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Richard A. Brosio

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Ball State University University of Michigan University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

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Richard Brosio Obituary

Brosio, Richard A. Died peacefully at his home with his family at his side on January 8, 2016 at the age of 77. Resident of Glendale. Loving husband for 32 years and best friend of Martha (nee Risberg) Brosio. Father of Tony (Feather) Brosio and step-father of Greg (Ellen), Michael (Marcella), and David (Mary) Francis. Further survived by many grandchildren. Richard received his B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He was Professor Emeritus from Ball State University, and in retirement was an Adjunct Professor at UWM. Richard was the author of numerous articles, as well as monographs on John Dewey and the Frankfurt School, and wrote A Radical Democratic Critique of Capitalist Education - a book that was a recipient of the American Educational Studies Association's Critics' Choice Award in 1994. He also authored Philosophical Scaffolding for the Construction of Critical Democratic Education. For Richard there was no limit in challenging the mind, and no hesitation in sharing those challenges with all who had the privilege of knowing him. Private family services were held. Memorials in Richard's name appreciated to the Alzheimer's Association, 620 S. 76th Street, Suite 160, Milwaukee, WI 53214.

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Published by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Jan. 13, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Brosio

Sponsored by Feerick Funeral Home - Shorewood.

22 Entries

David Capes

May 24, 2020

Richard was my high school teacher in San Diego in the late 60s. He was much beloved, opening our minds to the world--instilling a life-long curiosity in his students. I feel privileged to have shared a sliver of his time line. I will remember his strength and humor. Loved him!!!

Carolyn Myers

June 18, 2017

I know it is late to add a comment. I attended a friend's teacher-of-the-year award party yesterday and we each spoke of the teacher from our own life who should get the award. Like others who have written, easily Mr Brosio was the teacher who changed my life. Entering his World Affairs class 1967-68 I was still representing my family's Republicans and Christians -- and on one memorable exchange he shouted at me, "I don't know who you are, but Myers you are no Republican!"
I often wondered over the next decades of leftist political involvement, if he had any idea of how foundational his brilliant combination of teaching philosophical fundamentals of Western thought combined with the weekly TIME magazine current events would be. His students left his class believing both that They can and must think for themselves and that they have a duty to stay engaged in society. I hope his students can gather at our 50th high school reunion and celebrate this great teacher.

Joel R. Dennstedt

May 29, 2017

Mr. Brosio was perhaps the most intelligent teacher I ever had. He was my World History teacher in 10th grade at Crawford, but more importantly my World Affairs teacher in 12th. He had a most measurable effect on my ability to think. He taught us to consider everything for ourselves, and once called a paper I wrote: a minor gem ... a truly high compliment coming from him. He made us read Time magazine cover to cover every week, and then tested us on what we read. It was the first time I ever concentrated on current affairs, and I never stopped. He even had his class over to his house one time. I remember his whistling and continued walking when the entire school was "made" to stand at attention each morning for the playing of the national anthem ... a protest for which I had great admiration and respect. He made us study the Vietnam war - for which he was an avid and early opponent - but he insisted that we come to terms with our own responsibility and response. I have thought about him often throughout my life, and am so sorry to hear about his death. Only two teachers had such a profound influence on my life. They never really know, do they. My best wishes and condolences to his family.

Tom Collins

February 4, 2017

I attended Mr. Brosio's World History class when Goldwater was running for president. My dad could not believe my political choices were affected by Brosio. Besides the political passion which was so opposite 1964 San Diego, there were anecdotes from his youth, which would not go well today, but were highly entertaining illustrations to support lecture topics. Rather than historical occurrences, the class covered philosophical underpinnings for historical events and how they correlated. The Italian socialist effort did not concern him as Italians would always be Italian first.
My senior counselor allowed me to transfer into his World Affairs class in 1966, similar perspective, but many of the anecdotes were replaced with current affairs topics; the Viet Nam conflict was ramping up and Brosio was anti-war, again not so common for mid-60's San Diego.
Always on the lookout for intelligence, Brosio made it easy to participate. Of all the teachers I had through high school, Brosio is best remembered!

January 23, 2017

I spent five short months at Crawford - but time enough for Brosio to rattle my brain, scramble my sensibilities and challenge my complacent rear end. Like one of those rockets of his he sent me on a trajectory for which, all things considered, I will always be grateful. I haven't seen or spoken to him since those days, but I will miss him.

Geoff LaFond '67

Sandra

December 29, 2016

Recently, I was talking to someone about one of the best courses ever taught, which sent me in search of Dr. Brosio. I was one of Dr. Brosio's graduate students at UW-Milwaukee . I was sadden to learn that he passed away. He was a brillant and passionate individual who loved Martha. He will be greatly missed.

Dana Stumpf Bear Dietz

December 5, 2016

As many expressed here, Richard was a really, really good teacher. He made every student think, often by discussing taboo topics. One of two best teachers I ever had at any level of my education. Sort of amazing to realize he was only 10 tears older than us in his high school classes. Wonder what he's thinking re the recent election ;-)

Lisa Howey

September 14, 2016

Dr. Brosio taught my Foundations of Education class at Ball State University. Of all of the professors I had in my college career, Richard was my favorite. I will never forget the day he talked to us about ADA. He told a story of the day it occurred to him that people in wheelchairs couldn't go to the bathroom by themselves because no one had thought to mandate stalls big enough. He wept as he told the story, and I wept with him. We met many times after that to talk about Vietnam, rewriting curriculum, women's rights, and so much more. May God bless you all and hold you in His arms.

