Irwin Joe Brodsky

Irwin (Joe) Brodsky went to be with the Lord Thursday, August 3, 2017, at the age of 79. There are a thousand stories about Joe and they are all true. Born in New York City on January 4, 1938, Joe believed in making every minute of life an adventure.

Joe grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and made the entire city his home. He married his first love Angela in 1960 and together they created nearly 40 years of loving memories with family and friends that lead them from a life in Brooklyn, New York, to Mesa and later Gilbert Arizona.

For 10 years Joe worked as a New York City police officer and detective in a career that included saving lives, delivering babies, and solving crimes in the true spirit of law enforcement and public service. He continued in that spirit of bravery on September 11th, 2001, when he headed toward the Twin Towers to help with rescue and recovery efforts; and in his continued work with the International Police Association (current Vice President and past President of Region 25) and Fraternal Order of Police Mesa #9.

Together with his second love Martha, Joe took his adventures to other continents visiting all those places he always wanted to see and building friendships along the way as he took world travel to new levels.

Joe was dearly loved and will be missed by many. Survivors include his companion Martha Bowling, son Joseph (Diana), daughter Judith and many sons and daughters of the heart including Lisa (Jeff), Anthony (Lisa), Thomas, Mary (Modesto), David (Cindy), Thomas (Whisper), John (Sandy), Kelly, Danielle, Robin, Delilah, David (Laura), Bon, Sarah, Amanda (Brian), and many, many more who made his life a blessing. He was particularly blessed by his grandchildren of the heart Chloe, Olivia, GianCarlo, Gianna, Connor, Brandon, Anna, Kaitlyn, William, Victoria, Regan, Ben, and especially Christopher who along with so many other grandchildren of the heart brought light and laughter into his life. He was so very proud of them and bragged often of the men and women they were becoming.

Joe is also survived by his Sisters – Sarah, Faith (Ron), Lucy (Dewayne), brothers – Nat, Sam, John, and Vinny; brothers of the heart Gus, Ray, Ritchie, Brian and his many brothers and sisters in blue.

A Celebration of Life open house for Joe will be held on September 1, 2017, from 2 – 8PM, at Val Vista Lakes Main Ballroom, 1600 East Lakeside Drive, Gilbert, Arizona 85234. It is said all men die but few men live. Please come celebrate a life well lived.