I showed up to Iowa all bright eyed / bushy tailed but dirt poor & terrified of the greatness of the place. I was directed to Connie and she LISTENED to my story and she understood I needed help as I was doing my best to help raise my wife's child and out of her pure generosity she helped me to get a job at The Iowa Review. She opened the door for this unknown stranger. She cared about me.

She didn't know me from the proverbial Adam. I had the luck to meet a beautiful, empathetic, kind, open-hearted woman who was a real human being. Try finding a person like that these days! 

In 1990, Connie Brothers saved my life and she gave me life. She gave me confidence, she guided me, she took me in- and I will NEVER forget how incredible she was back then, and still is now because her essence lives within all the students she helped through all those years. Her goodness lives on in all those related to her because she truly is and will always be a Goddess among mere mortals. 

With much sadness I write these words but with so much gratitude for her family and all her relatives for giving us the PRESENT of her wonderfulness.  With much love,  philip kobylarz, class of '93

Thank you for sharing the beautiful service online. It was wonderful to be there and listen to the loving tributes to sensational Connie. She did good and kind things for me and I learned a lot from her. I loved watching how intuitive, helpful, and connective she was. I am very sad she had to go.  You all have my deepest sympathy for your  loss.

I will always cherish my memories of Connie's steadfast & energetic presence in the Dey House during my time as a student at the Iowa Writer's Workshop. Connie was truly a special person & a friend to emerging writers. She was part of what made Iowa City feel like home. My thoughts, & my deepest condolences, are with Connie's family & friends. I know she will be dearly missed. --Kiki Petrosino

I worked with Connie for 37 years at the Workshop.  She was the first adult who took me to lunch and asked me "should we eat dessert first?"  I was shocked!  Yes!  Connie loved dessert.  Connie also loved "birthdays" and so we celebrated everyone's birthday at the Workshop.  We took our work-study students out to lunch, and of course we had dessert.

I'll never forget how many women got into the Workshop because of Connie.  She would bring applications back to Frank Conroy, over and over, and make him re-look at the women writers.  She was a champion for the women writers.  Especially in the 90's.  

I'll never forget when Connie told my kids to bring their rollerblades when it was Spring Break, and Connie would get her roller skates out and they would skate the 4th floor of EPB.  Until they got yelled at by the Professor in Cinema.  Connie never forgave him for that.

I'll never forget the countless times Connie would reassure me, would help me, would guide me in my life.  She was indeed my "other" Mother, as she was to so many writers.

I will never forget her.   My condolences to Marcia and Cammy and her precious grandchildren.  She so adored and loved them all.

Deb West

What a loss. She will forever be a part of the legend of the IWW. When I was at the workshop, we'd hear stories now and again about legendary director Frank Conroy—of his antics and wisdom. People will talk about Connie, staunch defender of all things IWW and fixer-extraordinaire, in the same way. Like many others, my first contact with Connie was when she called to tell me I had been accepted. As with probably many others, it took some convincing to assure me that, no, this was not a gag, and no, there were no conditions—I was in-in. One of my favorite of Connie's mannerisms was the intimate way she began conversations with you, as if you'd been chatting about whatever matter only moments before and had been interrupted.  She treated everyone as an individual and kept a thousand plates spinning in the air. What a person. I am sorry that she is gone from this world.

I enjoyed every minute I spent with Connie.  We had some wonderful lunch "meetings" and I will miss her very much.

Very sorry to hear of the passing of Connie. Everyone at the workshop loved her.  At the Iowa Writers Workshop , she was like a mom to all the young writers, calming us down and solving our problems where she could.  We all looked to Connie for help for all those years, and she never let anyone down.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Constance Marcus Brothers

Levine Chapels

Montrez votre soutien

Envoyez Vos
Condoléances

Partager
L'avis De Décès

Obtenir les mises à jour

Prestations de Service