For ever remembered for her kindness

Today, Oscar and I met and we spoke of you, dear friend...you were such a wonderful woman to know, to learn from, and to experience....Jeanette

What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful matriarch and the incredible family she raised. I love the Robert Frost poem at the top -- I read it at my own father's funeral -- and Kathryn embodied this poem to its core. I've long been inspired by her integrity, her passion and her outspokenness, especially as the world becomes increasingly uninterested in unconventional and unvarnished views. May her spirit of speaking truth live on.

So it took me a very long to write something here. And the same as my father I had to think very very carefully about what I might say. But I just want to tell you that you were the only grandmother that I ever knew. And the only one that I considered to be my granny. And obviously I’m speaking to you here regardless of what people think which was one the best lessons that you ever taught me. Who cares what other people think? You never ever cared about what other people thought you always fought for what was right regardless of how it would come off to the masses. And that was my favorite thing about you. You spoke your mind even if it was an unpopular opinion. And a lot of your opinions were unpopular but you spoke them regardless. You’ll never know the influence in my life you gave to me. I’m a very very wild kid and even if I didn’t turn out in the image that you and my father had wanted that’s ok because you gave me the confidence to be who I am and not apologize to anyone for it because I saw you be who you were in the world and not apologize to anyone. And that’s why your mind was such a great loss. You were one of a kind granny you fought for things that other people never dared to fight for and you gave something special to me. An undying will for a life. A fight to be me despite the masses. The world lost you and we will never recover. Rest in power the queen of my true family. Blood is thicker than water, and I’m grateful that you chose me as blood.
Always and forever your namesake,
Kathryn Yeboah

From Abu and Cecelia Abarry, friends from 1970s:

I first met Kathryn in the Spring of 1973 when I attended their wedding in Ghana. I had met Oscar the previous year through my late cousin whom he had helped to purchase a ticket to the US. But I came to know them better when I later arrived in the States and stayed temporarily with them in their grand home in Buffalo, New York.
The whole family, Oscar and Kathryn, Kathryn's mother, Mrs. Irene Weibel (affectionately called Meme), Annamaria, Clifford, Lili, and Ariana welcomed me, and later my wife, Cecelia, with affection, respect and generosity. We were privileged and honored later to meet the new lovely additions to the family too, Mary Laura and Julia.
Throughout our stay with the family, we were impressed by Kathryn's and Oscar's example of devotion to family, intellectual pursuits, loyalty, and commitment to fair play and interracial harmony and hard work. Meme, my adopted American mother, and the older children of the family, helped tremendously to make my transition from African life to the American way of life smooth, educative, adventurous, and pleasurable. This took place mostly during a whole year that I was left with them in Buffalo while Oscar and Kathryn pursued academic assignments in Africa.
For these and many other things, Cecelia and I remain eternally grateful. to the whole family.
Kathryn was a beautiful, brilliant, generous and accomplished lady.
Everywhere she sojourned, she helped to leave the place much better than she found it.
Surely she will be missed.
May she rest in peace.
Profs. Abu and Cecelia Nana Abarry
Temple University, Philadelphia

The elegant Kathryn knew me when I was a small child. She and her first husband, Clifford Lloyd, knew my parents at Oxford and then at Perdue. It was lovely to connect with her at Anamaria's sixtieth birthday party in Seattle. I was working with small children and she wisely told me that children were not factory made but that each one was hand stitched. What a very large heart was gifted to all of us and may it now rest in peace. Blessings and love to her family. Charis Hughes Barasch

Kathryn's perennial, experienced Mission Hill Community voice will be sorely missed... Rest in Perfect Peace.

Sincerest condolences to Prof Oscar and the Family.

Roderick Kersey, Mission Hill neighbor, Community friend

There are very few women who were as committed to the Mission Hill neighborhood as Kathryn. I always marveled at her indefatigable spirit in taking on injustices within our community. She truly was our biggest advocate, and never shy about taking on those who would seemingly yield extraordinary power.

