Provost Peggy Agouris sent the following message to the campus community on Aug. 4, 2025. – Ed.
Dear colleagues,
I write to inform you that Garnett Ryland “Jack” Brooks, Professor Emeritus, Biology, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 88 on Tuesday, July 8. Prof. Brooks grew up in Mechanicsville, VA. He is predeceased by his parents Garnett Ryland and Dorothy Dew Brooks, Sr.
Prof. Brooks attended the University of Richmond where he obtained his BS and MS degrees. He then received his PhD from the University of Florida. Upon graduation, Prof. Brooks joined William & Mary where he spent his entire academic career. He spent three decades encouraging and engaging with his students, mentoring graduate students while developing life-long relationships.
During his teaching days, Prof. Brooks developed a deep love of travel. It began with extended research trips to the West Indies where he became the world’s leading expert on a green tree lizard, genus Anolis. Later in his career, he traveled to Australia and was so enamored that he created a class on the Natural History of Australia. The course was consistently at capacity and included a 6-week excursion Down Under.
Following his retirement, Prof. Brooks began the next chapter when he met his wife In. Along with sharing his love of travel with In, he also found a new passion in photography. His fondness of photography led him to build his own in-room darkroom with all the latest equipment. He enjoyed participating in photo contests and gallery showings, winning numerous regional awards for his work.
Prof. Brooks is survived by his loving wife, In Brooks of Williamsburg, VA; his daughter Melissa (Kerry) Harrison of Bristol, VA; his brother Joe (Maggie) Brooks of Richmond, VA; and his cousin Nancy Thomas of Williamsburg, VA. He is also survived by his nephew Carter Brooks of Richmond, VA, and his great-nieces Virginia Brooks of New York, NY and Sadie Brooks of Richmond, VA.
Prof. Brooks was a kind and generous man who will be missed by all that knew him. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the James City County Fire Department.
Sincerely,
Peggy
Latest Campus Announcements
- W&M Board of Visitors to Hold Annual RetreatThe William & Mary Board of Visitors will hold a retreat July 22-24, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the meeting is to serve as the annual planning and training retreat for members of the Board. On Tuesday, July 22, the newest members of the Board will meet with senior administrators at 2:30 p.m., in the William & Mary Washington Center, located at […]
- West Woods Dining Hall UpdateTo provide the highest quality service to our students and community, the decision has been made to defer the opening of West Woods Dining Hall until January 2026.
- Power restored on campusA transformer has gone down near James Blair Hall, and power is out in a number of buildings on campus.
- Notice on the passing of Adrienne R. JoynesAdrienne R. Joynes, who served in W&M Information Technology for more than a decade as a senior business intelligence analyst, passed away unexpectedly last week.
- 2024-2025 Year in ReviewPresident Katherine A. Rowe sent the following message to the William & Mary community in June 2025.
- Notice regarding Professor Don CampbellDr. Don Campbell, Professor Emeritus of Economics, passed away on April 30.