Brooks A. Burlingame, age 83, of North Reading, formerly a longtime resident of Westport and Newton, passed away suddenly on May 10, 2026. He was the beloved husband of 62 years of Nancy Louise (Kelly) Burlingame.

Born, raised and educated in Newton, Brooks was a graduate of Newton High School with the class of 1960. He attended Newton Junior College, where he was the valedictorian of his class, and continued his education at UMass Amherst, earning his bachelor’s degree in child psychology.

Brooksie, as he was affectionately known, and Nancy raised their family in Newton, where they were involved in their children’s sports and extracurricular activities. Their Chester St. home, dubbed “4 Chester” by the area kids, was the hub of neighborhood activity and the front walk was the base of a legendary wiffleball field where the home plate was never removed.

Brooks worked as a contractor for many years, ultimately founding “Brooks Burlingame & Son” which he owned and operated for decades. In that capacity, he formed many valuable lifelong professional and personal relationships. In his spare time, he coached Little League baseball in Newton and was one of the founders of the Newton Tag Football League. He also played competitive softball.

He and Nancy eventually retired to Westport. As a consummate farmer with a green thumb, he could be found planting, landscaping and selling the yield of his crops at his own local farmstand conveniently located at the end of his driveway. He also made wine, but solely for his own family’s pleasure.

In addition to his wife Nancy, Brooks is lovingly survived by his children: Brooks Burlingame of Natick, Bridget Kowal of Greenfield, Brian Burlingame of Newton, Ben Burlingame and his wife Melissa, of York, ME, and Beau Burlingame and his wife Valerie of North Reading. He was the devoted “Grandpa” of Kevin and Kelly Kowal, Charlotte and Maisey Burlingame, Adam, Andrew, Aaron and Luke Taylor, and was also the dear brother of Paul Burlingame, Hanne Damish, the late Jane Burlingame, Mickey Burlingame and infant Martha Burlingame.

Visiting Hours will be held in the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, on Sunday, May 17, from 12-2PM, followed by a Funeral Service in the funeral home at 2PM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Burial is private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Brooks' memory may be made to the Westport Land Conservation Trust at Westportlandtrust.org/donate/