The Reverend Carol Brody—dedicated religious educator, lover of nature, gardening, and the arts—died on 17 November 2016 at the age of 88. She is remembered by friends and colleagues for her powerful personal presence, her “take charge” attitude, and “a twinkle in her eye that could brighten up a dull meeting.”

Caroline Irene Yagello was born in Euclid, Ohio, on 20 April 1928 to Louise and John Yagello (Polish: Jagiełło). She grew up in Cleveland, and briefly attended Otterbein University, near Columbus (1946-47). She disliked her first name and from a young age shortened it to “Carol.”

After marriage to Paul Brody in 1950, moving to Columbus (Ohio) in 1958, and joining the Unitarian church there, Carol quickly found a passion for religious education. By 1965 she had become Director of RE and in 1975, while still raising four children, began classes at Methodist Theological School in Ohio, earning an M.Div. in 1984. Meanwhile, the Columbus congregation had ordained her as their Minister of Religious Education in 1981. After over three decades of service at that church, Carol retired in 1994 and was named Minister Emerita in 1999.

In the wider UU network, the Rev’d Ms. Brody served as inaugural chair of the UUA’s Women and Religion Committee as well as field service consultant (equivalent to a later era’s “district executive”) in the UUA’s Ohio- Meadville District (1985-94).

Carol’s spouse died in January 2016. She is survived by children Jill, John, Jim, and Jane, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations are encouraged to Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and to Clintonville Beechwold Community Resources Center. A memorial service was held on 3 December 2016 at the Columbus, OH, UU Church.