This story originally appeared in the Bangor Daily News on February 6, 1992.

"Grieving parents memorialize daughter with educational campaign Pittsfield couple seek to prevent another person’s falling victim to the dangers of odorless, tasteless carbon monoxide"

      Coping with the loss of a loved one takes different forms for different people. For Bob and Bonnie Brooks of Pittsfield, coping is going public, reaching out with education so another family can avoid the tragedy they recently experienced.

      On Jan. 13, the Brookses’ 20-year-old daughter, Crystal, died of carbon monoxide poisoning while washing her car in the family garage with the door closed.

      "Young people think they’re invincible," Bonnie Brooks said. "She was excited about her new car, the new independence she would have getting back to school. She wasn’t thinking about the danger she was in."

      As an engineering student at Cornell University and in her high school career, Crystal took many science and chemistry classes.

      "She should have been familiar with the danger, but not enough was ever done on the subject. And it’s not one of those things you think to discuss," she said.

      With the proceeds received from selling their daughter’s car, the Brookses plan to invest in educational materials, primarily pamphlets, that could be distributed through the local school -- and possible made available at Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y.

      "If I thought we could save just one life with this idea, it would be worth the effort," Brooks said.

      Carbon monoxide has "no taste, no odor, it’s not visible or detectable without special equipment," she said.

      She recommends the use of a special detector for use in home garages, similar to a smoke detector but far more expensive, she said. Greater awareness of the danger of carbon monoxide, she hopes, will create a demand for the detectors and eventually bring the price down.

      The Brookses also are looking into the feasibility of having legislation introduced to deal with the problem. But creating awareness is their first goal.

      On Thursday, the Brookses will be featured in a news segment on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning by television station WGME in Portland. Videotaped copies of the program will be made available to their daughter’s high school alma mater, Maine Central Institute, and also to the co-op office at Cornell. The co-op office, Brooks said, is the students’ link between the school and the working world, often the time when they are getting their first cars.

      "I feel strongly about wanting to do something. And I know if Crystal were here and the situation was reversed, she would be doing the same thing," her mother said.

      The project is one of several intended as a tribute to the young woman. A local scholarship is planned; while at Cornell, a tree, a plaque and bench have been planned.

      "We’ve heard from so many wonderful people. And it’s been helpful. It’s so nice to hear from people who knew her, or have lost a child. It’s so important to us," said Mrs. Brooks. "You don’t realize how many friends you have until something like this happens. It strengthens my commitment to want to reach out and make something positive come from this."