Dr. Sylvia Ciernick Broady

Feb 1, 1925 -

Apr 15, 2021

Born on Feb. 1, 1925, in Dearborn, Mich., to Frank and Helen Ciernick, Dr. Sylvia Broady passed away on April 15, 2021, in Poulsbo, Wash.

Armed with her B.A. in journalism and Doctorate in communications from Michigan State University, she was hired as professor/director of public information at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1963.

Sylvia left work in 1966, to marry Tom Broady, an electrical engineer at the U.S. Naval Arctic Research Lab in Barrow, Alaska, where the couple lived for three years.

Tom's job took them Legos, Nigeria, for three years, and Juddah, Saudia Arabia, for two. They traveled through Europe before returning to Anchorage. Sylvia resumed her career as professor and chair of the University of Alaska Anchorage's Journalism and Public Communications department in 1980. Tom died in 1992. Sylvia retired in 1995, but returned to UAA in 1999 as interim vice chancellor.

In 2003, Sylvia married John Strohmeyer, UAA's Atwood Chair of Journalism. They lived – and fished – in Alaska during summers, wintered in Florida, and traveled widely. John died in 2010.

Sylvia's career brought her much recognition, including Communicator of Achievement from Alaska Press Women, Professional of the Year from the Advertising Federation of Alaska, and Lifetime of Dedication honors from Alaska Press Club, Public Relations Society of America and National Federation of Press Women.

She moved to Bainbridge Island, Wash., in 2015, and to Poulsbo four years later. She was preceded in death by brother, Dan Ciernick; his wife, Rosemary; and nephew, Frank. She is survived by nephews, John, Bernard, Vincent (Valerie Armand); nieces, Mary Ann Phillips (Andy); Helen Ciernick and Rose Barnsley; their children; her stepchildren, Sarah Strohmeyer Merriman, John Strohmeyer,and their children; and her extended family of friends.

Donations: University of Alaska Foundation and Bainbridge's Helpline House. Please see her detailed obituary and post remembrances at cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island.