A memorial service will be held this weekend for a retired Ohio University dance professor.
Associate Professor Emerita Patricia Brooks, 79, died from sudden cardiac arrest Dec. 13 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. Brooks is survived by her husband, Charles Atkins, and two sons.
Her memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Unitarian Fellowship in Athens, according to a news release.
Brooks began teaching dance when she was 14 years old, and began dancing professionally after attending Northwestern University in Chicago for one year.
Although she taught all types of dance at OU, Brooks focused on teaching dance history and social history through the arts and children's dance, said Madeleine Scott, director of OU's School of Dance.
Brooks worked in the School of Dance for 31 years. She helped create a dance program in the Honors Tutorial College and was its first director of studies, according to the release.
She was very interested in many things
Scott said, adding that Brooks sewed, worked with Alden librarians to expand the dance collection and volunteered at Athens Area Mediation Services.
Mediation services were a primary focus for her Scott said.
Brooks served on the board of directors for Athens Area Mediation Services, a nonprofit organization that promotes peaceful conflict resolution.
She was wonderful said John Schmieding, director of the Athens Area Mediation Services, describing Brooks as thoughtful and happy to help others resolve conflicts.
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Caitlin Bowling
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