Alvin Brodish

Alvin Brodish embraced life’s challenges.  He joined the Navy during World War II and served his country even though he did not know how to swim. Born in New York City, he didn’t learn to drive until he married the love of his life, Mary Stone Brodish, and wanted to drive from the church after their ceremony. Al passed away October 22^nd at Salemtowne Retirement Community in Winston-Salem, North Carolina after 98 years of meeting such challenges without ever doubting his ability to handle whatever life might bring. Al was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY to parents who instilled the values of family, tolerance and education. He received his B.A. from Drake University, a M.S. degree from the University of Iowa and his Ph.D. in Physiology from Yale University.  He remained on the faculty at Yale for 12 years, and then moved his young family to Cincinnati, where he served as Professor of Physiology at the University of Cincinnati Medical School.  Dr. Brodish was then recruited to be Chairman of the Physiology and Pharmacology Department at Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. He served 15 years in that capacity until his retirement around 1990. During those years he built a strong and nationally recognized department and was known as a pioneer in the field of Neuroendocrinology. While instructing at Yale, Al met his beloved wife, Mary. They married in 1957. Together, they raised four wonderful children and enjoyed a retirement filled with travel, cruises, fishing and enjoying time with their grown children and nine grandsons. Al was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, and his first son David. He is survived by his other three children, Paul, Joan, and Brian, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Donations may be made in Al’s honor to Salemtowne Retirement Community or Wake Forest University School of Medicine.