Richard Saunders Bromberg

Richard Bromberg passed away in Los Angeles on February 18, 2025, while touring the sites of Hollywood’s Jewish origins with many friends and members of the congregation of Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, Virginia. Rick was born on August 18, 1949, in Newark, New Jersey. His loving parents, Thelma and Irving Bromberg provided him with a wonderful and nurturing environment where he created a deep bond with his sister, Laurie, that continued to the moment of his passing. The love that Rick felt for Laurie encompassed her entire extended family-Laurie’s husband Neal Goldberg, his nieces Hilary, Jane and Kate; their spouses, Matthew, Brent and Paige; and his great-niece Lucy and great-nephews, Jude and Callum. Rick met his wife Fran in 1969 on a blind date, introduced by their special childhood friends Robert Shesser and Suzanne Sahagan Bellamy. On their second date, they watched the moonwalk together. A few years passed, and both were in the process of ending other relationships. On December 23, 1973, they moved in together, and remained inseparable for more than 50 years, marrying on May 30, 1977. The joy of their marriage expanded with the birth of their sons, William in 1978 and Michael in 1982. As soon as they were able, both boys immediately absorbed their father’s love of baseball, music, and film. In fact, Rick began college as a radio, tv, and film major at Northwestern, having already earned the nickname of Ricky Radio, becoming the head of the radio stations in high school, at summer camp, and at the university. By the time he graduated, however, his career goals had shifted. He applied to law school and earned his J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago in 1974. At first, he struggled to find his place as a practicing lawyer. A kind and gentle soul who was always looking to help and root for those who were not as privileged as he was, Rick could never conceive of himself as a corporate lawyer. He soon found his niche as an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of DC. Working with individuals, getting to know them, and helping them solve their problems became his passion. His career and life’s work really took off when he changed jobs to work for an office that provided legal services to union members. One day, a raid at a local hotel led to the arrest of hundreds of undocumented workers. Two hundred files landed on Rick’s desk and voila, he became an immigration lawyer. He built his practice from the ground up, briefly with a partner in the early years, then as a sole practitioner, and finally as a small firm with several partners and rotating legal assistants. The challenges of creating a business from scratch were not without anxiety, and whenever the immigration laws changed, he joked about getting a Domino’s Pizza delivery sign for the top of the car to help make ends meet. In addition to starting his firm, Rick was proud to teach his craft to others as a part-time professor at Antioch Law School. In keeping with his values, Rick’s practice specialized in asylum cases, and his business grew to become one of the most highly regarded immigration firms in the local area, earning mentions on best lawyers’ lists for decades. His firm literally saved the lives of thousands of asylees and their progeny. Many of the legal assistants who worked with him later carried on his legacy by pursuing socially conscious careers in law and other fields. However, his social justice and human rights work did not stop at the doors of his office. Early in his career, he joined the Arlington chapter of Amnesty International, later serving as the chair of the chapter and as state coordinator for Virginia with his wife. At Temple Rodef Shalom, he contributed his expertise to immigration issues and worked to help the refugee and asylum-seeking families that the congregation has supported. When not working, and especially after his retirement, Rick spent his time enthusiastically pursuing his other interests. His passion for film and music never left him. He organized two movie clubs-one at Temple Rodef Shalom and one for the high-school friends with whom he reconnected during the pandemic. Having taught himself the harmonica, Rick helped to organize and publicize the Temple Rodef Shalom Music Jam, which meets monthly to play rock music together. He also joined a group that plays twice a month in Arlington. He formed his first band in his 70s, and they recently played their first-ever open-mic performance. From an early age, Rick enjoyed creating song parodies. In recent years, some of his parodies received recognition in former Washington Post contests while others were created for Temple Rodef Shalom parallel religious services to bring to life Torah portions. Rick struggled with Parkinsons for many years, but the disease never dulled his zest for life. It was particularly evident in his desire to participate fully in every experience, and to make new friends and connect with old ones as he aged. He always had a joke or a pun to add to every conversation or lecture. His life was full of good deeds and love for his family. His pride in his sons was unparalleled. He marveled at Will’s ability to establish a joyous life for himself in Barcelona, where he met his amazing wife Anna and teaches English at a university. He was filled with admiration as Mike began his pursuit of a PhD in Latin American studies, and he joyfully welcomed Mike’s wonderful new wife Leydi into the family. Both of Rick’s sons follow in his footsteps as they have internalized his passion for social justice. All who knew Rick will miss him and feel blessed to have been a part of his life.

Tributes

Richard Saunders Bromberg

August 18, 1949 - February 18, 2025