GLOUCESTER - Dr. Jacquelyn (Zollo) Brooks of Gloucester, passed away quietly on November 26th, 2023 in Beverly Hospital after a short hospice stay.

Born in Danvers on January 28th, 1935, she was predeceased by her parents, Germano and Hazel Zollo of Lynnfield, and sister, Joanne Coppola of Harwich.

An alum of Tufts University, Dr. Brooks studied theater and made a career as an actress starting at the Cleveland Playhouse where she met husband, Thomas Brooks. After more than 20 years of acting and teaching, Dr. Brooks retired from the Boston Shakespeare Company to attend Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. She earned a Doctorate in Education with a thesis on the importance of play in learning. Her interest in the learning process led her to Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, where she taught educational psychology. In 1999, Dr. Brooks took an assignment with the Peace Corps in Madagascar, serving as an English Teaching Supervisor. Upon return from Madagascar, Dr. Brooks taught high school English at Rockport High School and directed the theater department. She enjoyed living on the waterfront in Gloucester, where she wrote her novel, The Ravenala about her Peace Corps experiences. Being near the ocean and spending time with her family was her greatest delight.

Jacquelyn is survived by her four children, Linden (and Becky), Kendra (and Robin), Liam (and Melissa), and Jay (and Debbie) Brooks along with 10 grandchildren: Lauren, Macaulay, Savannah, Max, Sophia, Louis, Oliver, Peri, James, Toshiro, and 2 great grandchildren Cedric and Audrey.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to her celebration of life which will be held at O'Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St. (Rte. 62) DANVERS on Saturday, December 30th, 2023 from 2 to 4 P.M. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Jacquelyn's memory to Doctors Without Borders, USA, PO Box 5023, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5023. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.

Doctors Without Borders, USA
P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown MD 21741
Tel: 1-888-392-0392
Web: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/