Though many didn't attend North County's theatrical productions, that changed for Brooks' final high school performance as the lead in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."
"That character allowed all his talents to show through," Joffe said. "I think he had enough talent to go into theater."
Walt Brooks said that his son, who was attending Anne Arundel Community College, wanted to be an actor, but "if that didn't work out, he could have made it as a comedian."
Michele Levasseur, who teaches English and theater at North County, said that Brooks was "the Pied Piper" of the Anne Arundel County school. At the school Friday afternoon, Levasseur recalled amid laughter and tears how Brooks returned to the school on many occasions after he graduated.
One of the last times was memorable.
"I was sick and I didn't have any energy to do improv," said Levasseur. "He was like an angel. He came out of nowhere. It was like, 'Hi, Levasseur, I'm here.' The girls couldn't wait for him to come back."
Levasseur said she regrets not keeping what she would have called her "Walter Journal."
Among the entries would have been another time Brooks sneaked into her classroom, put his feet against the back legs of her chair and prevented her from getting up - causing her to nearly jump out of the chair and her students to fall out of their seats laughing.
"That was how he was, completely random, but happy random," Levasseur said.
Like many of his friends, Hunt still feels Brooks' presence.
"When I was walking out there before, I felt him walking next to me or behind me," she said. "He'd like to walk behind you and skip around and be a goof."
She added, "A big soul like that could not leave and not leave an imprint."
A viewing for Walter Brooks Jr. will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Singleton Funeral Home, 1 Second Ave. S.W. in Glen Burnie. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Heritage Community Church, 8146 Quarterfield Road, Severn.
