Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J.

   Rev. John E. Brooks was elected the 29th president of Holy Cross in 1970. He was born in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1949 and joined the Society of Jesus in 1950. He was a member of the Faculty of the Theology Department at Holy Cross and served as Vice President and Dean of College. Among Fr. Brooks' achievements as college President were the transition to coeducation, the growth in the College's endowment to $140 million, twenty-three consecutive years of balanced budgets, the development of a superb faculty and administrative staff, and the commitment of the entire College community to its Jesuit, Catholic tradition as reflected in the College's mission statement. Since his retirement as President in 1994, Fr. Brooks remained at the College as President Emeritus until his death on July 2, 2012.. He was laid to rest in the College Cemetery on July 9, 2012.