Brenda Laura Effron

Brenda Laura Effron was born January 10, 1969 in Ft. Meade, Maryland. She died of acute leukemia on August 7, 2013. Brenda was in the gifted program thru school and graduated from Edmond Memorial High School. Both her undergraduate and graduate degrees were from the University of Texas in Radio Television Film, then International Communications. During graduate school she was instrumental in reestablishing the Austin Chapter of the United Nations Associations. Upon graduation she was chosen to be at the International House of Justice at the World Bahai Center, Haifa, Israel for a year.

She then spent 2 years as a Coordinator of International Student Programs for The University of Texas Law School in Austin. Coming back to Oklahoma, she taught English as a second language and 4 years as a substitute teacher of special education in the Edmond Public Schools.

Brenda was preceded in death by her grandparents Hylda and David Effron, Rose and Morton Epstein. She is survived by her parents Dr. Alan M. and Nancy E. Effron, sister Erika Zawatsky and husband Richard, her aunt Andrea Kerlan and husband Dr. Robert, Cousins Dr. Jeffrey Kerlan, Dr. Daniel Kerlan, Mike Kerlan, uncle Jerrold H. Effron, cousins Susan Divine and husband Dan, Robert Sharfman, and Jeffrey Berke.

Brenda was an advocate for diversity and she had a profound gift for encouraging respect for others. She had a way of brightening other people’s days. It was her sweetness, generous noble spirit, and relaxed demeanor that her family and friends will miss the most.

In lieu of flowers Brenda requests donations be made to Make a Wish Oklahoma, 5201 N. Shartel Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73118. Memorial Services will be 10:00am, Friday August 9, 2013 at Temple B’nai Israel with interment to follow at Temple B’nai Israel Cemetery.