Mark Brodsky, an attorney and former councilman for both Olivette and St. Louis County, died Thursday, Nov. 24, at Missouri Baptist Medical Center of complications related to a stroke. He was 56, and had been a resident of Glendale.

Mr. Brodsky was born in St. Louis and graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in 1973 and from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. after only two years with majors in journalism and sociology. He earned his doctor of law degree from the Washington University School of Law in 1979.

Mr. Brodsky served on the Olivette City Council from 1977 to 1980 and unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat for a seat on the St. Louis County Council in 1982. He later switched parties and ran successfully as a Republican for the 3rd District seat on the St. Louis County Council in November 1994. He resigned for health reasons in March 1997.

Mr. Brodsky’s service on the St. Louis County Council was praised by Kurt Odenwald, chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, who served on the County Council with Mr. Brodsky, saying that he was attentive to his constituents and “wanted to do what was right for them.”

From 1977 to 2009, Mr. Brodsky worked for the Missouri Department of Social Services’ Division of Legal Services as an administrative hearing officer. His wife, Mary Randall Brodsky said that he was “very passionate about his work,” and would conduct hearings and appeals for people who came to him when they were denied Medicaid or other benefits.

Mr. Brodsky served on the boards of the St. Louis Chapters of the American Liver Foundation and the American Jewish Committee. Nancy Lisker, regional director of AJC-St. Louis, responded with “great sadness” to the passing of Mr. Brodsky, who joined AJC’s Policy Board this year. “He won us all with his thoughtfulness, careful approach to complex issues and very importantly, his kind and mild manner,” Lisker said.

In addition to his wife, survivors include three sisters, Diane Brodsky (Ron) Greenspan, Donna Brodsky and Lisa Brodsky Schwartz, all of the St. Louis area.

A funeral service was held Monday at Temple Israel. Burial was at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery.