Heather Brodhead
As a child in Cincinnati, Heather overheard her mother tell someone, “Heather plays well by herself and never gets bored.” An early report card said, “Heather would do well to spend less time gazing out the window at the birds.”It was assumed that, in addition to becoming a wife and mother, she would “become an artist,” so she studied art at Skidmore College, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and the School of Visual Arts in New York. At the latter she focused on the commercial aspects of art and found it was not for her.
Having been commissioned to make mobile sculptures as well as some scientific and medical illustrations she found that she lacked enthusiasm for doing this full-time as well. Arriving in New York, Heather had taken a job in customer service with an international business service. She excelled at it, but it too was unfulfilling. As for “becoming a wife and mother” part? That wasn’t happening either. Things looked bleak, but help was on the way. She sought out the psychiatrist Thomas Hora, a God-centered spiritual teacher and founder of an approach to healing which he named “Metapsychiatry.” With his help, Heather reoriented her outlook on life as she integrated the ideas of Metapsychiatry. Her life purpose was clarified: understand what it means “to be here for God” and apply it. No matter what she was doing or where she was, this became her true employment and she found fulfillment and joy in it. At work she was promoted to manage operations in Honolulu, and later Pittsburgh. During these years she joined with other students of Metapsychiatry to form the PAGL Foundation (Peace, Assurance, Gratitude, Love) to preserve and provide access to the ideas.
In 1990 Heather left the business world and, earning a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh, became an art librarian. Her business experience proved an asset in this late-in-life career change, and she was hired by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in their Music & Art Department.
In the mid-1970s, she had begun visiting her beloved aunt, Fifi Mithoefer in Santa Barbara. In 2001, Heather left Pittsburgh to move to Santa Barbara to care for Fifi. The house on Cliff Drive became her home for the next 20 years, becoming a magnet for friends and family. Soon after arriving in Santa Barbara, Heather bumped into her Pittsburgh friend, Betsy Kain, who had since moved to Santa Barbara and was a docent at the Museum of Art. Betsy excitedly told her that the museum needed an art librarian! Heather became their librarian until she retired in 2016. Along with her other work, Heather continued to serve on the board of the PAGL Foundation and as a spiritual guide and teacher of Metapsychiatry.
Aside from her work as a librarian and with Metapsychiatry, Heather continued to exercise her artistic training and love of good design to make beautiful annual Christmas cards that embraced both her spiritual view and aesthetic. These cards, which she made throughout her life, were a highlight of the season for her friends and family.
Heather’s sister, Clover Brodhead Gowing, moved in with her after being widowed. They enjoyed the home on Cliff Drive together for several years. Heather and Clover moved to Samarkand in June of 2020, quickly adapting to life at Samarkand, making new, dear friends and bringing joy to their friends and neighbors.
Heather passed away on June 9th from pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her sister Clover, cousins Alison Carrillo, Tanny Keeler and Melissa Keeler, nephews Dan and Will Brodhead, and Dorothy Adams, her dear friend and niece-in-law, as well as countless friends and associates from Samarkand and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and of course, the PAGL Foundation.
