Former City Councilor Brian R. Hoose pictured with his beloved companion Ollie. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Former City Councilor Brian R. Hoose, 72, died Aug. 23 following a battle with cancer.
Hoose was known as a fierce advocate for the city, especially Ward 3 where he lived and served as its councilor from 2014-2015. He also served on the Off-Street Parking Commission from 2011-2016.
“Brian was a dedicated public servant and loved Westfield,” said Council President Brent B. Bean II.
Hoose was a regular contributor to The Westfield News, writing letters touting the city and many of its leaders and citizens who have supported Hoose in recent times of need. Hoose often wrote about his illness and depression but also put a positive spin on life and wrote of his appreciation for assistance he received. He also wrote often of his beloved dog Ollie, who passed away earlier this year, and the friends he made while taking Ollie for walks.
“Brian was a unique character in Westfield. He truly cared about people, and over the last couple of years he really enjoyed walking Ward 3 with Ollie, chatting with his neighbors, and writing letters to the editor for The Westfield News,” said City Councilor Dave Flaherty. “He truly appreciated the many casual friendships he had over the last several years, and I’m sure he would want to thank his friends and neighbors across the city for their encouragement and friendship. I talked with him earlier this summer about the upcoming elections. He was a staunch Democrat and was proud to participate in campaigns over the years. He was thrilled to see Westfield’s young candidates pursuing careers in government service. He’ll be missed by many. I’d like to offer my condolences to Brian’s family and friends.”
Former Councilor Mary O’Connell served alongside Hoose and while they differed in their ideals, they agreed that residents were what was important.
“Brian was truly committed to his liberal causes while on the Council. He was sincere in his endeavors to be the best representative of his constituents that he could be,” she said. “Seeing Brian on his walks around Westfield always brought a smile to my face.”
Hoose, a U.S. Army veteran, had said most of his life was dedicated to helping people. Prior to his retirement in 2014, he had served as a shift supervisor for the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services. He had a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Westfield State University, with additional training in developmental disabilities from Holyoke Community College, and urban studies and public administration from Worcester State University.
In a 2015 interview with The Westfield News, Hoose said his strengths for serving on the Westfield City Council included a background in human behavior, mediation, and team based organization leadership.
At one time, on his regular walks with Ollie, Hoose would share a list of “10 Positives” with those he encountered, which included good things happening in the city.
Westfield Veterans Services Director Julie Barnes remembered Hoose fondly.
“If I were to sum up Brian in one word, it would be kind,” she said. “He was always concerned with the wellbeing of others.”
He also had character, she said. “You would know he was in the room from his laugh. He was always smiling and gracious.”
Service was important to him, Barnes said. “He was a Vietnam veteran. He had the heart of a politician since he was a boy. He served on the Westfield City Council and always attended the Council meetings after he was no longer a member,” she said, noting that he loved Westfield. “He especially liked to stay involved with the Tech Academy. The students there helped him with his car, his computer and filled his belly at the restaurant. He raved about it.
“Brian was a friend and he will be missed.”
Hoose spent much time in recent years at the Westfield Senior Center. Council on Aging Director Tina Gorman said he will be missed.
“Brian worked closely with Council on Aging staff members following his retirement several years ago. He shared with me many times that his volunteer work through Westfield’s Senior Citizen Property Tax Work-Off Program was incredibly fulfilling,” she said. “For the past six years, Brian assisted at Westfield Technical Academy. He valued the connections that he made with some of the high school students who were challenged academically, socially, or emotionally. During his interactions with students, Brian was empathetic and understanding while continually offering a positive perspective. He will be missed.”
Hoose recently wrote his personal history for Barnes, which is shared below:
Born in 1948, Holyoke, Ma., to a family and a single mother who worked the local factories. My family was multi-ethnic German and French Canadian, with some Irish, Jewish, English, and Italian members. My first memories were that we lived in a cold water flat, where my mother had to bring up kerosene from the cellar to heat our apartment.
At 6, my mother married an airman, and we moved to Delaware. There I discovered the Amish; that while they kept to themselves, we still interacted. We moved to California later on. My teacher got me into reading. My mother had always pushed learning. I liked to read encyclopedias, especially her encyclopedia of animals. After my parents’ marriage dissolved in 1960, and I was 12, just my mother and I took a bus with what we could carry.