I vividly recall those early days of the Community Alliance of Mission Hill where Kathryn would raise her voice loudly against the overly aggressive developers who had no other interest in our neighborhood, other than making themselves rich.

It was a pleasure to have known Kathryn and she will be sorely missed!

Joe Flynn

Dear Oscar and family,

I am so sorry to learn of the passing of your beloved Kathryn. I was a volunteer and then executive director when I met Kathryn and you Oscar. My sister is the owner of Liz's Hair Care. I appreciated all that she and you have done for the Mission Hill community. I will keep you all in prayer.

Kathryn was a friend and confidant over the twenty years I worked with her son, Clifford Lloyd. Many times she would call and we would chat...sometimes checking up on her only son, other times letting me in on her next crusade and what was going on in her life. She was a Grand Lady that would not stand for
anything she didn't think was right. A champion of many fights and a woman that was a forceful personality to say the least. I shall miss our talks. (Cliff's Assistant, Sandi )

Time certainly flies.
I have fond memories of Ma'am, during her visit to Delhi. Ma'am and Sir, both used to teach students of Management during their stay Jamia.
Some of her words has kept me in good stead. She told me, ' Rajesh, Do work which helps you in studies.
In Hindu culture, Only body dies, soul that is the life force behind a person stays with subtle mind and karmic (work done) transaction. Vedanta tells us that, all of us are ever present and there is nothing like birth and death, this is all playfulness of god that makes you see things in material form, deep down all of us are Bramhan( GOD) and as individuals(Atman), we are part of it and in whole part of cosmos.
I don't know what her soul does now, but for me she has been a motivator and a great teacher. I love you maam.
My condolences for Sir and the family.

P.S.- Sir, I hope you remember me. I am Rajesh. I used to accompany you to the University from Guest house some time and was working with Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, then. During the time, one of your daughters, who was into Finance, also visited.

Time certainly flies.You never know, when you find your near and dear ones no more. 

Cliff was my best mate in Buffalo (before he prematurely decamped for Vancouver) and the house in Buffalo was my refuge for many years, even after returning from the service. Kathryn's and Oscar's unhesitating welcome made their house a home like no other. For this I have enduring thanks, fond memories mixed with the deepest of sorrows for Kathryn's passing. We have parted with a person of extraordinary character. May you rest in peace.

Oscar,
Thank you for sending this Kathryn was one of the most extraordinary people I have ever known. Her intelligence, prospective and fearless pursuit of fairness always impressed me. Our world is in sore need of more people like her. I will miss my friend. Be well my friend.

Best,
Joe.
(From her Primary Care Physician MD. September 6, 2020)

I met Kathryn in the late 1980s when she became a patient of Roland E. Vanaria, DDS. I was Dr. Vanaria's dental assistant and spent a lot of time chatting with various patients. Kathryn was always interesting to talk to, especially about politics, but my favorite conversation with her had to do with raising children. I was trying to train my first child, Meghan, to fall asleep on her own. It was a real battle with a very stubborn baby and I was telling Kathryn that I would have my husband stay home while I would go for a walk so I wouldn't have to listen to her cry. And cry. And cry. Kathryn looked at me with a quizzical expression and said, "Why would you harass your child?" That night at bedtime, I simply laid down with Meghan in my bed and let her fall asleep with me. It was like I had been given permission to follow my own instincts and it was a great relief, to all involved. Thank you, Kathryn. You will be missed.

I first met Kathryn Brookins in 1995 when I responded to an ad for an apartment rental. I was looking for a place closer to graduate school and where I could have enough room to host my children from my first marriage. I called Mrs. Brookins on the phone to get some basic information about the place. What was supposed to be a brief call to gather information turned into a 90 minute discussion about local and national politics, race relations and the general state of higher education. I was stunned by our conversation. I was amazed by her intellect.

I would rent the apartment for eight years. During that time, I got a chance to learn more about Mrs. Brookins. I continued to amazed by her intellect, her commitment to the community and her kindness. The Brookins provided invaluable assistance to me during a vey difficult time in my life. Mrs. Brookins was always supportive and helped me appreciate my gifts and understand the barriers to my success.

