J. Brooks Dodge Jr. ’51

J. Brooks Dodge Jr. ’51, a legendary skier and a member of the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame, died at his home in Jackson, New Hampshire, on January 17. Brooks grew up in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire, in the shadow of Mount Washington. Alpine skiing was just taking hold at that time and it became a centerpiece of his life. While still a teenager he completed several first descents in Tuckerman Ravine. He added 11 skiable routes in Tuckerman’s. Brooks was a member of the Dartmouth ski team as well as Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Casque & Gauntlet. He graduated with an engineering degree in 1953, with leaves of absence to compete in the 1950 FIS and the 1952 Olympic games. At the 1956 Olympics in Cortina, Italy, he achieved a fourth-place finish in the slalom. After two years in the U.S. Army, Brooks earned an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. He joined Cabot, Cabot and Forbes, a commercial and industrial real estate firm, retiring in 1974 as its chief executive officer. Skiing was a lifetime joy. “I was interested in skiing elegantly, precisely and well from the top to the bottom,” he said. He and his wife, Ann, ran charter ski trips to Europe. Brooks was a pioneer in heli-skiing. He also loved rock climbing, hiking, hunting and bicycling. In mid-life he developed a passion for flying, becoming a competitive glider pilot and running a soaring center.