Herbert Bromberg of Boston Massachusetts died of complications following heart surgery on February 9th, his 93rd birthday.
Herb was born and raised in New York City, N.Y. by Morris and Sarah Bromberg, who immigrated from Poland in 1917. Herb grew-up in the Bronx, and spent his young adult life in Manhattan. It was there that he met and married Rosa Engel. Rosa and Herb were married for over 55 years, raising two children together, Jonas and Madeline. Herb took great pleasure in spending time with his grandchildren, Benji, Sam, and Hannah and his daughter in-law Janet. Following Rosa’s death in 2015, Herb had the tremendous fortune to meet Judy Swanson in 2019, and they became devoted life partners over the last five years of his life.
Herb served in the U.S. Army for two years after the Korean War, and worked as a Communications Chief at the Washington D.C. Air Defense Command. Herb graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Chemistry, and later attended New York University, earning an MBA. Herb worked briefly as a chemist, a vocation he readily admitted he was not very good at, before beginning a long career in marketing and commercial development. Herb eventually spent 30 years at Abbott Laboratories, a career move that necessitated moving his young family to the Chicago area in 1966. At Abbott he directed world-wide market development for the Agricultural, Veterinary, and Industrial Chemical products divisions. In 1974, Herb and his team were awarded a U.S. Patent for developing a pigment dispersion composition.
During his career Herb traveled extensively overseas, which ignited a life-long passion for international travel. Herb took his family on many international adventures and enjoyed traveling all over the world with Rosa, often accompanied by Jonas, and Benji, and later with Judy. When Herb retired from Abbott he began a second career as a Professor of Management at Assumption College in Worcester, MA, where he was a beloved professor to hundreds of undergraduate and MBA students. This career change brought him and Rosa back to the Northeast, from their “exile” in the Midwest. It was during this period that he and Rosa purchased a home in Francestown, NH, where he made many friendships that endured the rest of his life. Herb served on numerous Boards, and devoted time and energy to a number of community and civic causes, including the United Way of Central Massachusetts, the Mechanics Hall International Artists Series, and the Francestown Land Trust.
Herb adored his home in Francestown, where he resided with Rosa in his retirement. He loved gardening, canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and taking fishing trips with Jonas. Herb and Rosa were well known for hosting large parties and celebrations in their home, especially an annual New Year's Eve party to celebrate their December 31st wedding anniversary. For the last fifteen years he enjoyed an active city life while residing in the South End of Boston, before moving to South Boston with his second love Judy. During their years together, Herb and Judy traveled extensively, and spent much time enjoying their shared love of symphony, theater, great restaurants, and spending time with family. Herb’s close friends and family feel so fortunate that Herb enriched us by bringing Judy into our lives.
A celebration of life will take place in the summer of 2025.