The death of former U.S. Sen. Edward W. Brooke comes as a personal loss for me. I had the distinct honor of working for Senator Brooke in Washington, D.C., both as a summer intern in 1970, and for two years following my graduation from college. Other than my father, I have had no greater mentor in life.

As a legislative assistant to the senator, I accompanied him to the Senate floor, worked with him on legislation and traveled with him back and forth to Massachusetts. Senator Brooke was an exemplary politician. He was also a kind and decent person.

I would like to share an example.

During the senator’s last visit to the Vineyard, several years ago, the senator and his wife, Anne, and former staffers Bill and Judy Cowin came to my house for dinner. It was a lovely evening as we reminisced and talked about life in general.

The next day, I received a call from the senator who asked if I could do him a favor. He said that the child of deceased friends was in the Dukes County jail on drug charges because he was unable to post the bail required for his release. He asked if I could arrange a visit in the jail, and whether I could accompany him.

I arranged that meeting and Senator Brooke and I went to the jail. The senator told the inmate that he considered himself fortunate. Drugs had not been an issue in his life. However, he also told him that he understood what it was like to be at the bottom of a valley, and that sometimes what you needed more than anything was just a hand up.

The senator said that he would loan the inmate the bail money, but that I would write up an ironclad promissory note which would obligate repayment. As we walked out of the jail, I turned to the senator and said, “You know, you are never going to see that money again.” He looked at me as a mentor would his student.

“I know that,” he said. “But if you offer help to a thousand people and it works out on one occasion, then you have benefitted a life.”

I ended up seeing that person about a year later and he told me, “I will never forget what the senator did. I am going to repay him that money.”

Senator Brooke cared about those in life who needed a hand up. He was a passionate advocate for affordable housing, education and equal justice for all. He also was a great attorney general in Massachusetts from 1962 to 1966, relentlessly pursuing corruption at all levels of government.

He was a wonderful man and through his work, he touched the lives of many. He will be greatly missed.

Ronald H. Rappaport is an Edgartown attorney.