Ernest Haskell Brooks, 78, died quietly on March 22,in Bangor, ME., after a life of
creativity and inspired problem-solving. Ernie was born September 5,
1937 in Lynn, Massachusetts to Earl and Dorothy Brooks. He graduated from
Merrimac High School in 1954. Coming from long line of New England artists, he knew he wanted to pursue his passion of art, and
enrolled in the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston from 1955-1956. His education was interrupted when he left Boston to serve in the US Coast Guard from 1957-1960.

He made his life’s career designing and building restaurants, bars,
the occasional home kitchen, and his own home in Tremont. His
signature work has defined dining establishments from Gloucester,
Massachusetts and New Orleans, Louisiana, to Bar Harbor, Maine. His
trademark, in addition to his stubby cigar and cocky confederate cap,
was repurposing salvaged wood and architectural details. Old paneling
was refinished to build the British pub-style bar at the Thirsty
Whale, his hand-carved signs advertised the once popular restaurants
Duffy’s Quarterdeck and The MaryJane, and his craftsmanship is still
seen in what is now the Black Friar Inn and Pub and Galyn’s
Restaurant. Fiercely independent, he worked for clients he liked, and
would walk away if not treated with the same respect he gave. His
design sense and ability to assess a space and find the best use for
it assured he had no shortage of customers, and he became known as the
man who put the bar in Bar Harbor.

Conversation was another art to him. He was well-read, and his home
had hundreds of neatly organized books on art, history, cooking and
philosophy. He thrived on lengthy arguments and well-defended debates.
He also loved to pass on all the things he found so delightful and
interesting about the world to his children, and encouraged them to
always look at things from every side.

En route from Merrimac to Bar Harbor, his long-time home, he designed
and built interiors along the way, and raised three families. His
early specialty was Chinese restaurants. A foodie before that was a
word, he would watch the chefs at establishments he was designing, and
they gladly taught him how to chop and sauté. Food, along with art,
were constant elements in Ernie’s world.

There is remarkable circularity to Ernie’s life. When he first came to
Bar Harbor, he stayed at a rooming house. The landlady told Ernie she
would trade the secret of her blueberry pie filling for his perfectly
domed apple pie recipe. That rooming house has since been transformed
into Galyn’s Restaurant. Ernie’s woodwork and design create the
atmosphere in the upstairs lounge where he first laid his head in Bar
Harbor, filled with visions of antique molding, and rebuilt English
pubs.

In another full circle, when in his sixties he decided to reach out
to his high school love, Dianne. He courted her with letters, and soon
they chose to share a life, cruising Marden’s and dining around Bar
Harbor at the restaurants Ernie had helped create.

In addition to a legacy of fine craftsmanship Ernie leaves behind a
recipe for his killer fish chowder, and a host of loving family and
friends.

Ernie is survived by his sweetheart Dianne Ross, sisters Marge Allen,
Rhoda Brooks, sons Haskell Brooks and Andy Barker, daughter Bronwyne Hostettler, son Brandon Brooks and his wife Danielle, daughter Morgan Brooks and partner Christian Fitzgerald,daughter Kymry Brooks and fiancé Christian Todhunter, five grandchildren, Indya, Isaac, Julian, Rhianna, and Paisley, and cousin Charlotte Gulezian. Longtime friends include Karen Zimmermann and Dennis Smith, Frank Ryan, and Ray “Fuzzy” Carbone. Ernie was preceded by his dear friend Nathan P. Hall.

A celebration of life for Ernest will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 26,
2016, at Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main Street, Somesville, with a
gathering to celebrate Ernie’s life to follow at Galyn’s Restaurant,
17 Main Street, Bar Harbor.

The family wishes to thank the staff at MDI Hospital and Eastern
Maine Medical Center for their kindness and care.

Those who desire may make contributions in Ernie’s memory to a local
children’s art program of their choice.

Condolences may be expressed at