Harold C. "Hal" Broderick

Harold C. "Hal" Broderick Passed away suddenly at his home in Sonoma, CA, on Friday, April 14, 2006 at the age of 81 years and 6 days. He was pre-deceased by his parents Harold and Laura (Lloyd) Broderick; and two sisters, Barbara Broderick and Carol (Broderick) Thorburn. He is survived by two nieces, Wendy (Don) McIntosh and family from Palm Desert; Margaret (Ken) Guther and family from Escondido; and two nephews, David (Jill) Thorburn and family from Bonsall; Harold Broderick from Orange. In Sonoma he is survived by his friend and partner, Calvin Vander Woude; and his ever faithful dog, Ivory. He is also survived by his long time friend/confidant and secretary, Fran Muca, Palm Springs. Born in Oakland, Hal received his degree in business administration from the University of Texas, Austin, attended California College of Arts and Crafts, and graduated from the Rudolf Schaeffer School of Design, San Francisco. He was a very proud member of the US Navy. He spent three years as a designer at W & J Sloane before co-founding Arthur Elrod Limited in Palm Springs in 1953. His commercial design projects include the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center, Rancho Mirage; Bergreen and Bergreen Law Offices, New York; Johnson and Johnson Publishing Offices, Chicago; and the Stern Urological Medical Clinics in Phoenix. He completed many residential and installation projects in the Palm Springs area, as well as throughout the entire US. He was a longtime member of the Associated Society of Interior Designers, he was a past 18-year member of the board, and vice president of the Palm Springs Desert Museum, a member of the board of the Living Desert Reserve in Palm Desert, and a member of the Advisory Council of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. After Mr. Elrod was killed in a traffic accident in 1974, Hal continued to lead his company for another 22 years until he retired and moved to Sonoma. At the time of his death he was still actively working on projects for "special clients" and was also working on a book chronicling the history of Arthur Elrod Company. Hal was an active member of the First Church of Christian Science working as a reader for several years in Palm Springs and continuing to attend in Sonoma. Hal had many friends from all over the world - some were famous, some were not so famous and some he may have met only once but he truly valued their friendship and gave back to them with all he had. He was truly a very gifted, artistic, and creative person and shared his gifts with the world. He will truly be missed by many. Memorial Services will be held in May in both Sonoma and Palm Springs. If so desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs; the Living Reserve, Palm Desert; or the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art in Sonoma, CA; or to the charity of your choice in memory of Hal. Duggan's Mission Chapel Mission Cremation Service 525 West Napa St. Sonoma, CA 95476.