Obituary of Duffy Brodsky

Duffy Brodsky passed away on January 7, 2023. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to the late Edith Bernstein and Ferdinand Westheimer (later Weston). The Westheimer's were a storied and well-connected Reform Jewish family. Her Victorian upbringing taught her all sorts of womanly skills including cooking, sewing, typing, interacting respectfully with valued household employees, and assembling a trousseau of monogramed linens and tableware. Her family also owned a farm. She could tell you every step from the chicken yard to the chicken dinner. During World War II, Duffy and her mother served their country by picking beans. Her father served by doing secret work. He was a pilot, and died in a plane crash when Duffy was 15. Duffy grew into quite the socialite, and was known for her vivacity and physical beauty. Her grandmother introduced her to Bill Brodsky a young pediatrician from Philadelphia, and they married not long after in 1950. They grew their family in Louisville, KY, where Bill was a medical researcher. Duffy loved camping, and organized family camping and fishing trips to many locations from Tennessee to Gloucester, MA, and various Midwestern states. She also was a Girl Scout leader, and taught camping skills to other GS leaders. In 1968, Bill moved his research team to New York, and the family settled in Larchmont, NY. Duffy brought along her Southern hospitality, and the door was always open to the kids' high school friends, in whose lives she enjoyed being involved. She loved dogs, politics, eating, cooking, throwing elaborate dinner parties, painting, drawing, and writing. She volunteered as a Meal on Wheels driver for many years, and with a Jewish nursing home in New Rochelle. She was a devoted member of Larchmont Temple, where she became a bat mitzvah at age 63. Despite a severe hearing impairment, she was able to learn and chant her Torah portion on that day. As they aged, Bill needed more care, so she and Bill moved to Willow Towers assisted living. There she helped take care of Bill until he died in 2007. She organized a Shabbat observance, was President of the Resident Council for a number of years, loved attending art and exercise classes, and arguing with her best friend, who was much older than she. She spent the last 2 and ½ months of her life in Saint Louis, MO, and died peacefully with a beatific smile on her face at Evelyn's House hospice in Creve Coeur, MO. She was known for her intellect, forthrightness, friendliness, generosity, hospitality, and her extreme sense of humor. She never failed to surprise, amuse, and at times, shock, everyone with "Duffyisms" that were hilarious, sardonic, original, and spontaneous. She was a "hands on mother", and loved giving advice to her children, and all sorts of other people. She was a Franklin Roosevelt Democrat with a deep sense of responsibility to people who are less fortunate than she was. She had no tolerance for injustice, racism, stinginess, lies, government intrusion into people's personal lives, violence, or guns. She occupied an outsize place in the lives of many people. Duffy is survived by her children, Lynne Brodsky of Boston, Lisa Ring and her husband Gregory Storch of Saint Louis, and Abigail Brodsky of Boston; her grandchildren Rebecca Ring and her husband Ethan Liederman of Denver, and Jo Russo of Boston; many cousins; and "The Mafia", which besides Lynne and Lisa, includes Hilary, Carol and Karen. In lieu of flowers and other gifts, the family invites you to send donations to: BJC Foundation for Hospice / Evelyn's House in Saint Louis, MO, Larchmont Temple in Larchmont, NY, United Hebrew Geriatric Foundation in New Rochelle, NY, or the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, AL. ARRANGEMENTS are under the supervision of Rone Funeral Service, 1110 East Chestnut Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360 To send online condolences please visit our website at www.RONEFUNERALSERVICE.com