Gregory Brooks, 48, was positive and tenacious

Years before he became a successful Eastside auto dealer, Gregory Martin Brooks walked onto the University of Washington football team to try out as a scrappy freshman who weighed only 158 pounds.

But his friends and family weren't surprised when Mr. Brooks went on to earn a football scholarship, a starting position as a defensive back, and a trip to the 1978 Rose Bowl.

"He was always positive — and pretty tenacious," said Ric Mangialardi, of Yarrow Point, Mr. Brooks' former business partner and longtime friend.

Mr. Brooks, who went on to own Brooks Chevrolet in Bellevue and Issaquah Chevrolet, approached his diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with the same optimism and tenacity.

The Yarrow Point resident died of the disease Nov. 22 while in Beijing, China, for a medical treatment unavailable in the United States. He was 48.

He was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive, degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, about 1 ½ years ago, shortly after friends noticed that his speech was slurring.

"His reaction was always: 'I've got to beat this thing,' " said Steve Erickson, of Bellevue, Brooks' brother-in-law.

Mr. Brooks sold his dealerships after his diagnosis, and he and his family and friends had focused on raising money for ALS research and awareness of the disease.

Lifelong athlete

Mr. Brooks was born Jan. 3, 1956, in Kirkland, the third of five children. A lifelong athlete, Mr. Brooks' yen for competition started at an early age.

Mike Lentz, a childhood friend, recalled meeting Mr. Brooks as a fifth-grader in Kirkland. Mr. Brooks challenged the other school boys to a race on the playground.

"He showed us — he was pretty fast," laughed Lentz, of Bellevue, who became a lifelong friend.

Mr. Brooks' father, Harland Brooks, co-owned Brooks McKnight Chevrolet on Bellevue's auto row. Mr. Brooks started working at the dealership while still in high school, and joined the dealership's finance department after college.

He took over ownership after his father died in 1993, and he went on to buy Issaquah Chevrolet with Mangialardi in 1997.

At work, Mr. Brooks made sure to greet everyone with a "good morning," Mangialardi said.

At home, he was a devoted husband and father of three, a generous uncle, and a social organizer for a loyal group of friends.

"He squeezed lots of life in," Mangialardi said. "Even after he was diagnosed, he kept living life like he normally did."

Fund-raiser

In 2003, Mr. Brooks, his wife, Lisa, and other family and friends traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress for legislation aimed at finding a cure for ALS.

The same year, a group of friends organized a benefit golf tournament. And last summer, Mr. Brooks' son, Hunter, and his University of Washington fraternity brothers coordinated a baseball relay to raise funds for ALS research.

As part of that fund-raiser, Hunter Brooks, threw out the first pitch at an Angels game in Anaheim. Running, biking and swimming, the fraternity brothers then transported the ball from Anaheim to Safeco Field for a Mariners game. The ball was presented to Mr. Brooks, a die-hard Mariners fan, who then threw out the first pitch.

The efforts raised nearly $200,000.

Before his trip to Beijing, Mr. Brooks' condition worsened, and he was unable to speak or walk, his friends and family said. But his constant optimism led his close friends to believe Mr. Brooks would beat ALS.

Mangialardi said he last saw Mr. Brooks in China. He was concentrating on a game of chess shortly before Mangialardi departed.

With the use of a computer, "He said, 'See you Monday,' " Mangialardi said. "I never thought he wouldn't come back."

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Brooks is survived by daughters Jessica and Amanda, both at home on Yarrow Point; two brothers, Daniel Brooks of London, and Brian Brooks, of Auburn; and two sisters, Sandy Biddle of Bellevue and Beverly Brooks of Florida.

A memorial was held yesterday in Bellevue. Donations may be made to The Moyer Foundation, at 2426 32nd Ave W., Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98199.