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Bill Brodie, nematologist with USDA-ARS and Plant Pathology, dies at 82

Excerpted from the online obituary at Bangs Funeral Home

Bill Burl Brodie, 82, of Ithaca, was born to George Elmer and Carmel Mae Brodie at home on April 25, 1934, in Alma, Arkansas, and passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 7, 2017, at the Hospicare Residence in Ithaca, NY.

Bill left home at the age of 16 to become the first of his family to attend college, earning his BS and MS at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK, and his PhD in Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, NC.

From there, he worked for the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Lubbock, TX, then in Tifton, GA, before accepting a position working for the USDA-ARS with a courtesy appointment to Cornell University’s Plant Pathology Dept. in Ithaca, NY in 1969, where he worked until retiring in 2003. While working at Cornell, he met his best friend, Mary Hill, and married her on Nov 2, 1977.

During his long career with the USDA-ARS, Bill ran the Federal Golden Nematode Lab at Cornell University and the Golden Nematode Research Farm in Steuben County NY, making many advances in Integrated Pest Management of nematodes, and spent a sabbatical from Nov 1977-June 1978 in Lima, Peru, working at the International Potato Center. From 1987-1997, he served as Supervisory Plant Pathologist and Research Leader for USDA/ARS at the Federal Plant, Soil and Nutrition Lab in Ithaca, NY. Bill received the Empire State Potato Club Certificate of Merit (1987), USDA Certificate of Merit (1984), USDA/ARS Outstanding Scientist of the Year (1989), USDA Superior Service Award (1991), and a USDA Group Honor Award for Excellence (1995). In 1999, he was made an Honorary Life Member of The Potato Association of America. In 2017, the Cornell Plant Breeding Department named a potato variety “Brodie” in his honor. It is, of course, resistant to the Golden Nematode.

In addition to his career, Bill enjoyed gardening, antiquing, and watching his favorite team, the New York Yankees. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church. He was a loving and wonderful husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. He was always encouraging, with many entertaining jokes and stories to tell and much wisdom to share. His many colorful sayings will be especially remembered.

Bill worked hard to make a good life for his family, from his modest beginnings in rural Arkansas, through his education and his career achievements. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by many.

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