Liese Bronfenbrenner, the award-winning fiber artist, political activist, and wife of renowned developmental psychologist and BCTR namesake Urie Bronfenbrenner, died at her home at Kendall of Ithaca on Feb. 9, 2026. She was 105.
Liese was best known for her work in the fiber arts; her quilts, wall hangings, and handmade dolls won state and national awards. She was also a mainstay in the Ithaca Democratic Party, leading get-out-the-vote campaigns over the course of decades.
Liese was an essential part of Urie’s work, hosting guests and colleagues, planning global travel, and editing his many books and publications. After Urie’s death in 2005, she played an important role in keeping his legacy alive at Cornell.
Liese and Urie Bronfenbrenner reading to their children.
“She was a steady supporter of the Bronfenbrenner Center, the College of Human Ecology, and Cornell,” said John Eckenrode, who became director of the BCTR when it merged with Cornell’s Family Life Development Center in 2011. “We were happy to have her as a part of our family. We all felt a responsibility of living up to the legacy of Urie’s work, and she was a reminder to us and an inspiration to keep his legacy alive.”
“I first met Liese as we were setting up the new home of the BCTR in Martha Van Rensselaer Hall. The somewhat still empty space was felt even more special that she was able to see it and visit with us,” said Anthony Burrow, the current BCTR director. “Her energy and enthusiasm for the space is something I remember on many days.”
Urie and Liese married in 1942 and moved to Ithaca in 1948 when Urie joined the Cornell faculty. Together, they raised six children in a historic house in the Forest Home neighborhood near Cornell University’s Ithaca campus. Liese played an active role in organizing neighborhood events, teaching local children about art and music, and supporting the Ithaca Democratic Party.
At the same time, she provided significant support to Urie behind the scenes. She was known as a gracious hostess, often entertaining well-known guests, including Peter Yarrow of the folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary; Fred Rogers, also known as Mr. Rogers from his popular children’s show; and Bob Keeshan, also known as Captain Kangaroo.
“What she brought to the family and to dad’s amazing accomplishments was a steady, quiet hand behind the scenes – someone who loved him dearly and supported him,” said her son, Steven Bronfenbrenner.
As their children grew into adults, Liese leaned more heavily into the arts. She painted, created pottery, and became an accomplished fiber artist, exhibiting quilts across the country and receiving numerous awards.
“Later in life, she really found herself and her artwork, which is extraordinary,” said Steven. “She created gorgeous pieces. I can’t say enough about her artistic eye and her ability to create beautiful work.”
Donna Dempster-McClain, Ph.D. ‘85, was a graduate student in Human Development and Family Studies at Cornell in the 1970s and 1980s. She worked with Urie and got to know Liese well through their shared love of fiber arts.
“She taught these fabulous fiber arts classes at the Cornell Botanical Gardens that were well-known in Ithaca,” said Dempster-McClain. “She was truly multi-talented. And she was wonderfully active in the Forest Home community.”
In her later years, Liese remained active in the Ithaca Democratic Party and women’s group, helping to coordinate elections at Kendal at Ithaca, the senior living community where she lived.
Liese is survived by her six children, Michael, Steven, Beth, Mary, Kate, and Ann, along with 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
