Tamea, Oludare and his nephew Saute. A plethora of grandchildren and great grandchildren were to follow. He worked as a gardener for the Parks department, U Haul Furniture mover and a MTA Bus Driver proudly. He was everyone’s handyman, fixing anything and everything within his house, very proud of his garden and gardening skills, and an experimenter in the kitchen. He loved music and dancing and being surrounded by family and friends. He loved talking about and watching boxing, and loved swimming. Hiram house was the house, everyone came to spend summers. Enthusiastic gardener and handyman. Hiram was a hardworking yet silly soul and will be deeply missed. Hiram is preceded by his siblings James, Glennie, Willis, Albert, Alfred, Thelia, Othella, Iris and Ida. He is survived by his sister Joyce, his wife Barbara, sister-in-laws Naomi and Ona, his children, grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.