President of one of Alabama’s oldest businesses dead at 67: ‘A true Southern gentleman’

BusinessRicky Bromberg is shown in this 2020 file photo.Bromberg'sBy William Thornton | wthornton@al.comThe president of one of Alabama’s oldest businesses has died. Frederick Wilkinson “Ricky” Bromberg, 67, died on Wednesday, according to his obituary. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, with visitation following the service. Bromberg was the sixth generation of his family to head Bromberg & Co., the Mountain Brook-based jewelry company. Founded in 1836, Bromberg’s is the oldest family-owned retailer in the U.S.Bromberg’s obituary remembered him as “a Southern gentleman in every sense of the word.”“He valued tradition, believed in doing things properly, and was rarely seen without a suit and tie,” the obituary reads. “Beneath that formality was a warm and genuine man with a wonderful dry sense of humor and a sincere interest in others. He was compassionate, dependable, and honest.”Ricky Bromberg’s first job with the company was operating the elevator at the downtown Birmingham store. He kept the first 50-cent piece he earned there, and went on to work for 43 years with Bromberg’s. He received training through Macy’s Management Executive Development Program in New York City in preparation for his role. During his career, he served in several offices, as a member of The University of Alabama President’s Cabinet, chairman of the Alabama Retail Association and president of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.He is survived by his wife Nancy and son Wil, among many family members. Bromberg called the business “a legacy brand” but said in a 2020 interview that it was important for the company to remain timeless. He said the Bromberg name represented more than just himself. “I just happen to have that last name,” he said. “I think we change with the times. But I also think there are some things that are timeless,” he said. “Certainly, the products we carry within our classifications have evolved over time. I think that’s where we stick with our mission to be luxurious, whatever that might be.”William Thornton is a business reporter for AL.com. He has been full-time in media since 1993, with experience reporting on local government, education, courts, crime and sports. His printed and online work has...