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Phyllis Bronstein Obituary
Resident of Los Altos Hills
Phyllis Bronstein, Ph.D., age 73, died on December 29, 2012 in Los Altos Hills, California. She committed her life to bringing about equal rights and social change.
She was born in Brooklyn, New York to Burke and Sylvia (Karpf) Bronstein. While attending the University of Michigan, she met and married Michael Burrows. After graduation, they moved to the Boston, MA area, where Phyllis completed her graduate work as a mother of two young children, earning an MA in literature and creative writing from Boston University in 1966. After her third child was born, she turned her professional focus toward social psychology, where she felt there would be more opportunity to implement social change. She earned her Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University in 1979. While at Harvard, she met her partner and love of 37 years, psychologist Robert Rossel.
The family moved to Vermont in 1981 when Phyllis began her 23 years at the University of Vermont. During her tenure there, she received numerous awards and recognitions for her scholarship, teaching, and leadership.
She is author, co-author, and editor of several books, including Teaching a Psychology of People, Teaching Gender and Multicultural Awareness, and Fatherhood Today. Both her research and her teaching broke new ground in bringing the concerns of feminism and multiculturalism into psychology and academia more broadly. For many years she was deeply committed to her personal work with Reevaluation Counseling, and after her retirement to California from UVM, she had the opportunity to teach RC at San Jose State University.
She is survived by her husband and partner, Robert Rossel, her children, Geoffrey Burrows (Paulina Brudnicki), Elise Burrows, and Jolie Burrows (Matthew Moore), her four step-children, Greg Rossel (Asami), Jeff Rossel (Cheryl), Eric Rossel (Jodi) and Robert Rossel Jr. (Kirsten). She is also survived by her three grandchildren, nine step-grandchildren and her sister, Judith Bronstein.
She will be remembered for her psychological insights, her commitment to social justice and equality, and her loving, intimate relationships with friends and family.
A memorial service will be held February 2, 2013 in the Los Altos, CA area. For more information, please email: [email protected].
Those wishing to make a donation in her memory are encouraged to contribute to Women for Women at womenforwomen.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Phyllis Bronstein
September 5, 2013
Rest In Sweet Peace. Studied about you at Jackson State University.
Glen Förster
March 30, 2013
Always remember Guanajuato and your kindness.
Bambi Lynn Ware
February 2, 2013
I attended Phyllis's celebration of life today in Palo Alto, California. Over 60 people attended and more than 50 people wrote letters about how she so positively affected their lives in a significant way. She was a unique combination of rebel, supporter and listener. A special lady who focused her energy on making a difference in the lives of many who crossed her path.
Danielle Dupuis
January 21, 2013
This brings me great sadness. Phyllis was my first academic mentor and is responsible, in many ways, for me being where I am today. She gave me my first research job and taught me from day one what it takes to be an excellent researcher. She also taught me about life, and the challenges women face, and how to succeed professionally. She lead by example. I owe her so much.
Eddie Lee
January 18, 2013
My condolences.
January 12, 2013
Thank you for your love and condolences,
Robert Rossel
Ann Park
January 12, 2013
Dear Jolie, I am so sorry to learn of your Mom's death. She was too young. Hope you are well.
Richard Kanner
January 11, 2013
The loss of my dear cousin Phyllis affects all of us. She was so accomplished and so passionate about what she believed in. The world is better for her having been here and we will miss what she could have continued to do had she had the opportunity.
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