Allan J. Brodsky
November 19, 1932 - July 28, 2024

ALLAN J. BRODSKY: passed away in Silver Spring, MD on Sunday, July 28, 2024 after a brief illness.

Allan was born on November 19, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY to Ralph and Eva (Jollowsky) Brodsky and grew up in Stroudsburg, PA, where his parents ran a women's clothing store. He relished his childhood in a small town in the Poconos where he learned to ski and fish, became a Bar Mitzvah and an Eagle Scout, and had easy access to New York City. There he joined his father on clothing buying trips to the Lower East Side, visited his grandparents, aunts, and uncles in Brooklyn, learned to use chopsticks on trips to Chinatown with his local Boy Scout leader, and enjoyed the first of a lifetime full of musical and theater performances. After graduating from high school at Blair Academy in Blairtown, NJ in 1951, Allan enrolled at Lehigh University. Midway through his studies and at the tail end of the Korean War, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years in Germany, including 3 tours on the National Ski Patrol in the Alps. Allan returned to Lehigh and graduated with a degree in sociology in 1957 and took his first job with the Boy Scouts of America. Across his career he worked for Ketchum, Binney and Smith, and then struck out on his own as a small business owner, focusing on a myriad of business services.

In 1958, Allan married Clementine (Clemmy) Klein, a graduate of Beaver (now Arcadia) College whom he met on a blind date two years prior.  They settled briefly in Williamsport, PA before moving to Pittsburgh, where they lived for 55 years, nearly all of it in Shaler Township before moving to Silver Spring MD in 2015 to be closer to their children. Clemmy predeceased Allan in 2017.

In Pittsburgh, Allan and Clemmy were dedicated to many civic and cultural activities, as well as to the lives of their children Anne (Margaret Chriss) Brodsky and Jay (Lynn Westwater) Brodsky. Allan and Clemmy were one of the founding families of Temple Ohav Shalom, where they both took on many volunteer roles over the years. They were tennis players, active Shaler Area Marching Band parents, and season ticket holders for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Civic Light Opera, Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival, Pittsburgh Public Theater, and Pittsburgh Pirates.  Allan was a member of the North Hills Shaler Library board, the Allegheny County Library Association board, the Glenshaw Kiwanis Club, a docent at the Heinz History Center and played the bagpipes as a member of the Syria Highlanders Shriners band. He was an avid photographer from his time in Germany to his retirement in Maryland who enjoyed doing his own darkroom - and eventually Photoshop -- work. He was a dedicated cheerleader and supporter of Clemmy's fulltime social justice volunteer efforts, serving beside her at events and activities around the Pittsburgh area.

After moving to Riderwood Senior Community in Silver Spring, Allan remained active in the photography club and outings committee, read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Washington Post, and New York Times every day on his iPad, texted daily with his kids, sent emails to friends he and Clemmy had made worldwide, and took full advantage of DC's museums and cultural events.   

Allan was always on the hunt for restaurant recommendations from his friends at Riderwood and reviews in the Post. He took great joy in recommending meals out to try new food with whichever constellations of the family were available and particularly when everyone, including his three granddaughters (Sofia, Julia, Anna) could join in a meal out with the whole family.   

Allan will be remembered for the delight and pride he took in the accomplishments of his wife, children, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters; his strong moral compass, support of women's rights, dedication to service, and respect for education, wisdom, and knowledge; love of classical, jazz, and bluegrass music and abiding interest in sociology, technology, and gadgets; and for possessing a deep appreciation of his full life. 

Graveside Service and Interment will be held on Friday August 2, at 10:30 AM at West View Cemetery of Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh, PA. The family will hold a celebration of Allan's life at Riderwood in Silver Spring, MD in August.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kamala Harris for President https://kamalaharris.com/, The Family and Nursing Care Foundation https://www.familynursingcare.com/foundation/, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra https://give.pittsburghsymphony.org/donate-now, or Blair Academy https://www.blair.edu/all-in-campaign. 

Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel Inc. www.schugar.com

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I’m sincerely very sad loosing Allan, a beautiful friend.

