Gamaliel “Gam” Broadley died Monday at the age of 90, and the community is morning the loss of a man who left a lasting legacy on the place he called home for almost a century.
“You know, as you go through life, you can be generous or kind and, unfortunately, people never really remember the good you do, and the bad usually winds up being the epithet on your grave stone,” Broadley told Shawna Mulford in a tribute piece she wrote in 2010. “With all I’ve done in life, I hope not to have that epithet follow me into the afterlife.”
Mulford went on to write, “And if you ask Gam how he is doing on that task, he’d say, ‘I’m still working on it. Every day.’ ”
Friends say the quote sums up the life of a man who took joy in serving his country and community.
Broadley was born in Ocean City in 1914 (on the kitchen table of a home on Asbury Avenue, as the story goes). He graduated from Ocean City High School in 1942 and three months later joined the U.S. Marines and served during World War II until his discharge in 1946. He was a member of the Ocean City Police Department and later founded Broadley’s Plumbing on Roosevelt Boulevard in Marmora.
Broadley was a leader in church and youth recreation activities. He served for 32 years on the board for the Cape May County Technical School and also on the Upper Township Board of Education. Broadley helped create the Marmora Volunteer Fire Company.
“It is with great sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Gam Broadley,” the Ocean City Regional Chamber writes in an e-mail to members. “Gam was a great man, a leader in the community and an inspiration to many.”
Surviving are his wife of 68 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Broadley; his children, Doris Ann Broadley, Brian Broadley (Caren), Beth Broadley Darby (Glenn), all of Ocean City, and Nancy Broadley of Charlestown, West Virginia; six grandchildren, Bruce (Grainne), Amanda (Andrew), Rob (Traci), Ryan, Taylor and Paige, and eight great grandchildren Bruce III, Lana, Kelani, Caitlyn, Jackson, Ryland, Rhys, Findley and a sister, Emmajane McCoy.
Friends may call Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church (8th Street and Central Avenue), where his funeral service will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday. Burial will follow in Seaside Cemetery, Palermo, NJ.
Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to Shore Medical Center Foundation, 100 Medical Center Way, Somers Point, NJ 08244 or Marine Corps League 676 Dramis Detachment , PO Box 776, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210.
For condolences, visit www.godfreyfuneralhome.com.
“Today the world said goodbye to one of its legends, Gam Broadley, who lived 90 long and loving years on this earth,” Rob Driscoll writes in a Facebook tribute to his grandfather. “He passed away surrounded by family and left behind a legacy few can even dream of achieving. He was the living embodiment of selflessness, and was the pillar of our family. He touched more lives in South Jersey than anyone can count. From Broadley’s, the Marine Corps, to the Cape May County Tech School and the First Bank of Sea Isle, many people owe their lives and livelihood to his actions.”
“In life he led by great example of what it meant to be a caring, generous person, who was always there when you needed to bend his ear. And in his passing he leaves a family who loves each other and knows we were lucky to be in his life. We will miss him dearly, but we all know he is smiling down on us all, and letting us know it’s going to be all right (and sometimes half left) … Rest easy now, Pop, we all love you and know we have big shoes to fill and we won’t let you down. Semper Fi!”