John Kennedy became President: this, for me at 13, was a positive and exciting time. We had a President with a real sense of humor, and we were talking on the issues of Civil Rights, Space Exploration, an era of people working together to take on issues, getting involved; cleaning up the environment, world affairs, even the threat of nuclear war. Learning was important. The A&P, on a weekly basis, sold Funk and Wagnall’s Encyclopedias, and one by one I bought a set, reading each as they came out from cover to cover. And, I escaped to the library, where my interests in history, cultures, philosophy, enabled me to learn a lot about them at an early age, and drove me to learn how our global problems came about. Next, I became involved in working election campaigns starting with Ted Kennedy’s first. Then, Civil Rights, through our local Civil Rights group (AIM), the Council of Churches, the National Council of Christians and Jews, Youth Council, (youth leadership training), and the Great Debates series. I was kind of adopted by the local Democratic Party, and taken to events, introduced to people running for governor, congress, and many other state and local offices. They taught me a lot. Also, by our Black Baptist Church, and Civil Rights groups; who not only inspired me but provided me with the resources to become more educated and involved. I became involved in community organizing, and neighborhood improvement projects. As well, international affairs that included Soviet and Chinese studies, and pen pals around the world including Viet Nam, and in Eastern Europe. I was even getting known for writing editorials and public speaking on the issues.
As I was approaching graduation from high school we made plans for me to be the first in our family to go to college. But college was not to be. I received my draft notice.
1968-71 Off to the Army, after Basic, and tech school. Due to my experiences I was kind of an unofficial procurement and a mediator person for our unit, this kept me in good graces even though I “lacked military bearing.” I was a Mediator, due to my being trusted, and could work with Black, Latino, and White G.I’s especially when there were racial tensions. I had been especially backed by Latino GI’s because I spoke some Spanish, and helped Latinos who did not speak a lot of English only for the reason that it was the right thing to do. As a result I was able to save some lives and help keep the peace in our unit.
1971-74, discharged, and off to cross the country to visit G.I friends, or if still in Germany, their families; then back to Germany to visit. 1972, worked: talk show host, restaurants, and special ed., and needs programs. I moved a lot.
1974-85 To Holyoke Community College where I started up a Veterans group on campus, that is still there, campaigned successfully for a Veterans Rep, and an increase in Vietnam War Vet benefits, and was a liaison to Cong. Silvio Conte to represent veterans issues to him. Became a Student Advisory Commissioner, then chairman of the Commission, thus a member of the Mass. Board of Regional Community Colleges (Board of Trustees) representing the students from all the 15 community colleges. I was asked to participate in Third Party Union Negotiations trainings, and in the hiring of the former Speaker of the House as HCC’s new president, and due to our new campus, took on the task of coordinating student resources to create a new student orientation process, started up a newspaper, radio station, and a temporary dining area, participation in Holyoke’s Bicentennial; winning the prize for the longest beard in that contest; and locally important St. Patrick’s Day events, etc.
Then, to Worcester State College, (1976-78) to major in Urban Studies, and public Administration. I was elected to Student Government, made Parliamentarian, was a political editor, and columnist, chosen Vice Chairman of the All College Council (college governing body) then Chair of the ACC during a labor dispute.
Took up Developmental Disabilities at HCC. Once I finally got my degree in 1985 I was able to work in Human and Youth Services, trained in juvenile offender treatment. Did substitute teaching for 15 years, and more restaurant work to substitute for lack of income, start paying off my student debt.
1992, Chicopee Democratic City Committee, Chairman; Mass. Democratic State Committee, member, coordinated and organized election campaigns; worked on issues of Education Reform, and Re-districting, numerous election campaigns. Chair Chicopee Board of Appeals, Neighborhood Facilitator, Community Partnership for a Drug Free Chicopee. Co-organizer Willimansett Neighborhood Association Did talk radio. Presidential motorcade driver. Worked Human and Youth Services, Substitute Teacher.
In 1998 moved to Westfield, and became the Democratic City Committee, Chairman, candidate for State Rep., lost but got 6,000+ votes.
In the year 2000, I got a job with the Dept. of Mental Retardation; in a group home in Greenfield.