By Mikel ANTHONY - September 11, 2024

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I'm deeply sorry for your loss. I'll never forget Allan's kindness when Clementine and he received me in Pittsburgh in 1997. I'm am with you by the thought. Edouard

By Edouard ANTHONY - August 13, 2024

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I cannot adequately express my deep sorrow in reading of Allan’s passing. I am truly unable to think of my childhood in Pittsburgh without the shining presence of Clemmy and Allan, and their goodness, charity, community and compassion which colours the fabric of my memories, even if it was somewhat remote to me as pre-teen. It was Clemmy’s friendship with my mother Carole, forged at the coal-face of volunteering at “The Y”, which brought these two wonderful people into our family’s lives, and it was my great privilege to remain in contact with them after I married and had children of my own. I have many happy, and funny, memories with Clemmy, and Allan too; they took us for our first ever Krispy Kremes, we laughed together over successful, and less successful, Ikebana flower arrangements in communal classes, Clemmy introduced me to her brand-new grandchild, her shining face a picture of pride and love. I’ll never forget that. They sent presents for my children: cherished items of clothing, a Pirates piggy bank and a “Terrible Towel” which still comes out on game days (and is part of the reason we pay exorbitant rates to watch the NFL here in the UK late at night!). They were unfailingly generous. They are the people that I know I would still have so much to talk about with, whenever and wherever I saw them. They would have loved hearing about my work at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and all of the shows I have seen in London’s West End. Indeed, I wonder if embracing the arts is another thing I learned from them, because I certainly remember vividly, conversations about the symphony et al. Of course, when you encounter a polymath like Allan, you never run out of conversation, and will always find a point of common interest and understanding, but reading about the astounding depth and breadth of his experience, knowledge and interests in the obituary above is humbling. The world is a poorer place without Allan and I pray he is at rest and reunited with Clemmy. I send Jay, Anne, and all of the Brodsky family my deepest condolences and love.

By Sara Thornton - August 05, 2024

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Ann I can still hear your dad talking like it was yesterday. He was such a fun person. My sympathy with all of you Sue Keim

By Sue Keim - August 05, 2024

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We are very sad to hear of your father's passing. The years we lived in Pittsburgh's North Hills has left us with many warm and wonderful memories, in big part, because of your wonderful mother and father, and their friendship. So, we all will have a little hole in our hearts now, with both Clemmy and Allan gone from this world. Our hearts are with you, Anne and Jay, and your families. May your memories of your parents be a source of your own inspiration and happiness, as time goes on.

By Gail and Bob Cranmer - August 02, 2024

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It was with deep sadness I read Anne and Jay's note regarding their father's loss. Allan was an incredible human being and I was lucky to have known him. Clemmy, Allan, Anne, Jay and their entire family have always been, and shall forever remain, in my thoughts and prayers.

By Lynn Connell - August 01, 2024

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It is truly a loss. Allan was one of my favorite cousins, with his quick wit ( and opinions!)! He will be remembered for his devotion to family, love of social justice, myriad of interests, especially playing the bagpipes! May his memory be a blessing.

By Susan Berkow - August 01, 2024

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Jay, we are so sorry for your family’s loss and I’m deeply saddened I never had the opportunity to meet your father. He seemed like an amazing man who had a wonderful life and enriched so many others around him. May his memory be a blessing.

By Susan Brodsky Thalken - July 31, 2024

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It saddens me to read of Alan’s death and it saddens me that I didn’t see more of him recently.What a full life he had….ski patrol? .. I knew nothing of that. I also met my husband on a blind date while at Beaver but my guy was from Lafayette. We Beaver girls knew how to pick them! Clemmy used to phone me from the car while they drove past Rockville on 270 as they were on a visit to see you children. You were lucky to have such wonderful parents. I will happily give a donation to Kamala Harris’s campaign in Alan’s name.

By Carol Vorosmarti - July 31, 2024

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We have lost a true Friend. He now joins the love of his life Clemmy. I and my Family will always remember them. It was their tireless volunteering with the North Hills Jewish Community Center and then Temple Ohav Shalom becoming a beacon in the Notth Hills for Jewish Families. All our Love and support to Ann and Jay and their Families.

By Paul Herman - July 31, 2024

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