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HOMESTEAD, FL
February 20, 2004
Neal P. Brooks, Jr., 40, of Homestead, Florida died unexpectedly at his home Tuesday, February 17, 2004. Neal was the Vice President of Sales at Brooks Tropicals of Homestead and was the fourth generation of the Brooks family to have managed the well-known, 75 year old agricultural firm in the Redlands.
Neal was a dedicated, hard-working young man with a curious mind and a keep intellect. He graduated summa cum laude from West Chester University, majoring in Philosophy and Russian. He did post graduate work in the Soviet Union and witnessed the collapse of the Soviet state first hand.
Returning to the U.S. in 1990, Neal began his career at Brooks Tropicals and earned an MBS at the University of Miami. While working in Costa Rica for a year as a grower, Neal learned the family business from the ground up and mastered the Spanish language. He was instrumental in the rebuilding and diversification of Brooks Tropicals after the disaster of Hurricane Andrew. In his role as Vice President of Sales, Neal drove the creation of new markets for an array of tropical fruits, which has become the hallmark of the firm. Well known, liked and respected within the industry, his passing leaves a void among customer, buyers, clients and friends.
Within the Brooks family, Neal's hard work and constant efforts to not only overcome but master the challenges his life presented will always be remembered. He was a good and loving son to his father, Pal Brooks, and a great fishing buddy. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the E. Neal Brooks Educational Scholarship Fund, a memorial established in honor of Neal's paternal grandmother.
Donations may be sent to: Scholarship Fund, Brooks Tropicals, P.O. Box 900160, Homestead, FL 33090-0160.
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