Akron Magazine - Winter 2010 - (Page 24)

ALUmNI NEWs Alum Organizes Annual Memorial Walk to Raise Scholarship Funds Bob and Carol’s children followed in their parents’ footsteps attending and graduating from St. Paul’s School. “I have been able to work with many exceptional individuals because of Carol,” Bob says. “Her focus on improving our community has allowed me to continue her work and vision, while providing the guidance to find my own professional path as well. Working at St. Paul’s and staying with nursing and its tremendous support network energizes me and gives me the fuel to transform lives at school, in the neighborhood and throughout Akron.” Bob Brodbeck with a Kindergarten class at St. Paul’s Elementary Zippys on Parade Joe kelly (BS’85, BS ‘89) is pictured with sons, Joe, age 8, and Brian, age 6, who wanted to be Zippy for Halloween. Also in the photo is daughter, Erin, age 3. According to Joe’s wife, Tricia, the boys won 2nd place in the Ellet Fall Festival costume contest, and received lots of “Go Zippy!” cheers along the parade route. Bob Brodbeck (B.S. Ed ’80; M.S. Ed ‘93) knows that nursing transforms. The scholarship established in the name of his late wife, Carol Brodbeck, is testament to that belief. Throughout her life, Carol lived the mission of the UA College of Nursing, “Transforming lives through caring, competence and commitment.” In her position as coordinator of the Outreach Program, she led the College’s efforts in the accelerated nursing program, which is designed to help individuals establish a second career in the nursing profession. The passion and belief Carol brought to this program was the reason that her named scholarship provides assistance to the accelerated BSN students. On the first Saturday of every November, Bob organizes the Carol A. Brodbeck Memorial Walk, which raises funds for the scholarship. This celebration of life draws many of Carol’s family, friends and nursing colleagues to the Coventry Oaks path in Firestone Metropolitan Park. Bob’s decision to give back continues to be manifested in other ways. Following a distinguished 23-year career in the Akron Public Schools as a teacher and administrator, Bob made the decision to become the principal of St. Paul’s School, located on Brown Street in Akron. Coming to St. Paul’s was a homecoming for Bob. As a child in the 1960’s Bob attended St. Paul’s, where he first met Carol. The two became friends and continued this friendship during high school, nursing school and college. In 1974, while Carol was on Christmas break from her baccalaureate program in Nursing at St. Louis University, the two were married. In 1977, Bob returned to school at The University of Akron, while he and Carol were raising a family in the St. Paul’s neighborhood. During his tenure with Akron Public Schools, | 24 |

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Akron Magazine - Winter 2010

Akron Magazine - Winter 2010