Sheldon (Shelly) Brodsky, age 89, of Middletown, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at his home on October 3, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Shelly was born Sept. 3, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, to Ruby and Annette Brodsky. He grew up in Brooklyn and attended PS 205, Shallow Junior High School and New Utrecht High School. While Shelly was an All-City basketball player, he was also a gifted baseball player and, in 1953, was drafted out of high school by the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played for many minor league teams and ultimately made it to the major leagues. He played alongside legends such as Frank Howard and Sandy Koufax and received many athletic accolades during his career.
It was during his minor league playing days that Shelly met Nellie Jean Carter of Baxley, Georgia. On Oct. 21, 1961, they married and together they built a beautiful life in Brooklyn. His son Rick was born on Shelly’s birthday in 1962, and in 1965, his daughter Michele was born on Shelly and Jean’s anniversary.
Shelly and Jean owned a number of different businesses while raising their family in Brooklyn, including a driving school and one of Brooklyn’s first 24-hour convenience stores (aka the famous “Candy Store”).
Shelly was best known for his unlimited patience, his calm demeanor, and his love for all sports. He will be remembered for the pride he took in his family and his constant presence at every sports practice and every game of his five grandsons.
Shelly was known to meet someone he knew in almost every place he visited, whether at South of the Border in South Carolina, or a Minneapolis hospital, where the nurse said she only knew one person in Brooklyn and it was Sheldon Brodsky!
In his later years, after moving to New Jersey, Shelly worked for the Middletown Parks Department. He took great pride in keeping all the sports fields in perfect condition, especially since his grandsons would be playing there.
Shelly is survived by his spouse of 64 years, Jean; his son Rick Brodsky and spouse Hope Brodsky; his daughter Michele Brodsky Federici and spouse Robert Federici; and grandchildren Jake and spouse Sydney, Sam and spouse Jenna, Brandon (Fiona), Michael (Lexi) and Matthew. Shelly is also survived by his sister-in-law JoAnn Bruce and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ruby and Annette Brodsky; his brother Frank; and dear cousins.
A funeral service was held Oct. 6 at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Ocean. Following the funeral service was a committal service at Mount Ararat Cemetery in Lindenhurst, New York.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering skin cancer research (mskcc.org) or VNA Hospice Care (vnahg.org) in Sheldon’s memory.
The family wishes to thank the team at Memorial Sloan Kettering for their unwavering effort to give Sheldon wonderful medical care, VNA Hospice Care, and numerous friends and family for their support during this time.
“Papa Shelly, we thank you for being in all of our favorite memories.”
The article originally appeared in the October 9 – 15, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