In 2003, I moved to the DC area, and several years later California, Virginia, Texas, Maryland and now Rochester, NY. Thorough the 17 years since my departure from the Brookins apartment, I continued to reflect on my time at the Brookins' apartment and kindness and support I received from the Brookins. I can honestly say that without the support Mr. and Mrs. Brookins, I might not be here to write this note of appreciation.

I can't describe my reactions or feelings when I learned Mrs. Brookins had passed. I know I had a deep sense of loss, regret that I would not be able to benefit from her kindness, indulge in her brilliance and be in her presence. Her kindness has carried me through the good times and the bad over the years while in and after Boston. She will always be with me.

We first met Kathryn and her family when Oscar came to teach in the economics department at Notre Dame. Kwan’s new colleague was a great match of common thought, and soon we discovered our children matched in ages and interests. Our family friendship blossomed in those years. Kathryn, Oscar, and their daughters joined us for a year in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where the laughs, and adventures continued. Kathryn always had a wonderful vocabulary and intellect, but claimed she just couldn’t master any Swahili. We think she made intentional Swahili mistakes just to make us laugh when she welcomed someone to her home by calling out the traditional Tanzanian “ Karibu “ (welcome) in Swahili; except, she would always pronounce it “Caribou” like that American Moose-like animal. We would roar with laughter, discuss the actual pronunciation: “Kah-ree-boo”, and wait for our next visit. Sure enough, each visit we were greeted with a version of “caribou”, or some amusing other “attempt” at a Swahili phrase of welcome. That was Kathryn! Oh, how we miss her humor. We remain life-long friends of the children and grandchildren of Kathryn and Oscar. Our families are blessed to be moving into the third generation of our bond.
Kwan and Gloria Kim

I first met Mrs. Kathryn Brookins in 1972, in Ghana, my native homeland, through Mr. Oscar Turner Brookins and Mr. Felix Marfo who later on became the “ adopted son” of the Brookins family. 
Kathryn had brought a number of students from America to Ghana and were visiting for the first time. As I understood it, Mr Brookings was the local coordinator for the group.
Kathryn return to Ghana in 1973 to join Mr Brookins. Little did I know that they were in some relationship, until Mr Brookins disclosed to us that he was marrying Kathryn at Cape Coast, in the Central Region of Ghana. Mr Brookins lived at Achimota in Accra and lectured at the Department of Economics, University of Ghana.
The wedding took place at the Zion Methodist Church. In about thirty five minutes the ceremony was over and the wedded couple and friends were to return to Accra, same day, for the wedding refreshment. Surprisingly, the invitees to the refreshment multiplied hundred fold when we arrived at Achimota for the refreshments.
My mother, who had also become known to the Brookins family, helped in many ways in facilitating the wedding ceremony to a successful end.
Kathryn I knew, was a lady with an insatiable desire for knowledge. I always found her reading either a book or some printed material.
She was inquisitive and full of love to help where she could.
She loved wearing the blue jeans.
Fare thee well, kind woman.

As a student of Prof.Brookins, I only met Kathryn several times. I still remember the day when my wife Layla and I had dinner with her and Prof.Brookins in their Boston home. The weather was chilling but the house was very warm. Kathryn seemed to like Layla very much. After dinner, they led us to their tea room on the third or fourth floor and gave us some desserts (ice cream?). From the window, I could clearly saw the beautiful night scene in Boston. Then, Kathryn told us how she defended the public green space in Boston. She was never afraid to defy the authorities and vested interests and did what she thought was right. Her unyielding spirit inspired and encouraged me to fight for justice.

