Audrey Bronk, Mom, “The planner” was a very organized, determined and accomplished individual. She passed peacefully in her sleep at home earlier this morning August, 13, 2023. She was born September 22, 1929 in Leonia, NJ. Her parents Carl and Margaret Peterson, were first and second-generation immigrants.
Audrey learned to work, at a very early age, as a babysitter to a very illustrious list of clients including the children of Manhattan Project Physicist, Enrico Ferme and Mafia Mob Boss, Joseph Bonnano.
She was a bit of a rebel, organizing a high school girls trip in 1947 to skip classes and sneak over to NY City to catch the Paramount Theater show of Frank Sinatra. Her perfect escape was foiled when upon her arrival home the school nurse was waiting for her to administer the vaccine she had missed. Her days at Leonia High School took a big turn when she met her future husband and love of her life, Charlie Bronk. They married and spent the rest of their lives together. They celebrated their 71st Anniversary, January 26, 2023.
She received her degree from Montclair State Teachers College and moved into her first professional job with an advertising position at Benton & Bowles in New York.
She took a break from the corporate world, raising two children Kerry and Jamie from the mid-fifties till early seventies.
She rejoined the work force at Stromberg Publications as the advertising director for The Howard County and Carrol County Times. In 1972, turned temporary reporter, penning and photographing an entire special section chronicling the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes, which she received a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize.
She considered finding her beloved Deer Hill, the Home Place near Sykesville, Md that hosted many neighborhood movie nights, front yard football games, family outings and the 1975 Glenelg High School graduation celebration as one of her best accomplishments. It was also a safe haven for many a wayward soul who found their way to Deer Hill’s doorstep.
She was also an accomplished golfer with 7 club Championships at three Howard County Courses, Allview, Hobbit’s Glen and Turf Valley.
Relocating to the Sand Hills she helped create the Sandhills Chapter of the American Antique Automobile Club of America, where she served as the Secretary and Treasurer, reporting many car rallies, local parades and cross country trips for the Club’s Newsletter.
“The Planner” would extensively research each and every one of the over 100 countries she and her husband Charlie traveled to in over seven decades of wanderlust. She was an avid reader, regularly devouring 2 books per week, cumulatively she read over 2000 books.
She is survived by her son Kerry Bronk, her grandson Eric Bronk, her son Jamie Bronk and wife Suzanne Tierney and grand children Alex “AJ” Bronk and Karly Bronk.
Online condolences may be made at www.BolesFuneralHome.com
Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
