When Martin George Brodwin was named one of Cal State Los Angeles’ outstanding professors in 2004-05, the final two notes of a congratulatory press release included a unique accolade among his peers.

A pair of students detailed how the La Cañada Flintridge resident changed their lives.

One student wrote: “This instructor makes going to school worthwhile. His understanding of student’s needs, his thoughtfulness, and caring are rare. He’s excellent.”

Another noted: “He’s very inspirational and encouraging. Because of him, I am actually considering getting a master’s degree.”

A good portion of Brodwin’s career was dedicated to students both in and outside the classroom.

The 30-plus-year teaching veteran passed away on April 24 at sunset, his family confirmed in an email to the University Times. He was 81 years old.

Brodwin is survived by his brother, Bennet, his wife, Sandra, his daughter, Erin, and his grandchild, Ezra Brodling.

Brodwin earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles and his doctorate from Michigan State University. He went on to become a Distinguished Professor at Cal State LA, where he chaired the Department of Rehabilitation and wrote the book on the subject used in over 50 universities throughout the country.

Brodwin mentored and advised thousands of students for 31 years.

He came to Cal State LA in 1988 from Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey. Before that, he and his wife, Sandra, built their own counseling agency.

Brodwin wrote in a school biography that the agency assisted injured workers return to the field. He began teaching at Cal State LA in a part-time manner in 1987.

Brodwin was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 1, 1944, to parents Dorothy Brodwin and Allen Brodwin.

Among his many awards are the 2004 CSU systemwide Wang Family Excellence Award and the 2005 Cal State LA President’s Distinguished Professor Award.

His 2004 award was accompanied with a $20,000 grant.

James M. Rosser, Cal State LA’s president at the time, lauded Brodwin for his “dedication and efforts, which have played a key part in making Cal State L.A. and the CSU outstanding leaders in the field of rehabilitation education.”

Brodwin eventually began the coordinator for Cal State LA’s undergraduate program in rehabilitation services and graduate program in rehabilitation counseling.

He and a colleague received a $750,000 four-year Department of Education grant in 1996 for a training program directed toward rehabilitation counseling and special education graduate students.

Outside of work, Brodwin was known for his sarcastic wit and love of Salvador Dalí and science fiction. The overarching theme tying together all of his experiences and preferences was simple: It was about imagining a better world, a more fair, just, and equitable one, his family said.