Jules Broslaw
Funeral Service: September 8, 2025 11:30 AM
Funeral Home: Gutterman’s Rockville Centre Chapel
175 N. Long Beach Road,
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Notes:
Interment to follow at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont.
Jules Marvin Broslaw
July 22, 1931 – September 4, 2025
Jules Broslaw passed away on September 4, 2025, at his assisted living facility in New Rochelle, NY.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jules was the first child of Simon and Dorothy Broslaw. Later three siblings would join the family, Sondra, Eddie and Joy along with “Aunt Nellie” who helped sickly Dorothy with the children (all in a two-bedroom apartment).
Jules grew up in Brooklyn and attended City University of New York in the evenings while working for the City of New York as a Clerk during the day. His entire career was with the City of New York Department of Finance, from his position as Clerk at age 19, to Tax Assessor at age 25, to Full Assessor at age 32. He was a long-time fixture at the NYC Municipal Building – where he made lifelong friendships — and retired in 1994 at the age of 62. Also in 1994, Jules learned that some of his co-workers — 17 current and former tax assessors — were arrested for bribery after the largest tax fraud case in NYC history was uncovered.
Jules was proud of the fact that he led an ethical life, whether that was in his career or his personal life. He helped financially when he could, meticulously writing out a dozen or so annual $5 and $10 checks to a litany of charities he believed in. For a practical man who always paid his bills on time, (“never pay interest!” was his motto), had no faith in the risky stock market and worked a benefit-laden, stable job for four decades in which he’d never become wealthy, he remained politically idealistic throughout his life, voting with his heart even when he thought his candidate(s) would lose. From George McGovern to Hillary Clinton, he was a lifelong liberal democrat who never missed a vote.
He described himself in his early days (and for decades to come) as a non-athletic, bookworm type interested in journalism, politics, museums, baseball (Brooklyn Dodgers and then Mets), and especially music. Taught to play piano as a child, he continued this endeavor until the age of 90. He adored jazz, big band music, Broadway show tunes and classical music. Much to his children’s dismay, he called rock music, “noise” though he did think the Beatles wrote nice songs, “they just can’t sing,” he would declare. His favorite artists were Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Dean Martin.
Jules met Sondra Joy Marks in December of 1958 and proposed to her just six weeks later, on Valentine’s Day 1959. They married on September 6, 1959. The coincidence of her first and middle name being that of his two sisters was not lost on Jules. Tragically, Sondra developed breast cancer and died at the age of 39 just after Valentine’s Day 1973. Jules would tearfully reminisce about Sondra for the rest of his life with family members; he never got over her loss.
Jules is survived by daughter, Susan Odierna; son, Eric Broslaw; five adored grandchildren, Sara, Noah, Jake, Ryan and Ruby; sister Sandra and sister Joy. He was preceded in death by his beloved “kid brother,” Eddie.
Though Jules suffered on and off for the last several years from severe arthritis and cervical stenosis, he appeared to be mostly pain-free the past few months of his life, but excessively tired. He would often say he was ready to “go” and join Sondra Joy. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but we are thankful he is now with his beloved wife.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a favorite breast cancer charity in honor of Jules and Sondra.