David Brod

David Brod was born in Brooklyn, New York.  He died peacefully at home on October 18, 2023 just after celebrating his 88 th  birthday.  David was the son of immigrants who taught him the value of work, and he helped support his family from the age of 9.  He met the love of his life, Sheila, at age 17 when he drew the “short” straw – the “long” straw was the other girl who had a crush on him, and they never looked back.  Their deep love and marriage of 64 years confounded him.  He wondered, “ how could a good girl like her love a pool room bum like me?”.  And boy, did she.  Every day.    When he wanted to marry his love, her parents had one condition – a college degree.  With an inauspicious start in higher education when he flunked out of Brooklyn College, he joined the Navy where he demonstrated a reputation for fixing things and was made a seaman first class.  However, when he decided not to reup his service, he was given a new opportunity and became a first class cook and floor scrubber.   Meanwhile, Sheila, who really wanted to marry him, may or may not have forged his college application to the University of Arizona.  Let’s just say that his admission to their electrical engineering program was a surprise to one of them.  After graduation and a brief stint in Dansville, New York where their first child was born, they moved to a state they could not find on a map and found their forever home.  In St. Paul two more girls were born.  They never left their starter 900 square foot home on Edgecumbe Road.

David was a man who loved his family, reading, the outdoors and travel.  He loved the water and had 3 boats – a rubber raft, a canoe and a sunfish sailboat.  He taught his kids and grandkids how fish and camp, and the dangers of fireworks….. He often said “if you need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm” and “wise people don’t make the right decisions, they make their decisions right”.  Although he left Brooklyn, Brooklyn never left him.  He worked to live, loved shabbat dinners, and his kiddush chanting was legendary.  He was nicknamed a “Jewish Carpenter” when he volunteered after hurricane Katrina and his succah building skills were epic.  A highlight of our Passover seder was his Yiddish rendition of the 4 questions.   Conversations around the dinner table were sparked by him making an outrageous comment just to get things going.  Then he would sit back and watch us as we argued passionately.  If we were lucky, he’d crack a hilarious 1-liner.  Often unintended, these statements were adored and enduring.   One favorite was after an awkward encounter when he perceived his girls to be disrespected at the check-out line in Snyders.   He famously puffed up like he was going to punch the poor guy and, because he was completely nonviolent, said “Get of here – you AND the horse you rode in on!”.   What were we supposed to do? We just all cracked up and the guy slinked away.  As the father of 3 girls, he taught us we were capable and smart.  We never were told a thing about our looks – only about our character.  And that lesson endures today. After a long career as an electrical engineer, who was involved in computer design from the beginning, his capstone achievement was helping to build the Federal Courthouse in Minneapolis.  His second career as a Zayde gave him the most pleasure, though. His diaper changing and napping skills were first class and he was a known figure at the McDonalds on West 7 th  where they nicknamed the egg
McMuffin without meat a “Zayde Snack”.  In his later years, he found joy at home with his loved ones, but most importantly our mom.  As a sous chef, he diced tons of onions for mom’s legendary soups, tended his garden, shoveled snow, read, and enjoyed whatever activities mom had planned, including dancing in the kitchen to Kenny Rodgers.   He died sitting in his favorite chair in the living room with a fire, reading a book.     
David was preceded in death by parents, Harry and Rachel Brod; sister, Elaine Ruda. Survived by wife, Sheila Brod; daughters, Stephanie (Jimmy) Levine, Holly (Jon) Brod Farber, Jennifer (CJ) Brod Faulkner; grandchildren, Josh, Sam, Noah, Elana, Rachel, Maya; brother, Allen (Faye) Brod; brother-in-law, Monroe Ruda; sister-in-law, Carol (Doug) Lemons; and many beloved family members and lifelong friends. Funeral service FRIDAY, October 20, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Beth Jacob Congregation 1179 Victoria Curve. Live streamed at https://youtube.com/@BethJacobCongregation  Memorials preferred to the Israel Emergency Fund at jewishstpaul.org or the Sheila and David Brod Fund at the St. Paul JCC. Daytime shiva will be held at Sheila and David’s house 2490 Edgcumbe Road, St. Paul from 12-2 pm on Sunday-Thursday. Evening shiva minyans will be as follows: Saturday & Sunday Oct 21 & 22 at 7 pm at Beth Jacob Congregation and Monday- Wednesday at 7 pm at Holly & Jon’s house 1701 James Road, Mendota Heights.