Kathy and I were a high school couple in the elite intellectual clique of Gresham (Ore.) Union High School in the early 50s. I politicked and wrote (school paper) more, but we both worked hard together on my senior thesis on the awful treatment of local Japenese-Americans in the war and the corrupt confiscations of their farm land by the purely white when they were imprisoned by FDR.
  I was pretty disgusted by her giving up Reed to get married, but all seemed good when the clique next congregated between semesters and she showed her independence by nursing her first child while we laughingly talked. We've kept loosely in touch over the years as we went our separate ways. What attracted me in the first place never disappeared: her sweet enthusiasms and convictions and quirks. 
  Reading the obituary, I was surprised about our similarities: love of gardens and animals and equal justice and equality and the unfair fun of life. Kathy was always a big part of the mostly good start of mine.
     David Grimsted

Anamaria and I have been close friends since high school, and I frequently spent time with Kathryn and Oscar on my visits to their home in Buffalo in the late 60's and early 70's. Kathryn was always welcoming and kind to me. She had a lovely, musical speaking voice that was always a pleasure to listen to. Although I didn't realize it at the time, she and Oscar were role models to me, encouraging my interest in new ideas and world affairs. Kathryn's sharp intellect and bold spirit live on in her children. I hope her memory will be an inspiration to you all.

We have such fond memories of working with both you and Kathryn on , . . Boston school projects and pleasant memories of meals and wonderful conversations . . . .. May Kathryn rest in eternal and blessed peace.

Jim and Kathy Rowlings

The first time I met Kathryn was when Laura was in my sixth grade math and computer class at the Pierce School in Brookline. She and Oscar came to ask if I thought Mary Laura would be a successful candidate for the Boston Latin School. I agreed enthusiastically.
From there we became close friends...she and Oscar rented a one room apartment and brought their two standard poodles with the girls and lived there until both Julia and Laura could attend BLS together. 
Then too the girls with my daughter Elaine were in the local girl scout troup we had on the back of Beacon Hill...Kathryn even agreed to go camping with us out in Waltham. 
In addition all three girls became part of Jose Mateo's Ballet Company to perform in the first Nutcracker he held in Boston.
We fought good fights against less than stellar teachers at Boston Latin School when they did not do well by our girls or by the Hoag boys. 
Then, when my first husband, David, passed away suddenly Kathryn comforted me by saying simply...You know Jeanette, he really loved you. 
Kathryn knew just the right words to say and when to say them.
She called me when I was out of state to campaign for Bernie Sanders....
and on my last two visits to see her she met Charlie, Elaine's son who really was amazed to meet five dogs at once.....then too, Mark enjoyed meeting her and hearing tales of all of our shared adventures....the world will miss you. dear friend, but you gave it all you had....as a wife, a mother, an activist, and a fighter for the right side of things.....thank you for your lessons about Emmett Till and for the traditions of Ghana, Africa as well as all the hardy soups...
Much love, Jeanette aka Jenny

I'm thinking of all of you and also all the wonderful times I had hanging out with Laura, Julia, you, and Kathryn at your house. I remember all the interesting conversations I had with Kathryn and all her good advice as Laura and I were growing up.

Amy

We are saddened by Kathryn's passing. She was so kind, funny and a great storyteller. We are both so grateful to have known her. She had such a noble spirit and great character.

Adriane Sherman and Mike O'Keefe

Kathryn and I first met as parent chaperones on Pierce School field trips. We soon realized that we both had husbands that taught at Northeastern and standard poodles.

We really bonded over gardening. The annual visit to the flower show was a highlight including a tour of the waterfront, Dorchester and Roxbury as we tried to find the venue (we always got lost!).

We were involved a little bit in town politics but Kathryn really hit her stride when she and Oscar moved into Boston.

Watching her decline was very painful. Oscar took loving care of her. Michael and I are sure that wherever she is, she is keeping everybody on their toes. It’s what she does best.

Love
 Rena Silevitch

Kathryn was a wonderful person, with many gifts. She certainly had a gift for friendship, and I treasured her gift of friendship to me. I met Kathryn and Oscar in South Bend in the latter 1970s and we stayed friends since then. She was a thorn in the side of the Boston government as well as various other entities, including Harvard and the South Bend government, and she, and those allied with her, drew blood as well, and for good reasons. She was not afraid to take up a fight that needed to be fought, and carrying it out diligently, persistently, and effectively. Starting, editing, writing for, and publishing the Mission Hill News was something that informed and organized the people of Mission Hill and more broadly. Kathryn and I shared many of the same interests (family and a fond sense of place were certainly two) and animadversions. Over the years, when I got to Boston, it was deeply enjoyable to sit around the kitchen table in her house and bring each other up to date with the stories of our adventures and misadventures. Farewell, dear friend.

Thank you for always opening your home to us over the years and for making us feel we had local family while we were in college.

Anne Charity Hudley, former Harvard College undergraduate

Oh my --- we are so, so saddened to hear of Kathryn's passing.
She was such a remarkable woman --- it was a privilege knowing her.
She will be missed.
Charlotte and Mike

Mrs. Brookins, she will be truly missed. I admired her dynamic life. She took care of all of us who live in Mission Hill.

Enanu Dixon, Resident of Mission Hill

Kathryn and I met in Tanzania when Laura and Julia were babies. We kept in touch by phone but we also visited each other on a few occasions. I could depend on her for forthright and intelligent advice on life, the universe and everything delivered with wit and quite a bit of cheek. Between us we could topple revered political saints from their pedestals in no time. A long friendship with a lot of laughter. And that beautiful smile!
When I first heard from Ari of her condition, I had a chance to talk to her. I thought, Kathryn will be OK. I just could not believe this charismatic, intelligent woman was going so soon.

I will always remember you, my dear Kathryn.

Jamela King, 
African National Congress member and its Radio Voice in Afrikaans

Kathryn was so kind and helpful to me so many times when I was at Mission Hill school.  She was a force for good and many of us are lucky to have felt her presence. 
Deborah Meier, MacArthur Award Winner and Founder of Mission Hill School

I still remeber when Madam Kathryn was here (Delhi) in 2006 for six month, my family enjoyed with Prof. Brookins and Madam Kathryn, such a nice lady we had lunch and Dinner together many times. Madam Kathryn also invited us the evening tea with with wife of our PM Dr. Manmohan Singh. She went to Meerut (UP) also my native place to meet my other family members. I have many photos with Madam Kathryn still with me. 
With deep appreciation, fondness, and love (Rizvi, Meryam, Sahar and Rayyan ) 

I thought I would call her randomly one of these days and tell her how much the love, and the hospitality, and the advice and the warmth meant to me. I thought she probably knew. I thought it would still be good to tell her. I should have.
I came to this country when I was 20- to ann arbor- I 'met' her first when she sent me and Laura back to the mall to get a much better winter jacket for me (all done from Boston via phone). I felt cared for. Then I spent a Thanksgiving and then a New Years at the Brookins residence in Boston. I sat in that kitchen where there is always a water boiling and listened to her stories, her advice, her opinions, her laughter. I felt at home. One year, I was visiting a friend in Boston and I got annoyed with my friend for a mundane reason and just called Kathryn up to see if I can stay with her instead. I could do that because I felt she was family and with family you always have a home when you need it. Years later, my mother got sick while visiting us; had to spend a month in the hospital. She offered to come to DC and stay with her. She was old then; she probably was tired and still she offered and I knew she would come and talk to my mother and make her laugh and have her fight a bit harder. I said no but felt the biggest gratitude I imagine one can feel towards any other human being. To think that a woman who is such a force of life, a woman who fills a room with her sheer presence, a woman who has touched so many lives, a woman who lived such a full life.... To think that woman is no more... It shakes you in a way few things can. If it can happen to her, it can happen to any one of us mortals any moment in time. She will be missed. So much. By so many. I will be in her debt and will keep her safe in my memories, in my heart and in the stories I tell my children. Honored to have met her. 

Je pense bien fort à vous en ces moments bien difficiles. Flore-Anne, de Paris en France.

Toutes Nos condoléances Annammaria et Lili pour le décès de votre mère!Ce sont des moments bien douloureux pour toute la famille !Nous pensons bien à vous!
Yvick et Beatrice (les cousins de France!)

To the Brookins and Lloyd family,
We are so deeply sorry to read about the loss of Kathryn. She was such a great friend to us when we first moved to Mission Hill in the mid-1990s. I so enjoyed listening to her stories and talking with her and Oscar, and watching their younger children grow up, too.
I still have old copies of the Mission Hill News in my archives; I was so grateful when Kathryn asked me to contribute stories and tips, and took my contributions seriously. Her invitation assisted me in moving from someone who was political active and working part-time in radio to being a full-time community journalist with a wall full of awards in multiple formats in two states. The News did some great journalism; we wrote stories that papers like the Globe wouldn't touch. Kathryn always worked hard to try and keep pols and neighborhood activists honest.
One thing missing from this tribute was Kathryn's two campaigns for state representative in 1994 and 2002 in the Democrat's primary. She received 34% in 1994 against incumbent Kevin "Money Fitz" Fitzgerald, a friend of bag ladies everywhere.
But it is important to note in 2002, she was a Clean Elections candidate for the open seat 15th Suffolk seat, agreeing to limit the amount of donations and spending limits she would accept to get matching funds to run. She also signed onto a lawsuit attempting to preserve the program but ultimately only placed fifth out of five candidates.
The law, after being attacked relentlessly by the special interests in your state as well as intrusive thwarting of the law by then-Speaker Tom, later felon, Finneran, unfortunately, was repealed in 2003.
Kathryn always fought the good fight and lived by an ethos and integrity I try to adhere to each and every day and have instilled in my own children: You live every day to the fullest and lost causes are sometimes the only ones worth fighting for.
We will be praying for your family during this difficult time.
Tony and Christine.

I’ll never forget her and her kindness towards me. I will forever consider myself lucky to have crossed paths with her and the Brookins family. 

I first met Kathryn at Boston Redevelopment Authority neighborhood meetings. She was articulate and fierce in her opposition to Hospital and University expansion at the cost of neighborhood housing. Demolition was their goal; we shared the determination that affordably housing was the goal, not dormitories or medical laboratories. People was always her priority not institutions. She had an unquenchable thirst fore direction that would benefit neighbors and neighborhood. She would oppose using the courts as her ally in her determination. I joined Kathryn and Oscar, and others, in opposition to Northeastern University attempt to demolish the Boston YMCA to build a private university dormitory. Kathryn and Oscar researched and wrote the brief; presented their arguments before the Judge. Kathryn' logic and grasp of the law won a years long delay in the project. We did not win or lose; we settled. 
I learned that Kathryn was in decline from her son Cliff. Dementia is such a dreaded condition that I could not face a Kathryn that was not able to function as the dedicated and forceful woman that she was. I did not call or write; it is one of the greatest failures of my life. 
She is to be remembered as a powerful force, defending what she believed to be true and just. She did the good thing, the right thing; she fought the good fight and lived the good life. 
With deep appreciation, fondness, and love,

Richard

From RM

What a horrible, horrible illness. Especially for a firecracker like your mom. I only met her briefly, but loved her instantly. Your kids will love hearing about the many stories you’ll pass on. I know I did.

From SV

I was a fan of hers as well - the Nebraska connection, of course - I still remember reading the draft of her family member's history from out in my neck of the woods. And working on her piano. And there was a way that time stood still in her kitchen, enjoying life, and sharing stories. Anyway, she stays in a good place in my heart and memories.

From JG

Your mom was such a wonderful person. She was a pure delight to be around and will always hold a special place in my heart. If I couldn’t have my mom I would totally want yours - I mean that 100%. 

From Rose Chan

I always loved spending time with Kathryn. Her stories about her amazing life and the times she lived through fascinated me. She took all of us under her wing, and chided us like all her children. She was a force of nature, a generous heart and I thought she was one of the most interesting people I've ever met. I will miss her.

From Cliff Lloyd:

Mom taught us all that we are second to no one. We are as good as anyone, but better than no one. She credited this wisdom to her own mother's egalitarianism. [Irene agreed with Will Rogers tenet "I never met a man I didn't like."]

Mom made me read the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling - and to live up to it. She said that her father, Frank, had done so.