Patsy Brandt, past JFCS president and devoted volunteer, dies at 66

PATSY BRANDT Patsy Auerbach Brandt, a devoted volunteer and past president of Samost Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS), died on Jan. 12. A Cherry Hill resident, she was 66.

Mrs. Brandt served on the JFCS Board of Trustees for many years and became president of JFCS, an agency of the Jewish Federation, in 1987. She served from 1987 through 1989. She followed in the footsteps of her late father, Carl Auerbach, who served as JFCS president from 1980-1981.

Together with her sister, author Carol Saline, Mrs. Brandt set up the Carl Auerbach Friends of Jewish Family Service Fund to provide homemaker services to seniors living in their homes. The fund is now called the JFCS Friends Campaign.

“Patsy was driving force behind much of the growth of our agency in the ’80s and ’90s,” said Jennifer Dubrow Weiss, JFCS executive director. Weiss added that Mrs. Brandt was a pioneer who was determined to provide homemaker services that would allow seniors to be able to remain in their homes. She also was active in JFCS’ efforts to resettle immigrants from the Former Soviet Union.

“Our community mourns the loss of Patsy, who was as lovely and gracious inside as she was on the outside,” said Joel Kaber, Jewish Federation CEO. He added that her devotion to the Jewish community, Federation giving, and the services that Federation and its agencies provide were long standing and will never be forgotten. “She fought a very brave fight against her illness to the end. Our sympathy goes to her beloved husband David, her children, her extended family, and her sister, Carol.”

In addition to her volunteer work with JFCS, Brandt was a counselor for Contact 609, a Camden County crisis-intervention hotline, for over 15 years. She was a past president of Contact 609’s Board.

Mrs. Brandt graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High School and Syracuse University. Prior to the birth of her children, she worked as a caseworker for the Camden County Board of Social Services. She was a gourmet cook. She also created and exhibited pottery and loved to travel.

She was the beloved wife of S. David Brandt. Mother of Allison (partner Mike Giesler) Brandt, Andrew (Lisa) Brandt and Lauren (Jonathan) Brandt Schloss. Sister of Carol Saline. Grandmother of four. .