Cecile Brody

Brody, Cecile
Cecile (Bergman) Brody, age 88 of Westport, CT, wife of Samuel M. Brody passed away, Tuesday, August 19, 2014 after a month long illness, in Norwalk Hospital. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late Henrietta and Benjamin Bergman. Ceil began her professional career during the 1940s, as a dancer with the ballet ensemble of the New York City Center Opera Company, while still a student of Professional Children's School, aka: Broadway's Little Red School House. She also performed under the tutelage of George Balanchine, in Ballet Society the forerunner of the New York City Ballet. Her athletic style as a ballet dancer, brought her to the attention of Agnes de Mille, where she furthered her career performing on Broadway, touring the country; in One Touch of Venus, Oklahoma!, Bloomer Girl, and the original ANTA (American National Theatre & Academy) production of Ballet Ballads. In 1951, she and Sam married, and began their family. They moved from Brooklyn, NY to Long Island while their son, Adam was still a toddler, and not long after the birth of their second child, a daughter, Jill. Never one to be long away from her love of ballet, she opened a studio in their home, teaching dance to the neighborhood kids in Huntington, Long Island. Throughout the late Fifties and early Sixties, she continued to dance with the Andre Eglevsky Ballet School Company, and choreographed ballet portions of Broadway Musicals for Long Island regional theater productions. Changing gears in the Seventies, Ceil focused on her other artistic inclination, fashion. Returning to school at New York's FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology), gaining the skills she would need to take on Seventh Avenue. Her designs were featured in The Rag Trades Bible, Women's Wear Daily. Thinking outside the box, she produced a line of women's tennis wear featuring knit Jersey, an innovation that gave greater freedom of movement for the player, forever changing the tennis wear fashion genre. In 1979 when Ceil's uncle, Sidney Milwe bought the Main Street staple, Country Gal from original owner Burt Knopp, she moved to Westport and became store manager. She later took over the business, and eventually moved the store to Post Road East. Rebranding it CG's Body Shop, she took a leap of faith and created the premier dance, aerobic and workout wear store in the area. She brought her skills as a classically trained Ballet dancer, Broadway performer and fashion designer to successfully merchandize and run her business for many years. Chances are, if you or your child ever attended a ballet class or took dance lessons in lower Fairfield County, you were probably, properly fitted for leotards, tutus, tap, toe shoes or slippers at CG's Body Shop. Cecile is survived by her husband, Sam, her daughter, Jill and son, Adam. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, August 22, 2014 at 11:00 AM from the Abraham L Green and Son Funeral Home, 88 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ceils name to your favorite charity.