I will always remember Brook as a boy, just one of the many kids in a small town who shared birthday parties, Easter Egg hunts, lake time in the summer, Halloween parades, and waiting in line to sit on Santa's lap at Christmas. The footsteps he took in youth became leaps as an adult. He left an impression both ordinary and extraordinary on everyone who knew him.

I wish I could pull myself together and write something more eloquent, but nothing will compare to those who knew Holbrook best: as a son, brother, colleague, friend. Unfortunately I met Brook later in life and I am the lesser person for it. He was a selfless, compassionate, loving friend to my extended family. I will never forget his last and extending hug. Rest in eternal peace. Love, Hannah

Dear Brook, we will always remember you as the most kind, compassionate, enthusiastic and focused little boy that you were in sixth grade, so many years ago. What a brilliant mind you had! Even then, you showed such a profound interest in studying the human body, that we knew you were destined for a GREAT medical career. You reached out to help us when we were worried about the probability of a multiple myeloma diagnosis. Al and I will keep you alive in our memories, with love, forever

From the first time I met Holbrook, and every time thereafter, I felt as if I were in the presence of a very special human being. He was kind, giving, loving, caring, intelligent, humorous, caustic. He was blessed with the same gene that existed in Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Albert Einstein. A very, very special person.

Holbrook, we miss you greatly, you were brilliant in your scientific endeavors, very driven, and just a wonderful, kind, and fun person and colleague. Such a senseless loss and great waste of talent. I promise we will keep your vision alive, and follow through on what we planned together and help many patients. Rest in piece,... but your vision (and memory) shall stay alive!

It is powerful and refreshing when highly intelligent people value kindness over IQ. Being smart becomes a graceful superpower when held in the palms of compassion."

Holbrook was that person, his genius was an inspiration to anyone who knew him, and he used his gift well. I was blessed to work with him. We will carry on this luminary work, in his honor. Sincere and heartfelt condolences to those who loved him, and appreciation for his pioneering and timely lifetime work.

Why did I meet you so late - only one year ago. Every time we met you left me with profound thoughts, a feeling of everything being possible, unlimited resources for giving back, a true fighter and somebody who desperately wanted to live.
You will always live and our friendship has just begun
XUlrik

It was a great gift to know Holbrook during the past 3 years. Despite his enormous health challenges, he worked both mind and body tirelessly in the quest for immunologic cures of malignancy. He had the unique ability to command the respect of individuals from all levels of science and medicine,catalyzing collaborations and triggering new treatment concepts.
Everything Holbrook did was so fast, I think he knew his time was limited and that his disease would finally take him down. I was surprised to learn he was only 38, considering his professional training and degrees, his lab successes and the broad and deep respect he had already earned. He was generous with his fine intellect and his time, never arrogant, and seemed just as personally concerned about others as others obviously were about him. I am grateful to have shared part of Holbrook's world and will miss him terribly.

Larry and I met Holbrook only once, but once was all we needed to know what a wonderful human being was in our midst. Holbrook, with the million dollar smile, made us realize something about life, that a life lived for others was a life worthwhile. We will never forget your generous spirit and your kind and loving heart. Lucy and Larry Cardon

Generous carer for your patients, everflowing source of energy and knowledge to your field and your colleagues, shining light for our firm, big brother and inspiration to my family, soulmate. I miss you. Bart

May the Lord keep you at his side and grant you peace. You were always an inspiration to everyone in everything you did. Ed always said "if he ever had a son, he hoped he would be like you" You two have a lot of catching up to do.

To my magnificent friend and mentor who was taken so before his time, your brilliance, passion, kindness and curiosity is a never ending inspiration, I was truly blessed to count you as a my friend. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers forever. Andy

You were the kindest, most thoughtful mentor and my best friend before being my boss. Your passion and tenacity in making every moment of life fruitful, in agonizing over the cure for cancer patients, in putting everybody's wishes and needs before yours, cannot be described: you have been my inspiration to be a better researcher and a better person since our first meeting, and will remain so. It was an honor to be a member of your team. Amani