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Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
September 7, 2007
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Ron’s “to-do” list by JOAN K. MARCUS After a year of recuperation and tests, Ron was free to Before M. Ronald Brodkey retired, he used to keep a pursue his list. He volunteered at a golf course and list of things that he wanted to do when he quit work- claims he had more fun than the golfers. After the golf ing. High on his list was volunteering at the Nebraska course was sold, Ron fulfilled another of his dreams and Humane Society, straightening his basement, playing became an Adoption Counselor at the Nebraska golf and other jobs. Humane Society. After retirement six years ago, he says, “I love to inter“I walked in there and told them I am nuts about aniact with people and always knew that first and foremost, mals and I needed a job. They enrolled me in an orienI need to be around people.” tation, but I knew what I wanted to do. When you help Ron remembers that his mother, Helen Brodkey, was a family of four adopt an animal, you’ve done five always involved in volunteer activities and she set an mitzvot at one time; touching the lives of all four memexample for him to follow. “Mom was president of prac- bers in the family and the life of the animal. Just think of tically everything Jewish in Omaha! She taught me I all of the lives that I get to touch!” he smiles. didn’t always have to get paid for doing things. She “I shadowed another Adoption Counselor until I felt always talked about doing mitzvot and taught my broth- I could handle every situation. As I’ve gotten more er and me by her example.” knowledgeable, I’ve learned more about the animals. I He recalls that “Mom ran the Hadassah Bargain Box already knew about people because I had been in the and I answered the telephone in the evenings when retail business for so long. In 45 minutes, I can make a women called in the results of how many aluminum cans friend for life.” or nylon stockings they He went on to say, had collected and what “The Humane Society they had sold at the store. adopts out more than My dad, David Brodkey, 8000 animals a year and I was busy earning a living, get to talk to hundreds of but he always stressed people each year, too. that we should give I’ve met all kinds of peowhenever and as much as ple who have come to we could. Mom did all of adopt pets.” this as a volunteer.” After the application Ron grew up working process for pets is comat Brodkey Jewelry plete, Brodkey gets the Company, the family chance to talk to them. “I business. “In the sumfigure out their lifestyle mers when I came home and try to get a feeling for from school, they sent me where this furry being out to small towns to will end up living. If they substitute for managers have another dog at when they were on vacahome, they need to bring tion. Retail jewelry busithat dog and other family ness is where you spend members before they 70 hours a week trying to adopt another animal.” make a living. I never had He explained, “When any spare time for volunI have matched someone teer work.” up with a pet, carry it out A 1954 graduate of to their car and put it in Central High, Brodkey the arms of children who attended he University of Ron Brodkey, now retired, spends a lot of his time volunteering at have never had a dog Oklahoma at Norman the Nebraska Humane Society. before, there is no greater where he earned a degree in business administration in mitzvah. I close the door and wave to them as they drive 1958. After that, it was off to the army to fulfill his mil- out,” he explained. itary obligation. In 1959, he married his college sweet“For me, that is an adrenalin rush that surpasses anyheart, Beth Gladstein, and they returned to Omaha thing. It’s the nicest, warmest feeling in the world and where Ron rejoined his family’s business. He worked at sometimes I do that three or four times a day. You can Brodkey Jewelers for 41 years until 2000. only imagine how I feel when I go home. Just think of Even during the years that Ron was working, he was a the interesting people I meet when I go volunteer member of the Temple Israel Board of Directors, and its there.” Budget, Personnel Practices, Finance and Dues The late Morton Richards was president of the Equalization Committees. He was also on the boards of Humane Society Board and told Brodkey there was no the Jewish Federation and JCC and a member of the way to describe the feeling you get when you go there. Buildings and Grounds Committee. “I sandwiched this “So, about 10 years ago, I followed his advice and he volunteer work in between traveling out of town to was right. There’s just no way to describe the feeling.” stores and working nights.” Another passion for Brodkey has been his tireless work Another longtime volunteer job was Ron’s interest in in campaigning for organ donations. Since two of his the Cosmopolitan Club -- an organization in the gener- good friends have been the recipients of transplanted al community that raised money for worthy causes. organs, he began working with the Temple’s social jusIn August of 2000, Beth sold her store -- Bags and tice committee as an umbrella organization, to advocate Baggage -- and Ron says, “I probably wouldn’t have for people to donate their organs after death. thought about retiring but, when Beth sold the store, Panel discussions with doctors from the Lied she seemed to be having so much fun.” Transplant Center, flyers on holiday grocery bags, He noticed how “She would get up in the mornings notices on grocery collection bags and announcements and tell me she didn’t have to go to work. It was going in Temple Tidings have all been part of Ron’s educato be another day in paradise! She bragged that there tional work. wouldn’t be any inventory, checks to write, employees “If someone signs a donation card, they save eight or theft. So, I decided to join her.” lives. That’s why I speak at schools with professionals Unfortunately, Ron’s volunteer list had to be put on and we offer information about organ donations,” he hold for a year because he had a stroke on the very day says. that he retired. “I was packing up the stuff in my office Another project on Ron’s list is a possible exhibit at and I began to feel ‘funny,’” he recalled. the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society about small town Jewish life in Nebraska. “I’m on the board of NJHS and EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE they voted to do this with a grant from Sandra Kully The Jewish Press office will be closed for Rosh Freed. Then, someone said that I would help with the Hashanah, Thursdays & Fridays, Sept. 13-14; Sukkot, project. I work on it on my spare time. We have found Sept. 27-28; and Shemini Azeret/Simchat Torah, Oct. 425 cities in Nebraska with more than 100 Jewish fami5. Deadlines for the following issues are at 9 a.m.: lies statewide.” Issue Deadline In addition to serving as a role model for his grandson, Sept. 21 Tuesday, Sept. 11 Ari Brodkey, Ron works weekends as, of all things, a Oct. 5 Tuesday, Sept. 25 motorcycle salesman. “I’m the greeter when people Oct. 12 Tuesday, Oct. 2 come into the showroom. At age 13, I got a motorcycle Questions? Call 402.334.6448 for information on subfor my Bar Mitzvah; I still love riding. When motorcycle mitting articles, photos, ads, and announcements, as well guys come into the showroom, they look at me in disas synagogue schedules. belief.”