Irving Broudy, 80, business owner, civic leader

Irving Broudy, 80, formerly of Narberth, a retired company owner and community leader, died Dec. 5 of pneumonia at Saunders House in Wynnewood.

Mr. Broudy grew up in North Philadelphia above his father Arthur's plumbing supply store. He and his brother Jules eventually took over the business, which later became Broudy Precision in Conshohocken, a distributor of heating and air-conditioning parts and products. The family sold the firm in 2006.

During his 40 years of civic leadership, Mr. Broudy served as president of the Golden Slipper Club from 1967 to 1969; president of the Jewish Y from 1975 to 1977; chairman of the board of the William Likoff Cardiovascular Institute of Hahnemann Hospital from 1992 to 1993; and past president of the Philadelphia chapter of the American Jewish Committee.

In 1985, he was a founder of Operation Understanding and remained on its advisory board. The organization aims to improve relations between African American and Jewish teenagers in the Philadelphia area and to instill an appreciation for diversity.

His family said Mr. Broudy loved to recall earlier times at the Golden Slipper Club, where he had lunch with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and danced with Lady Bird Johnson.

Mr. Broudy worked for his father after graduating from Northeast High School and didn't have the opportunity to go to college until late in life. He was fascinated with learning, his family said, and he took classes with friends at the University of Pennsylvania, where he served on the board of the senior auditing program.

Mr. Broudy is survived by his wife of 25 years, Elaine Axelman Broudy; son David; daughter Linda Fieldstone; stepsons Bart, Michael, and Mark Axelman; seven grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his former wife, Rosalie Small Broudy.

The funeral was Dec. 7 at Levine & Sons Memorial Chapel in Trevose. Entombment was in the Roosevelt Memorial Park Mausoleum in Trevose.

Donations may be made to Operation Understanding, 30 S. 15th St., Philadelphia 19102.