Mr. Aaron Calvin Brooks

Celebrating The Life And Legacy Of Aaron Calvin Brooks- "AC" Aaron Calvin Brooks was born August 22,1 977 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Mr. Bernard and Mrs. Deborah Brooks. Sadly, a few months after Aaron was born his mother passed, and his father remarried Shirley Hansberry who loved and raised him as her own. He was also raised with the influence of his grandparents Calvin and Mary Young. His grandfather Calvin was a maitre d at the Famous Detroit Club where Aaron was exposed to his love for culinary arts. Aaron also attended parochial schools in Detroit and graduated from Kettering High School in 1995 where he played football. Everyone who encountered Aaron loved his laid back personality, dry sense of humor, and infectious smile. These traits followed him as he matriculated at Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton, MI majoring in Computer Science. While there, Aaron developed new relationships and a community of loving friends, serving as a devoted member of the technical crew for the E.C.H.O.E.S. from Heaven Gospel Choir. Like his father Bernard, he never met a stranger and soon after was affectionately known as “AC,” which he jokingly said stood for Always Chillin’. In 1997, he began cooking at the local favorite Library Restaurant & Brew Pub, and over the next 19 years, evolved into an exemplary chef. With his talent, passion, and patience, Chef AC was a natural-born teacher. He taught many young men and women the ins and outs of a restaurant kitchen as his grandfather and father once did and led weekly cooking classes for his close friends. Most recently, he was working on instituting a cooking course at the local high school. Always generous with his time, AC regularly volunteered at St. Ignatius to prepare holiday dinners for those in need. AC was also ordained a minister on September 11, 2008 from the Universal Life Church in Modesto, California. He performed numerous weddings for friends and couples referred to him by the local churches. Throughout his years in Houghton, AC remained active in the MTU community. He served as a trusted advisor to the MTU sorority Alpha Delta Alpha (ADA’s) since 2008, and was a staple in the Houghton social scene. His laughter and singing were constant sounds at most fraternity parties and local bars. Most notably, we was a karaoke king throughout the past two decades. Although his boisterous personality often made him the life of the party, he had a quiet and gentle way of caring for the well-being of others. With his big heart and fierce protective streak, he made everyone around him feel important and safe, and could always be counted on to lend an ear if a friend was having a tough time. On December 14, 2016, AC transitioned from this life, and true to form, he selflessly gave six people the beautiful gift of life through organ donation. Known for his simple, kind, and generous spirit, AC will be missed by the many lives he touched, and his spirit will live on through each and every one of his many friends who will always smile a little bigger, laugh a little harder and hug a little longer because of him. While his body is safely at rest, his gorgeous, glowing soul is surely awakening upon some other dawn, ready to get the party started.

Mr. Aaron Calvin Brooks

August 22, 1977 - December 15, 2016