Teruko Bronfenbrenner Passes, Family’s Influence Continues

11 June 2010 12:00AM

Teruko Okuaki Bronfenbrenner, widow of Professor Martin Bronfenbrenner, passed away on June 4. Professor Bronfenbrenner, known for his diverse interests and tireless pursuit of knowledge, was the Kenan Professor of Economics at Duke until his “retirement” in 1984 when he moved to Tokyo to work at Aoyama Gakuin University. After returning to Durham in 1991, he remained a visible member of the Duke faculty and taught until his death in 1997. A generalist who contributed to a wide-range of fields within economics, Professor Bronfenbrenner was an exceptional scholar as well as a master teacher.

His wife Teruko had her own special talents that many in the department enjoyed. Longtime friend of the Bronfenbrenners, Professor Allen Kelley, shared these thoughts on Teruko:

“Although mild-mannered, Teruko could ‘light up’ a social event with her friendliness and her genuine interest in people’s problems and celebrations. She was a masterful cook and hostess. Those early days in Durham, an ‘elegant’ dinner meal was a slab of roast beef and a generous serving of mashed potatoes. Needless to say, it was a treat to partake of Teruko’s Japanese cuisine, a feast that could take upwards of two days to prepare.
 
One of Teruko’s most impressive talents was a surprise to many of us, and possibly even Teruko. She was a wonderful artist. Her media changed over time. Her most recent work can be seen at The Forest at Duke.”

Professor Kelley and his wife Pat shared dinner with Teruko just a week before her death and tell how she radiated joy, particularly about the upcoming wedding of her grandson. Teruko also leaves behind a son Kenneth and daughter June.

The Bronfenbrenners not only contributed their time and talents to the department but also advanced its growth. In 1982, Professor Bronfenbrenner’s friends and colleagues established an endowed fellowship in his name to honor him for his outstanding service to the university.  The Bronfenbrenners supported the fellowship after its establishment, and Teruko continued to contribute to it after her husband’s passing. Income from the Martin Bronfenbrenner Fund provides financial support to graduate students in the department and will continue to do so in perpetuity.

More information on Professor Martin Bronfenbrenner