Remembering Stan Brooks: 1927-2013

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Radio listeners, reporters and city officials are reacting to the death of legendary 1010 WINS newsman Stan Brooks.

Brooks was the longtime City Hall reporter for 1010 WINS. WCBS 880's Rich Lamb offered his thoughts on his friend's passing Monday afternoon.

"Stan was one of the hardest working, most talented radio reporters I've ever known," Lamb recounted of his longtime colleague. "He was extraordinary, really."

Last week, the Stan Brooks Radio Room was officially unveiled in City Hall.

WEB EXTRA: Read Stan Brooks' Full Obit

Lamb called Brooks' final months and positive attitude in the face of a painful battle with cancer "inspirational."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg released a statement Monday evening, reading in part:

"Today, New York City today lost an honorable man, a legendary reporter and a trusted voice," the statement began. "Stan was loved by his colleagues and friends inside and outside the business. And maybe the most telling measure about him: he was even liked and respected by his most cranky listeners – the many mayors he covered. Our thoughts and prayers are with Stan's family, and may he rest in peace."

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly also issued a statement honoring Brooks.

"Stan Brooks was an institution in New York journalism. As police commissioner I've had the pleasure to be on the other end of many of Stan's questions and, first and foremost, he was fair and accurate," Kelly said in the statement. "Stan was a true gentleman and will be missed by all those fortunate to have crossed paths with him, both personally and professionally."

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) also honored Brooks in a tweet Monday evening.

"Stan Brooks was a reporters' reporter, incisive but kind, and loved on both sides of the microphone," Schumer tweeted.

Condolences also came in from Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio.

"It's very hard to imagine New York City without Stan Brooks. He's a voice that we all came to trust. He was always an honest broker. And I think people felt he not only had a fantastic voice, but a very believable voice, someone the people came to rely on and to trust. He had a voice that really spoke to all New Yorkers. There was a humility to him. There was a decency to him," de Blasio said in the statement.

"It's hard to imagine he won't be there for the next press conference. We've lost someone who really epitomizes everything that's good about New York City, but also someone New Yorkers relied on and listened to in a very, very special way," de Blasio continued.

People who knew Brooks as an everyday person were also remembering him Monday night. As 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten reported, Brooks lived at the Manhattan Plaza at 43rd Street and Tenth Avenue. A neighbor decided to say hi one day.

"He was a great guy. I've seen him on the elevator, and we've had these conversations, and it was great to see him live after hearing him on the radio so often, and he was just a very, very cool guy to talk to," he said.

The neighbor said he would have conversations with Brooks about politics and life in general.

Dozens of listeners had also commented and offered their condolences on the 1010 WINS Facebook page as of Monday evening.

Brooks died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Monday afternoon. He was 86.

Please leave your memories of Stan and condolences for the Brooks family on our Facebook page.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

In:
• Rich Lamb