March 14, 2020, Portland, Maine
Major: Political Economy
Williams service
- Class Associate Agent
- Class Associate Agent
- Class Associate Agent
Williams relatives
- Mrs. Paula K. Broydrick H’74 (Surviving Spouse/Partner)
Date reported: March 18, 2020
March 14, 2020, Portland, Maine
Major: Political Economy
Williams service
Williams relatives
Date reported: March 18, 2020
Frank Baciewicz sent:
Great guy. Unbelievable attitude given his situation and the definition of resilience.
Wish I had half his toughness.
Brian Lockwood wrote:
Sorry for our loss, Rich (Levy) so sorry for your loss. i think you knew steve well. i know he had a really tight group of friends at Williams, notwithstanding that he was friendly to everyone. i will remember steve in my prayers. let’s hope this kind of news isn’t going to come in threes.
Chris Potter wrote:
Very sad news indeed. Thanks Rich and Fran for the very appropriate and personal remembrance. We miss you, Steve.
Jeff and Audrey Elliot reported:
PORTLAND, ME — Stephen C Broydrick, 67, passed away on March 14, after a spirited 24 year debate with brain cancer. He actually won that debate – his most recent surgery revealed no additional cancer – but the surgery left him with deficits he was not able to overcome.
There is deep and abiding sadness among his family and friends, but great relief that he no longer feels the effects of his struggle and can finally shoot hoops with the best of them.
The family is profoundly grateful to the outstanding medical professionals who have graced Steve’s path over the years. Most recently, our abiding gratitude goes to the remarkable staff at The Cedars for their caring and attention as Steve took his final steps toward heaven.
Born in 1952 in Boston to Walter (Bibs) and Priscilla Broydrick, Steve began life in Braintree which ensured a lifelong love of the Boston Red Sox and Celtics.
He caught a ball that was tossed to him by Carl Yasztremski when he was about 6, and we still have the ball in a place of honor. In fact, Steve sang the National Anthem at Fenway and at a Spring Training game in Florida. Visiting the Garden for a Celtics game was exciting well beyond childhood, especially when Steve brought his son to a game.
Steve grew up in Clark’s Summit, PA. He graduated from Abbington Heights High School and Williams College in MA. While at Williams, he became an accomplished guitarist and used his musical prowess as a chick magnet. He also majored in political economy, which has been an abiding interest in his life. He moved to Wisconsin to help his brother win his state legislative race, and then launched his career in cable television sales in Portland for Home Theater Network, followed by a stint with the Times Mirror cable movie service, Spotlight, in Los Angeles.
It was during their stay in LA that Steve and his wife, Paula, decided to come back to Maine so he could start his own customer service training company, which he ran successfully for 18 years, including the publication of two books and providing customized seminars to industries as varied as cable tv and medical practices. His passion was to encourage people to improve their own attitudes and bring that positive outlook to their work and customers.
Steve’s own positive attitude made life worth living during the 24 years since his brain cancer diagnosis. Though diminished in his public speaking ability, he was undiminished in his effort to remain positive, to accept what life brought and face it with courage and good humor. The foundation for his strength was his faith in a loving God and his devotion to the Catholic church. He made a difference in all of our lives.
Steve was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Lynne Louise Broydrick. He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Paula; his son, Kevin, daughter-in-law, Bridget; and his precious granddaughter, Clodagh, who made Steve smile just by saying, “Hi, Pops.” He is also survived by his brother Bill and his wife, Cindi; his brother-in-law, Bob Kline; and nieces and nephews whom he treasured.
Steve would be honored by any contributions you’d like to make to your favorite charity. He believed strongly in generosity.
A memorial celebration will be planned at a time when the corona virus is not a limiting factor, and will probably involve bowling.
Robert Fogarty wrote:
So sorry to hear this. Stay healthy and positive.
Charles Dropkin contributed:
OMG. We live in very challenging and uncertain times. Steve was a wonderful classmate. I am at a loss for words.
Grace Paine Terzian wrote: Very sad…
Mark Brown added: Very sad news indeed. Steve was an engaging presence when we were at Williams, and was a particular friend of my wife Hope during her Williams years. He did the best that was possible with the lousy hand he got dealt post Williams. Sad to know we will not see him again.
John Bonn wrote:
That’s really sad news. Sophomore year, Steve got himself a 12 string guitar and worked hard at learning to play it. His signature piece was Sweet Judy Blue Eyes. It rang through Currier on many an occasion. Somehow, when Steve was performing it, you just wanted to sing along — and we did.
Billy Suda added: Really, really great guy.
Rich Levy wrote: Fran Doran informed me that our classmate Steve Broydrick died on Friday night, March 13. His wife Paula reached out to Fran with the very sad news. Fran writes:
“Paula is really an amazing woman who gave of herself gladly, and provided Steve a lifetime of love, support and joy. Together they have one great son, Kevin. Kevin is married and he and his wife have a beautiful little granddaughter, Cladagh (an Irish name). Funeral arrangements are in flux, with a memorial Service to be held sometime later given the Covid situation. Steve was always a person who had great faith. He had a brain tumor removed about 25 years ago and was a last minute cancellation for our 45th reunion. Williams was one of the highlights of his life. He cherished the friends and memories he made there, and spoke often about those days in the Purple Valley. This fall he had a follow up surgery and never recovered from the impact of that. He was a good guy.”
Indeed, he was a really good guy. Please think of him and his family, remembering that we should all give thanks for the gift of life and the sacred gift of memory.
On behalf of the Office of College Relations, I regret to inform you, the agents and officers for the Class of 1974, of the death of one of your classmates. Mr. Stephen C. Broydrick passed away on 03/14/2020. Should you wish to contact the family, the last known residence was: 90 Longview Drive , Portland, ME, 04103-2231. On behalf of your Williams family, please accept our condolences for the Class of 1974’s loss. If you have any questions about this notification, don’t hesitate to be in touch.
Sincerely, Ashley Weeks Cart ’05 Associate Director of Alumni Relations