ALBANY – Charles M. “Chuck” Brooks passed away suddenly Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
Born March 30, 1954, in Brockton, Massachusetts, he was the eldest of three children of Massachusetts natives Malcolm Norris Brooks and Esther Claire Kent Brooks. The family lived in Cohasset, Massachusetts, and then moved to Cooperstown in July of 1963 when Chuck’s father was hired as Director of the Alfred Corning Clark Gymnasium. Chuck enjoyed his youth in Cooperstown, and was active with church youth programs, especially at The First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown.  Chuck graduated from Cooperstown Central School with the Class of 1972. During his high school years Chuck participated on the basketball and tennis teams. He also enjoyed bowling and playing squash at the ACC gym. He earned both his undergraduate and Master’s degrees at Springfield College and, much like his father, began serving youth in what would become a 34 year a career with the YMCA, 24 of which he was executive director.…