Barbara "Bobbi" Brodsky

Barbara “Bobbi” Brodsky (nee Levis), age 87, passed away peacefully while surrounded by her loving family on June 1, 2025. She was predeceased by the love of her life and best friend the late Harvey Brodsky and her adoring daughter, the late Lori Brodsky. She is survived by her loving and most caring daughter Marjorie Brodsky, beloved brother-in-law Melvyn Brodsky (Penny), niece Stephanie Mittman (Brian), nephew Matthew Baker (Marisa) and devoted cousins Kevin Levensten (Alyssa), Scott Levensten (Tara), Joelyn Levensten (Neal), and Harriet Vitale.

Bobbi, a true woman of substance, began her life’s journey in West Philadelphia and then Wynnefield, PA. She attended Harcum College, where she graduated with a Degree in Medical Technology. She then secured a position as a medical technician working for a doctor who was the head of the rheumatology department at Jefferson Hospital. That early exposure to the importance and benefits of outstanding medical care would prove to be pivotal in her life. Bobbi dedicated her life to philanthropic endeavors at a pace and breadth that will leave a lasting legacy on our community. She was committed to maintaining Philadelphia area hospitals at the very top in the nation. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Bobbi established the Barbara Brodsky Comprehensive Breast Center at Bryn Mawr Hospital and provided funding for the purchase of cutting-edge equipment and to attract top notch doctors with the goal of eradicating the disease. The opening of the Brodsky Suites at Lankenau Hospital afforded families the opportunity to be with their loved ones in a world-class hospital environment and she provided funding for numerous acquisitions of high-tech equipment to enhance the hospital’s capabilities to deliver the highest level of care. Funding was also provided to Saunders House to assist them in acquiring updated equipment needed to help those in need of rehabilitation services.

Knitting to help chemo patients at the Lankenau Clinic and Knitting with a Mission at the Brodsky Center to assist the homeless in our area had a special place in Bobbi’s heart. Research in the healthcare sector is paramount to helping families cope with terrible diseases and her inspirational gifts to Main Line Hospitals and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia enabled those institutions to attract the very best in medical personnel to study, treat, research and perhaps cure a host of illnesses for many decades to come. Making sure that the unique challenges facing underprivileged children and children and adults with special needs drove Bobbi to make additional inspirational gifts to The Franklin Institute and Philadelphia Zoo to enable those constituencies to participate in their programs and be exposed to the wonders of nature, science and technology. Opening up hundreds of thank you notes over the years from underprivileged children and children and adults with special needs would fill her days with joy and a sense of awe at how much of an impact she had on the community.

Bobbi also spent years searching on the Main Line for a location for the Jewish Family and Children Service of Greater Philadelphia to erect a building where the entire community could obtain programing and education as well as providing enhanced programs for those with special needs and in need of other social services. This quest ultimately led to the building of the Barbara and Harvey Brodsky Enrichment Center in 2015 in Merion Pennsylvania which acts as a beacon to all those in the community desiring assistance as well as providing educational classes for adults and families covering a broad range of topics and interests. Her dedication to the survival of the State of Israel prompted her to fund programs for young soldiers who served in the Israeli Defense Forces (including those that became disabled in the service of their country) to enable them to obtain a college education after serving their country and for children who lost a father, mother or other family member in the struggle for Israel’s survival so that they could attend camp in the United States to help in the healing process. Making sure those with special needs could also have the opportunity to travel to Israel and experience its wonders resulted in her sponsoring a trip to Israel for 18 adults with special needs and staff to assist them and was memorialized in a pictorial display located at the Brodsky Enrichment Center.

Bobbi traveled extensively around the world with her devoted Harvey and was a true “foodie” who wasn’t ashamed to tell you what she thought of a meal and wasn’t too proud to tell you that nothing made her happier than a fresh box of dark chocolate Wynnewood’s from Jagielky’s. She delighted in entertaining family and friends, had a vitality, creativity and passion for fashion and decorating and relished the opportunity to interact with family and friends seeking her guidance and prospective on life’s everyday issues. Only a marriage made in heaven could provide Bobbi with the strength to overcome the many obstacles she and her beloved Harvey faced throughout the years. Attention to detail and providing her great eye for making a dedicated space feel like a safe haven for all in need is what she strived to achieve in each of her projects. Bobbi was an avid reader, loved attending the theater, movie openings and enjoyed her weekly Mahjong game (win or lose). She leaves a strong legacy of a loving mother and friend and was a true personification of “joie de vivre”. She always said she wanted to leave this world knowing that she had made it a better place and she most assuredly did.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service at West Laurel Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Interment where she shall rest in peace next to her husband and daughter will be private and shall occur prior to the Memorial Service. Contributions in her memory may be made to Bryn Mawr Hospital in support of the Barbara Brodsky Comprehensive Breast Center, Lankenau Hospital in support of the Lori Brodsky Volunteer Service Award Fund or to a charity of your choice.