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The search for Phillips Brooks, an 81-year-old East Windsor man reported missing Saturday night, remains ongoing as more than 300 family members and friends have taken to Facebook in an attempt to locate him.

(East Windsor and New Jersey State Police)

EAST WINDSOR — The search for an 81-year-old East Windsor man who suffers from memory loss continued today as nearly 400 friends and family members networked through social media in an attempt to locate him.

Phillips Brooks of the Meadow Lakes Retirement Community on Etra Road was reported missing by family members on Saturday at 6:38 p.m., his daughter Lauren Hebert said today.

She has spent the last two days searching for him in the Cape May area, where his vehicle was recorded going through an E-Z Pass station Friday at 6:53 p.m.

Brooks was last seen driving a red 2006 Subaru Forester wagon from his residence around 9:15 a.m. on Friday, police said.

Brooks was last seen driving a red 2006 Subaru Forrester Wagon from his East Windsor residence at about 9:15 a.m. on Friday, the statement said.

“He is a very gentle and sweet man, and this is out of character for him,” said Hebert, a Cranbury resident who lives about four miles away from Brooks. “Quite frankly, we’re more than baffled to have this predicament come, and we’re very worried for his safety.”

Brooks, who lives independently, suffers from short-term memory loss and confusion, and requires medications for numerous ailments, Hebert said. He uses a walker to help with balance and regularly sees a neurologist, she said.

“He is suffering from a pretty accelerated path of age-appropriate memory loss, and it’s hitting him fast,” Hebert said.

The New Jersey State Police have issued a Silver Alert notification to enlist the public’s aid in finding the missing senior citizen. Brooks’ license plate number is ZTS-47Y.

He is described as a 5-foot-7 white male with white and balding hair, weighing 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing glasses, a maroon jacket with a gray collar and dark pants.

A note written on Brooks’ calendar in his handwriting indicated he had a doctor appointment scheduled in Lawrence on Friday morning, but there was never an appointment scheduled and he didn’t show up at the office, Hebert said.

“He didn’t have an appointment, and he never presented himself there,” she said.

Brooks moved to the East Windsor 4½ years ago from Boston and was comfortable driving to local grocery stores and pharmacies, Hebert said.

“I’m very surprised that the car hasn’t turned up,” Hebert said today. “It’s been five days.”

Brooks’ wife also lives in the East Windsor retirement community but in a separate residence from Brooks, under full-time nurses’ care as a result of a stroke, Hebert said.

Hebert is using Facebook, Twitter and Reddit to circulate photos of her father in hopes of finding him.

“He is a very kind, easily talkative man,” she said. “We’re trying to get more pictures out there versus just the Silver Alert.”

Anyone who comes in contact with Brooks or the vehicle is asked to call 9-1-1 or contact the East Windsor Police Department at (609) 448-5678.

Contact Nicole Mulvaney at nmulvaney@njtimes.com.

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