LAKE COUNTY — Some people hate having attention paid to them, even when it”s in the form of praise.
Friends and family say Steve Brodnansky was just such a man.
“Oh, he hated it,” said wife Linda. “He just wanted to be in the background.”
She added, “He was very private but in very public situations.”
Nevertheless, a great deal of praise is being expressed for Steve Brodnansky who died Oct. 16 at age 65 for all that he did for Lake County, including helping light local high school football fields, and seeing through construction projects like Lakeport”s gazebo and the Southeast Geysers pipeline.
Steve Brodnansky was born on Aug. 20, 1941, in Santa Rosa. He married Linda Lemon on Oct. 6, 1961.
The couple and their family came to Lake County in August of 1978, when he was transferred here to become area administrative manager for Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
While holding that job, Brodnansky was asked for help in lighting two area high school football fields those belonging to Clear Lake and Kelseyville. In appreciation, he received a gold card a lifetime pass for entrance into the schools” football games.
Wife Linda said he never used it. “He just felt that he should pay his way in,” she explained.
He worked for PG&E for 31 years, retiring in 1993. But due to Brodnansky”s reputation as a manager, another opportunity soon came knocking. Within a month of retiring from PG&E, the County of Lake recruited him as Special Districts administrator, said Lake County Public Works Director Gerry Shaul.
“Very few people realize the role Steve played in their lives,” said former District 3 supervisor, Walt Wilcox. “When he stepped into the Special District Department, he had a huge task in front of him. He changed the administration of each district to assure that they were solvent. This project was totally driven by him and his need to make each district work in a logical, businesslike manner.”
Brodnansky went on to serve as project director for the Southeast Geysers Effluent Pipeline, the county”s wastewater recycling system, said Shaul, which was the first of its kind in the world to reuse wastewater for the benefit of geothermal energy production.
“The continuous discussions with state and federal officials had to keep him up at night,” said former District 4 supervisor, Karan Mackey. “A time or two he would head home knowing that the project had just fallen apart. Then he would start in again the next morning.”
The project didn”t fall apart, however. In fact, it went on to become one of Brodnansky”s significant professional achievements.
In recognition of the project, Brodnansky, Project Coordinator Mark Dellinger and their colleagues were awarded the 1997 California Municipal Utilities Association Resource Conservation Award, the 1997 Geothermal Resource Counsel”s Special Achievement Award, the 1998 Award of Merit from the Water Reuse Association of California and the 1999 Award of Achievement from the National Council for Environmental Sustainability.
“His leadership role on the pipeline project assured that the people of Lake County would have a pattern of growth that would allow new projects, while still maintaining reasonable rates,” said County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox.
Brodnansky was very involved in a variety of community groups, said Linda, including Sutter Lakeside Hospital”s Board of Directors, the Oddfellows (he was District Deputy Grand Master in the Odd Fellows Windsor Lodge), Lakeport Rotary, Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lakeport Traffic Advisory Committee, and coached winning Westshore All-Star baseball teams.
Fellow Rotarian Don Lange credited Brodnansky with playing a leadership role in the renovation of the Lakeport City Park, the gazebo construction, the landscaping project at both the Lakeport Senior Center and the new Park Way Fire Station.
“Steve and Linda also spent many years as chaperones for the Fifth Grade Camp Out” program sponsored by Rotary,” said Lange.
In 1991, Brodnansky was presented the In Search of Excellence “Man of the Year” Award for his efforts on behalf the community by the Lakeport Chamber of Commerce, said Chamber Executive Director Melissa Fulton.
While his interests were wide-ranging, most important to him was his family, said wife Linda.
“His very best friends were his two sons,” said Linda of children, Derek and Darin Brodnansky.
The family enjoyed skiing, golfing and riding dirt bikes. In addition, Brodnansky built radio-controlled airplanes for 45 years.
The special bond between father and sons was carried through to their work together in the sons” business, Brodnansky Construction.
“It was their dream for Pop to work with them and it was his dream to be able to do work with them,” said Linda.
Bill Wolfe, who knew Steve Brodnansky for 20 years, recalled him this week as “a heckuva guy.”
Wolfe said it struck a chord with him how the very private Brodnansky transitioned from public service to time with family.
“He devoted the first part of his life to meeting the needs of the community and the second part of his life to meeting the needs of his family,” said Wolfe.
At the start of this year, Steve became ill. In August he entered the hospital, only to pass away a few months later.
Brodnansky leaves behind his wife, Linda; sons, Derek and Darin; and their families, including four grandchildren.
A celebration of Steve Brodnansky”s life will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 at Rancho De La Fuente, 2290 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport. Dress is casual.
In memory of Steve, a special fund is being set up so he can help light up another part of the county this time, downtown Lakeport. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Brodnansky Street Light Fund in care of Savings Banks of Mendocino County, 650 N. Main St., Lakeport, CA 95453. Contributions in his memory may also be made to the American Cancer Society or a favorite charity.
Said friend Gerry Shaul, “Steve will be remembered by everyone who knew him as a hard-working man with a strong community spirit.”
Contact Elizabeth Larson at elarson@record-bee.com.
Editor”s note: Special thanks to Karan Mackey who contributed significant research to this story.
