Henry was born in New York City to Ruth Schmidt Brook and Henry Brook Sr. in 1938, younger brother to sister Valerie. Shortly after, the family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the large Brook Family lived and worked. Henry, Sr. was drafted into the army. The family broke apart. Ruth - with Henry (5) and Valerie (7) - moved to San Francisco.

Ruth established a single parent household. As soon as he was old enough, Henry began working after school as a paperboy, bakery helper, bagger at nearby market, pin boy at bowling alley, etc. to contribute to family finances. Henry gathered many close friends as he went through school. He had little contact with his own father, but he learned how to be an excellent husband and father through experiencing the families of these friends. Henry was always proud of the fact that during these "growing" years he became an Eagle Scout! After high school, Henry attended SF City College and Humboldt State College and worked part time at the U.S. Corps of Engineers as a draftsman. His goal was to become a civil engineer.

Henry and Marilyn met through mutual friends in late November, 1957. Their friendship and respect for each other grew to love and they were married in September, 1959. In 1961, Henry went to work for an engineering firm in San Rafael. The family moved to San Rafael and lived there for the next 7 years during which time they welcomed daughter Karen and sons Gregory and Ross.

Henry always aimed to improve his employment status and in 1967 he went to work for Crocker Land Company. This led to yet another job opportunity with Boise Cascade Corporation. These employment advancements and opportunities required moves to Chicago, ILL, Fairfax, VA, and Quechee Vt., which took place over the next eight years.

In 1976 The Brook Family returned to the Bay Area and located in Los Altos. Henry and James Rogers (business associate and friend) created "Rogers & Brook, Inc., Land Developer and Home Builder," and proceeded to build many hundreds of custom homes in and around Los Altos until they retired in 2004. Marilyn and Henry enjoyed their retirement years and "traveled the world" with good friends on Crystal Cruises.

Henry leaves behind Marilyn, his wife of 64 years; daughter Karen Brook Tiffin; son Gregory Allen Brook and wife Sandra; son Ross Mitchell Brook; grandchildren John Henry Tiffin, Emily Claire Tiffin, Samantha Kate Brook and Georgia Claire Brook and many friends and former business associates. He will be especially missed by his "Lincoln High School Buddies" with whom he shared years and years of camaraderie and mutual admiration.

A Memorial Mass at St. Nicholas Church and burial at Gates of Heaven Cemetery will take place on a later date in August.