Robert Hugo Brooks

Robert Hugo Brooks, with his daughters by his side, passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 in St Cloud, Florida.ÿ Born May 24, 1913 in Baltimore, Maryland, Hugo was the son of Joseph Robert Brooks and Catherine Effie Duncan Brooks of Washington DC.ÿ He was named Robert after his father and Hugo after his mother's favorite author, Victor Hugo.ÿ Joseph and Catherine had three girls, Beverly, Mary, Bette, and two boys, Duncan and Hugo.ÿÿ His brother and sisters all preceded him in death.ÿÿ Hugoÿ married Emily G. Bogley on January 10, 1937 in Frederick Maryland.ÿ They raised two girls, Beverly Anne "Bonnie" Dow and Virginia Marie "Ginny" Mondschein.ÿ They were blessed with four grandchildren, James Buchanan Dow, Christian Davidson Dow, Adam Brooks Mondschein, and Emily Anne (Mondschein) Hatami as well as three great-grandchildren Ian Michael Dow, Annie Rose Hatami, and Rachel Sara Dow.ÿ Emily his beloved wife of 71 years passed earlier this year.ÿ Hugo and Emily purchased a home in Kenansville FL in 1997 when they retired and divided their time between their homes on the Chesapeake Bay and Kenansville.ÿÿ Hugo was raised in a family of photographers in Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and was a partner with his brother Duncan.ÿ Brooks Photographers Inc. was founded in 1898 by his father in Abbeville, South Carolina.ÿ Hugo graduated Force Elementary School, McKinley/Western High School and attended George Washington University.ÿÿ During the great 1930's depression, Hugo along with his brother Duncan began working with and training under their Dad in his Washington studios on F Street NW.ÿ In addition to his experience and apprenticeship with his father, Hugo worked for the National Press Photo Bureau, the advertising department of the Hecht Company Department Store in Washington DC and following W.W.II, with Underwood & Underwood and also Ira Hill both photographers on 5th Avenue in New York City.ÿ He attended specialty courses at Winona School of Professional Photography and has earned many awards and National Print Merits for Commercial, Architectural, and Portrait photography.ÿ The Professional Photographers Association of America awarded Hugo the Degree of Master of Photography in 1967, and the Degree of Photographic Craftsman in 1973.ÿ He was very active in the Professional Photographers Association of American serving on the PPA Board for 7 years; Chairman, Commercial Division; Program Chairman; as well as a International Judge and Jury Chairman of Judges for twelve years.ÿ He serviced as Chairman of the Publications, Qualifications, and Education Committees of the PPA. He was also President PPA Society of Greater Washington D.C.; PPA Commercial Councilman of Maryland; Representative Commercial Photographers of Maryland; Board (Trustee) of Winona School of Professional Photography. Hugo was very active in his community servicing as past president of Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce; Past President Montgomery County Commerce Association; Board Member Bethesda Chevy-Chase Rotary Club; and member Lions Club.Hugo also held the coveted AUXOP rating in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and was the Membership Training Officer of the 5th Coast Guard District.ÿ Hugo served in W.W.II as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Transport Command.ÿ He flew over 400,000 miles as a Navigator of four engine aircraft.ÿ Besides flying the Hump, he navigated across the Atlantic over 100 times and saw service in Greenland, Iceland, Europe, Africa, India, Burma, China and South America.After the war, in 1946, Hugo rejoined his father and brother and opened up a second Photographic Studio in Bethesda, Maryland.ÿÿ Hugo remained active in the business into his 80's.ÿ Since retiring, he continued his passion for photography further expanding his skills from black and white and color to digital photography. Even after his retirement, Hugo was actively sought after for prints of his vintage photographs of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area.ÿ The family h

Robert Hugo Brooks

May 24, 1913 - October 15, 2008