Jean Lisette Brodey, 85, a public relations professional who taught in Temple University's Journalism Department for more than 25 years, died April 30 at her home in Flourtown.
Dr. Brodey retired in 2005 from Temple, where she taught public relations courses and ran the department's internship program.
She also had been an active public relations professional, serving for a time as public relations director at a community health center.
In 1998 she was inducted into the Hall of Fame, of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association, which created the Dr. Jean Brodey Student Achievement Award to be given to a Philadelphia area college student who shows great promise in the field of public relations.
She also wrote hundreds of poems, some of which were published in national and international publications. A collection of her poetry, titled “My Way to Anywhere” and edited by her daughter, novelist Lisette Brodey, was published in 2013.
Dr. Brodey was born in Philadelphia and received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Pennsylvania State University. Her first job was with the Frank H. Fleer Co., where she edited the firm's internal publication and wrote facts and fortunes for bubble gum wrappers.
After raising her family, she returned to school, earning a master's degree in counseling psychology and a doctorate in education at Temple University. Shortly afterwards, she wrote the book “Mid-Life Careers,” published by Westminster Press in 1983.
Before joining the faculty at Temple, Dr. Brodey had been assistant to the director of the university's Cooperative Education Department. She also had been a leader for Great Books, an adult education program.
She had been a member of the Media Advisory Board of the American Cancer Society, of the Media Advisory Committee of the American Red Cross, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, and the Bar-Media Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association.. She was a member of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the Greater Philadelphia Council on Domestic Violence.
In addition to her daughter, Dr. Brodey is survived by a son, Kenneth, and a granddaughter.
A Facebook page has been set up with information about the memorial reception: facebook.com/DrJeanBrodey.
Memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Jean Brodey Student Achievement Award, Philadelphia Public Relations Association, P.O. Box 579, Moorestown, NJ 08057.
