Yarmouth, ME- Gilbert (Gil) Broberg, of Yarmouth, died at home on June 23, 2020, due to metastatic melanoma. He was born in Rochester N.Y., a son of Anna and Gilbert Broberg and graduated from Canandaigua Academy and the University of Maine with a B.S. in business and economics. He also attended Cornell University and, as his family likes to say, he managed very successfully to “party” his way out. Gil served 7 years in the Air Force. He married Laurie Jane Winchenbach in 1967 and they have one son, Stephen Broberg. Gil was a real family man and cared for his family with love, kindness and a generous heart.
Gil was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in his early thirties, by the age of 40 he used a wheelchair for mobility and he then became an outspoken advocate for others who lived with a disability. He served on the boards of the Maine Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Alpha One, Disability Rights Maine (DRM) and Maine Association of Handicapped Persons. Gil was also a member of the Governor’s Committees for Supported Employment and Employment of People with Disabilities. More recently he served on the Yarmouth Aging in Place Advisory Committee. He also received many awards for his advocacy work including a “6 Who Care” award and a President’s Award at Unum.
Gil was employed for 25 years as a senior underwriter at Unum where his last work assignment was to design and implement strategies to expand employment of people with disabilities. While at Unum, Gil oversaw the creation of the “Day in the Life”, that was a three day event to increase awareness and knowledge of disability issues. He also developed and acted as primary presenter of Disability Etiquette training sessions at Unum. Gil was previously a member of the Lisbon Falls School Board and Yarmouth’s Planning Board.
Gil lived an active life in spite of being in a wheelchair for a great part of his adult life. He enjoyed New England Sports, coaching Little League when his son played; attending classes at Osher Institute’s Lifelong Learning in Maine and Master the Possibilities in Florida, spending winters in Florida where he made many friends, growing herbs in his raised garden beds, going around town in his electric scooter, a good meal and a glass of single malt scotch. His son, Stephen, always said that no moss grew under his “wheels.” He was a generous man with his time and was always available to people, at any time of the day or night, struggling with a disability.
He was very loved and supported by his family and friends and he will be missed, but remembered with deep love and fondness. The executive director of DRM wrote in a recent letter to Gil: “You will be leaving more of yourself with us than you will be taking with you, because you have been an enormous power for change.” His granddaughter, Caroline, wrote: “You never let the tough times ruin your life, rather embraced them and learned to adapt. When I think of the strongest person I know, I immediately think of you.”
Gil is survived by his wife Laurie, his son Stephen and his wife Brenda Wolfe-Broberg, his stepdaughter Margie, his granddaughter Caroline, his sisters Jean Broberg and Lucille Broberg, his son-in-law Dr. Kevin Finley, his brother-in-law Fred Winchenbach and his wife Doris, numerous nephews and nieces and a special nephew Erik Winchenbach, who was like a son to Gil and Laurie.
The family would like to thank all the caregivers that helped Gil on his long journey but a special thank you goes to Mary Weir who helped Gil and his family for the past 4 years during the hardest part of his journey. Thank you Mary for helping us care for this amazing and much loved man during his last days.
Services will be held at a later date.
Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to sign Gil’s online guest book.
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