Anthony Funeral & Cremation, Rochester, New York

Obituary: David N. Broadbent, 82, of Rochester, New York, passed away on September 6, 2021.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Broadbent; sister, Mima Kearl (Gary); children, Catherine Foster (Grant), David E. Broadbent, and Sara Snarr (Jeff); and grandchildren, Hannah, Megan, and Allison Snarr, and Silas Foster. Family will receive friends on Friday, September 17 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Anthony's Funeral Chapel at 2305 Monroe Avenue in Brighton, NY. Services will be held on Saturday, September 18 at 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1250 English Road in Greece, NY. Masks and social distancing requested. A live-stream will also be available (bit.ly/dnb-2021).

David was born on July 24, 1939 in Heber City, Utah to Fern Ida Huber and Emer Elwood Broadbent. Eventually, the family moved to Champaign, Illinois. Despite the apparent distance, the family frequently returned to Utah to visit extended family and these ties instilled in him a great love for family. A piece of his heart was always "back home" in Heber. He served a mission to Finland for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, in 1963, received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois followed by a Doctor of Medicine from Duke University Medical School in 1967. He married Sally Louise Tippetts in 1966 and their family grew from two to five as they embarked on a series of moves and training in Tennessee (Vanderbilt University), Ohio (Cincinnati Children's Hospital), Texas and Colorado (US Army Medical Corps), and Michigan (University of Michigan). They eventually settled in Rochester, New York where he began work as Deputy Director of the Monroe County Health Department and joined the clinical faculty of the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Rochester School of Medicine. In 1977, he joined the Pediatric Group of the Genesee Health Service. As a pediatrician, he approached his patients with honesty and humor, inspired innumerable parents in the hard work of parenting, and made thousands of children laugh and smile despite their ailments. Throughout this time, he also worked to develop systems of care for juvenile delinquents in the custody of New York State and Monroe County, and served as President of the Genesee Hospital Medical and Dental Staff. He loved participating and serving in his church. He taught Sunday School, led youth programs, played the organ, and served in the temple and in the family history center. He served as area medical advisor to, and as a counselor in, the mission presidency and was an integral part of the Hill Cumorah Pageant for nearly 30 years (as Medical Director, as part of the cast, and as a member of the administrative staff). One of his most cherished church opportunities was serving as the President of the Rochester City Branch. His faith informed his professional and community work where he reached out to vulnerable populations of all ages. Not only did he champion access to better healthcare for infants and children, but for people of all ages including individuals who were incarcerated, struggling with addiction, or victims of lead poisoning and poverty-exacerbated asthma. He was instrumental in efforts leading to the creation and management of School-Based Health Centers within the Rochester City School District serving thousands of children and youth throughout the district. As Founder and Chair of the Rochester Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning and member of both the New York State Governor's Advisory Council on Childhood Lead Poisoning and the New York State Coalition to End Lead Poisoning, he was a tireless advocate for legislation to help combat lead poisoning. Over the years, other volunteer activities included numerous public health and medicine-related volunteer activities and leadership roles. Particularly close to his heart was his time as Vice President of the Board of Governors of the Anthony L. Jordan Health Center. He tirelessly promoted their mission to meet the needs of medically underserved and underinsured individuals. He also treasured his decades of service with the Boy Scouts of America. He enjoyed photography and computer imaging, astronomy and nature, classical and folk music (especially bluegrass), camping and hiking, skiing, and traveling with family. He loved taking, editing, printing, and, then, sharing his photos. He was a skilled pianist and organist, but also collected and played a seemingly infinite assortment of other instruments. Most of all, he loved to laugh. His infectious laugh brought smiles in the most unlikely and memorable times. David was his family's most enthusiastic cheerleader, perpetual teacher, and exemplary role model. He relished his roles as husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather. In the eyes of his family, his greatest legacy is the result of decades spent with family in the Adirondacks. He established a tradition of annual reunions among black lakes, blue skies, and green mountains that tied cousins, aunts, uncles, and siblings permanently and eternally together with love and laughter. For over forty years, extended family gathered each summer to climb mountains, canoe and sail, sing around campfires, eat s'mores, and swat mosquitoes. For this, he will always be remembered as a giant among men. He takes a huge piece of our hearts with him to the Great Camp in the sky.

David joyfully anticipated his reunion with his parents, Emer and Fern Broadbent, and his siblings, Sue Miller, Emer Dean Broadbent, and Alan Broadbent, who passed away before him. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David's memory to either Latter-day Saint Charities (LatterDaySaintCharities.org) or The Anthony L. Jordan Foundation (JordanHealth.org/donate).