John Brisbois of Lexington, died Tuesday, September 12 at age 97. Lovingly cared for by his daughters Anne and Rosemary and a team of devoted caregivers, primarily Welberth, Renata, and Ricardo. He died peacefully in his own home as he wished. Born in Somerville in 1920, he graduated from Somerville High and signed up for duty in December 1942. Stationed in Okinawa, he wrote moving letters home describing his time on the troop ship, life in camp, the island, and the gruesome remains of battle. He saved all these letters along with those from home that conveyed the hope and hardship of the time. He attended Boston University on the GI bill where he met his beloved wife Marguerite on a geology field trip their freshman year. After a Masters in English History from Harvard, he taught History and Latin at Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge (prior to their merger with Buckingham), ran the summer school program and capped off his 33 year career there directing the transformation of the library into a modern media center. While insisting the new library be a reasonably quiet study space and not a student social lounge, he none-the-less brought in a TV and ran the Watergate hearings in their entirety from the reference desk. Dearly loved by the school community, he had a devoted group of former students who took him to lunch and chamber music concerts nearly to the end. John was a lover of music, enjoyed playing his piano and was a member of the viola section of the Concord Orchestra for almost 40 years. He and Marguerite traveled extensively in their retirement and made life long friends through house exchanges. He is predeceased by Marguerite (2005) and grandson Hakim Denna (2008). Besides his daughter Anne Denna and Rosemary Burke (both of Belmont) he leaves one surviving sister June Scurini (of Stoneham), sons-in-law Dr. Peter A. Burke and Bahi Denna, four grandchildren; Leila Denna-Staiger (Jordan) of Belmont, Galen Burke (Ali) of Wisconsin, Justine Burke of New York, and Sophie Burke of New Hampshire. He also leaves his great-grandson, Felix, who was born September 10 in Wisconsin. A celebration of his life will be held later this Fall. Donations in his honor can be made to New England Center and Home for Veterans (nechv.org), the Concord Orchestra (concordorchestra.com), or a charity of your choice.