William H. Bromley, a chiropractor of many interests

When Dr. William H. Bromley was a child living in Florida, he came down with a case of shingles.

"He went to a distant uncle that practiced chiropractic and it helped him," a son, Dr. William H. Bromley II, said.

So a career path was set.

"He liked helping people," said his son, a family-practice physician. "He liked doing it without chemicals and medicine."

On Monday, Oct. 27, Dr. Bromley, 78, of Haddonfield, head of the Bromley Health Center in Audubon and president of the American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists in 1986-87 and 2005-06, died of cancer at his home.

The American Chiropractic Association, for which he was president in 1974-75, named him its Chiropractor of the Year in 1976.

That specialty is described as the improvement of the function of bones, muscles, joints, and their nerve supply.

His diverse interests were reflected in the roles that he played beyond medicine.

He was a member of the board of directors of the Haddonfield Symphony in 1990-93, a trustee of the Cooper River Rowing Association from 1999 to 2013, and a trustee of the Ronald McDonald House in Camden from 2006 to 2012.

Dr. Bromley played no musical instrument and "never rowed in his life," his son said.

"But he was an integral part of building the boathouse" for the Rowing Association.

"He had a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm," his son said.

Born in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Dr. Bromley earned a bachelor's in psychology at Pennsylvania State University in 1959 and a doctorate at the Lincoln Chiropractic College in Indianapolis in 1961.

After beginning his career with a colleague, Dr. Bromley opened the Bromley Health Center in Audubon in 1967, which has housed both his offices and those of his son William.

Dr. Bromley was president of the New Jersey Chiropractic Society in 1969.

He was president of the American Chiropractic Association's Council of State Delegates in 1972-73 and ACA's international education director from 1975 to 1984.

He was named a fellow of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists in 1983.

Dr. Bromley served two terms as president of the National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Co., in 1980-83 and in 1986-89.

The firm, his son said, "is a malpractice insurance company for chiropractics only."

Dr. Bromley was a member of what is now Rotary International for more than 50 years, serving as president of the Rotary Club of Audubon in 1966-67, president of the South Jersey Rotary Golf Association in 1973-84, president of the Rotary Club of Haddonfield in 1997-98, and governor of Rotary District 7640 in 2001-02.

Dr. James Tassini, an ophthalmologist, had known Dr. Bromley for more than 25 years through his Rotary work.

"Bill was very instrumental in the work that we did for the Fellowship House in South Camden," Tassini said.

Among its attributes, Tassini said, Fellowship House "is a place where children can go after school. It gives children a safe place after school."

In this and other ways, he said, Dr. Bromley "was one of the cheerleaders for our Rotary Club in Haddonfield."

A member of the board of governors of Tavistock Country Club from 1988 to 1997, he was a member of the Virtua Hospital Golf Committee from 1996 to 2011.

Besides his son William, Dr. Bromley is survived by Lois, his wife of 53 years; sons Mark and Steven; daughter Constance Loggans; and 10 grandchildren.

A visitation was set from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at the United Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Rd., Haddonfield, before a funeral there at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Donations may be sent to the Rotary Club of Haddonfield Foundation, P.O. Box 383, Haddonfield 08033. Condolences may be offered to the family at kainmurphy.com.

610-313-8134 @WNaedele