Gail Fogelman

March 12, 2016

Mr Brosio was my high school Workd Affairs teacher at Crawford High School in the mid-60's. I have to say that he changed my life....he taught me to think for myself and not to just go with the status quo. He was a creative teacher and engaged the students in the learning process. I will always remember the class field trip to see Dr Zhivago and the subsequent class discussions. Mr Brosio is a man who made a difference in the world and left his positive influence on many students behind. He will always be in my memories.
Gail Schindler Fogelman

February 2, 2016

We were friends with Richard and Martha in the early '90s at Ball State. We always enjoyed their company and had many interesting conversations with Richard. Please accept our condolences. The KI selica Family

Jerry Slauter

January 29, 2016

I first attended Richard's undergraduate class at Ball State in the summer of 1974. Richard and his teaching/thinking style had a huge impact upon my life. I took every class I could with him up through my post graduate years. He was far more than my teacher. He truly was a friend. He visited me in my teaching situations after college and was a guest speaker at several ISTA conferences and conventions. Richard will be missed.

John Buschman

January 28, 2016

As I wrote to a friend of Richard's who reached out to me: "I suspect there's more than just you & me out there - he affected my career and how I've shaped it probably more than he knew."

Lorna McLeod

January 22, 2016

Please accept my condolences for you Martha and your family..I graduated with Dick and was a friend of Lillian's.

Gloria Kershner

January 18, 2016

I was a student in Dr. Brosio's class as part of my Multi-Cultural Education minor at Ball State. I was shy about speaking up in class and will always be grateful to him for his direct and non-apologetic manner of expressing his priorities(his family as a main one), beliefs, and values as it boosted the process of me sorting my values and beliefs and being willing to express them. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, as is my gratitude for their sharing this wonderful person with us.

Karen Alexander neé Brown

January 18, 2016

I"m glad to see I'm not the only student who loved Dr. Brosio....ABSOLUTELY one of my favorite professors I had at BSU! Dr Brosio taught us to critically think and evaluate, synthesize and analyze...all the things that are Social Studies education goals.....I remember his memorable 'gesture' as well....and the Italian that went along with it! Dr. B....you made an impact and I hope you knew it.....Godspeed.....XOXO

Wendy Aston (née Bigelow)

January 17, 2016

I had the good fortune of studying World Affairs with Mr Brosio in Hugh school back in 1966. He had a profound impact on my life and the lives of many students he taught. I have often thought of him through the years and although we often debated and disagreed with him he truly did open my eyes to a bigger world than I knew. My condolences to the family. He was an amazing teacher.

Jodi Buckley

January 16, 2016

Brosio family, I know it's a difficult time for your family right now. I never had an opportunity to meet this man that others speak so highly of, but I do know that he raised a kind, caring, thoughtful and giving son in Tony. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Phil Catalfo

January 15, 2016

It's impossible for me to imagine what my life might have been like had I not encountered Richard Brosio. As a teacher, a mentor, an inspiration, and a friend, he influenced me in ways too large and variegated (one of the many words I learned from him) to catalog. His passion and commitment will always burn within me. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and all who loved him. RIP, Richard, and thanks for all the many lessons you taught me. "La lotta continua!"

Donna Brenner-Cohen

January 15, 2016

I was a student of amr. Broiso' s in 1968 at Crawford High School. He was the one person who encouraged and taught us to think for ourselves, search for what was meaningful to us as individuals. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have gone to college. I was always afraid for him there, he was ahead of his time in San Diego, certainly far ahead in his thinking and teaching than anyone else at Crawford. I have thought about him often since graduating in 1968. I wish I could have let him know what an inspiration and impact he was on my life. H is certainly gone too soon. I will always treasure the fact that I had known him and that he was such a great influence on me and so many others.

Scott Shaw!

January 15, 2016

Richard Brosio was one of the very best teachers i ever had and certainly one of the most unique personalities that San Diego's Will C. Crawford will ever see. He taught "Social Studies" but really, he treated such a mundane label as "Sociology", which in 1967 and 1968, invited countless discussions about subjects that had never been spoken if in >gasp!< high school. Mr. Brosio was a passionate progressive and man, did he launch us into thinking a lot of heavy thoughts at a very heavy time in American history. The countercultural revolution hadn't quite hit Crawford by then, but Mr. Brosio's class was so unlike any other I'd even taken -- positively subversive -- that I ditched my Physical Education hour of pain to sit throug a SECOND class taught by Mr. Brosio. When, after three months, I was finally busted, the school's staff enforcers didn't even know how to react; Brosio ignited such a following that a kid would ditch gym to get SMARTER? Unheard of!!! He encouraged me to use my cartooning to speak my mind and seemed to know that, as straight as I was, that I was doomed to become one of Al Capp's "Students Wildly Indignant about Nearly Everything". I've never forgotten the grief my parents gave me after reading Mr. Brosio's comment on my final report card, "A clever devil." It takes one to know one. R.I.P. Richard A. Brosio.

Pamela Burroughs

January 15, 2016

Mr. Brosio was my favorite teacher at Crawford High School in 1963. Now that I see his age, I know why. He was just 7 years older than we, his students. His vibrant teaching and personality kept us all enthralled. May he rest in peace.

Alzheimer's Association of Southeastern Wisconsin

January 13, 2016

On behalf of everyone here at the Alzheimer's Association - thank you so much for thinking of us at this time of loss to your family. Memorial donations made in Richard's name will be put to immediate use serving families and supporting research. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Tom Hlavacek, Executive Director

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