Harvey Brodsky dies

Harvey Brodsky, the former managing director of TRIB and founder of RTA, died on 17 September following complication from lung cancer. Brodsky had been diagnosed in March and given two to three weeks to live, but fought the illness for another six months.

“We lose…a champion of life itself, and of the world of business, a scholar on all topics regarding the tyre, retread and rubber industries. We lose a man who did business with good spirit, on a handshake, without remorse or greed. We lose a reliable ally, who asked for nothing in return but our friendship and commitment to the same causes that would help us all thrive”, Jeffrey Parks, managing director, Retread Tire Association said announcing the news and extending his and the association’s sympathies.

Harvey Brodsky was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He took his first job in his father Max’s auto upholstery business. As a young man he went into the Army, and as he once said, he somehow “lucked into a desk job in France”.

Eventually he began working with Big-O tyres, was offered a top management position, but soon was hired as managing director for the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB), which he guided and grew for more than 30 years. In 2011 Brodsky created the Retread Tire Association (RTA).

Commenting on the news, Tim BeVier, president of TRIB’s board of directors said: “We wish to express our sincere sympathy and condolences to the Brodsky family for the recent passing of Harvey Brodsky.  Harvey was the former managing director of TRIB and a lifelong supporting advocate to the Retread and Repair Industry. The compassion and energy Harvey gave to defending and bettering the retread industry was always off the chart. Harvey’s endless efforts truly helped change the retread industry bringing awareness to the many benefits of retreading and savings to our society.”

Brodsky is survived by his wife Rona Halpern, who has been battling breast cancer for 15 years. She set up a gofundme account to help pay for Harvey’s medical bills. To donate, click on https://www.gofundme.com/harvey-brodskys-medical-fund.