Robert "Sek" Vie Brooks

Robert Louis Vie Brooks (Sek) was born on October 19, 1949 to Russell L. Vie Brooks, Sr. and Martha E. (Ellis) Vie Brooks in Hamilton, Ohio where he grew up. In his early career, he was partner in a business restoring and dealing in Antique furniture. Afterward he spent years as a sub contractor working in property restoration. In the late 1970s his love for Living History lead him to make a business as an itinerant dealer in guns, knives and other goods of the fur trade era. Traveling from event to event all across the United States and Canada, Sek became widely known throughout the Rendezvous – Reenacting circle. Following the tragic loss of his business partner as well as most of their goods in a flash flood in Friendship, Indiana, Sek concentrated on his education. After a degree in History from the Union Institute, he worked for twenty years as a social worker and program director for the FreeStore FoodBank in Cincinnati, Ohio. Like his grandfather, father and brothers, Sek was a Mason. Raised in Hugh L. Bates Lodge #686 in Hamilton, Ohio, he eventually demitted to Oxford Lodge #67, Oxford, Ohio, and served on the Craft Tem. In Oxford Lodge, he met many members of the Craft who shared his love of Living History, and with them became a charter member of Pioneer Lodge #1861 dedicated to keeping alive the history and impact of Freemasonry during the American civil War. Sek had a great sense of social justice and compassion for others and demonstrated these values through his work in social services – he will be missed by the poor and homeless of Cincinnati. As a young man, he was active in the antiwar efforts of the 1960s. While pursuing his education, he served as a mentor and educator to young people through the Community Center in Northside and the youth group Clan Desdin. Sek was an avid Rendezvouser , setting up Primitive Camp with Clan Desdin at events from Kentucky and Indiana to northern Ohio. He will be remembered by Reinactors as the consummate trader and barterer and as a man with deep spiritual rootedness to the earth – a deep reverence that could be seen in the beautiful Spirit Drums he created. Sek passed from our living presence at the age of 66 the evening of December 14, 2015 in his home and surrounded by loving family and friends whom he told many times during his life, “Darlin’, we are not given to know the number of our days.” After a brave struggle with illness, he accepted his death with equanimity and grace saying, as those who knew him well would understand, that his has been a good life. He embraced young friends as family. His life can be summed up by the tribute written by one of his adopted family: Social worker, farmer, brewer, artist: multifaceted as a crystal he was, and kind, down to earth and generous to boot. The only man I looked up to in my life, who inspired me to learn as much and do as much as I can. Our big bear will be missed by many. He is survived by his wife Sue Freidenheim and two brothers, Russell L. Vie Brooks and Richard L. Vie Brooks and their wives, and his sister Kaethe Larick and her husband, and by his son Oliver Vie Brooks, his wife and five grandchildren. His passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of his survivors, but he would say his love stays with us. Memorial gifts may be made to his wolf brothers at Wolf Creek Habitat and Rescue, 14099 Wolf Creek Road, Brookville, Indiana 47012.