Obituary: Alan Bronfman

Alan Bronfman, 89, of Boca Raton, Fla., passed away peacefully on Aug. 23.

Alan was born in Kansas City, Mo. Times were tough, and he was helping to support his family, including two disabled younger brothers and two younger sisters, by the time he was 21 years old.

His start was in the icemaker business, with Frigidaire, then a division of General Motors, serving restaurants, hotels, hospitals and bars throughout the Kansas City metro area. Over his lifetime he was a successful serial entrepreneur, from real estate to kitchen appliances and always kept his eyes and ears open for good opportunities.

Our dad liked to say if he had not met the perfect woman, he might have remained single. But in the early 1960s, at roughly 30, he met Vicki Miller, truly the right woman. They married in 1964. They were best friends and partners for nearly 60 years, and, as he liked to say, “marrying Vic was the best decision I ever made.”

Our dad also liked to say, “if I could do it over again, I would not change a thing.” Whether it was playing tennis at Oakwood Country Club in Kansas City or later in life at Boca Point Country Club; attending Chiefs’ football and Kings’ basketball games (he was an original season ticket holder for both franchises); traveling to Vegas with a group of lifelong friends; attending the first Super Bowl or humming along to musicals at Starlight Theater, our dad relished his experiences, truly enjoying life.

He also embraced his community. He founded the Kansas City Youth Corps, chaired the Civic Action Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, was president of the local Optimist Club and served as a lifetime board member of the Kansas City Jewish Community Center and Temple B’nai Jehudah. He was especially proud that he was responsible for changing AAU rules so that girls could play basketball.

Alan was honored for his community service by many civic and religious institutions, including receiving an award from the mayor for his work to rejuvenate downtown Kansas City.

But his greatest love was family. He fully engaged in his kids’ passions and was so proud of them, whether it was their tennis tournaments or, later in life, their successes running a childcare center, conducting a successful therapy practice or working in real estate.

He loved his grandchildren and was so proud of each of them. He also was a supportive uncle and cousin, always finding time for others in his extended family.

Our dad liked to say that the secret to his success was a loving mother who read to him. There is some truth to that, but the secret to his success also included his smarts, kindness, optimism and work ethic. And his great successes survive him, leaving behind a wonderful legacy.

He is survived by his wife, Vicki Bronfman; his children (all of Atlanta), Matt (Ronit Walker), Shana (David Sinkoe) and Darrin (Tara Boadu); his grandchildren, Kyra, Sam, Micah, Ethan and Audrey Bronfman, Leona Sinkoe and Madison and Harrison Boadu; and his many nieces and nephews, who could count on him to lend an ear, offer his advice and conclude with a good story.

He also had an extraordinarily loving and close relationship with his brother, Larry Bronfman. The family wishes to express its appreciation to Luzeth DeOliveira, Joyce Lynn Jordan and Rosine DeJoie for providing him with such good care.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Frances Bronfman, his sisters, Anne Lynne Mandelbaum and Frederika Bronfman, and his brother, Sanford Bronfman. He will be greatly missed by all.

Donations in his memory may be made to The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta or Lynne Cancer Institute of Boca Raton, Fla.

comments