Signe Astrid (née Jonsson) Brightman, M.D., 89, of Merion Station, PA, died peacefully on February 22, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was born in New York City on July 18, 1935, and was the only child of the late Harry Jonsson and Reintraut Eickmann, Ph.D. She received her primary and secondary educations in West New York, NJ; and then earned her BA in English from Cornell University (1956). Between 1958 and 1962, Signe completed medical school at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania and her internship at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. During that period, she attended a graduate class at the University of Chicago, where she met her late husband, Vernon J. Brightman, D.D.S., Ph.D.

With Vernon, a native of Australia, she lived in Brisbane, and worked at the University of Queensland Medical School for two years. Upon their return to the Philadelphia area, Signe worked as a research assistant (Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania) and instructor (University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine). After taking time off to start and raise her family, Dr. Brightman returned to the medical field after 15 years. Her professional contributions between 1986 through her retirement included teaching and research roles at the: The Medical College of Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine; Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science; and both Philadelphia and Warminster General Hospitals.

She and Vernon shared a commitment to fostering the patient/physician relationship; they encouraged their students at the University of Pennsylvania Dental School to listen to a patient's concerns and understand their personality while assessing their medical condition. The Vernon Brightman Research Society, the Dental School's primary student research organization, was created upon Vernon's passing. Signe remained involved in the Society into her later years, regularly attending the annual presentation of student research projects.

A pathologist, Dr. Brightman maintained long-time memberships in organizations such as the American Association of Blood Banks. For three decades, she helped organize and recruit donors to the St. Margaret's Church (Narberth, PA) biannual blood drives sponsored by the American Red Cross. Dr. Brightman regularly donated blood and platelets until her health prevented her from doing so. For many years, she volunteered for the American Cancer Society's "Daffodil Days" campaign. She was also a member of the Philadelphia Club of Medical Women.

Signe had many interests outside of medicine; first and foremost were her immediate family - sons Thomas, Julian, and David, and grandchildren Sophia, Maxwell, and Leah. She loved dogs of all types, and they loved her. She especially enjoyed meeting neighborhood dogs on her daily walks to St. Margaret's Church for mass, and at Shortridge Memorial Park where she would visit as often as possible. She read extensively, and was an active member of the "Women of Mystery" book club sponsored by the Narberth Community Library. She also served as President and Treasurer of the Bala-Cynwyd Library Board. She corresponded with, and visited, many friends at the New Norcia Benedictine Monastery and Community in Western Australia, as well as the Benedictine Sisters of Devon, PA and Branford, CT. For many years, Signe took Latin classes at the St. Charles Borromeo seminary, developing a deep understanding of the language through reading, writing, and translation. Having sung in both the Sage Chapel Choir as well as in Gilbert and Sullivan productions at Cornell, she passed along her love of music, as well as the arts, to her children and their families. Each Christmas season, she enjoyed the family tradition of seeing Handel's Messiah performed by Vox Ama Deus.

Dr. Brightman was predeceased by Vernon in 1997, and she is survived by her children Thomas (Tara Tracy); Julian; and David (Kimberly) and their children Sophia, Maxwell, and Leah. Her extended Australian family includes nieces and nephews Rodney, Judy, Alistair, Libby, and Jon, their spouses, children and grandchildren. Signe also leaves many colleagues, close friends, and neighbors, all of whom also valued her kindness, thoughtfulness, and sense of humor.

Family and friends are invited on April 5, 2025 to celebrate Signe's life with visitation from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, and Funeral Mass following at 10:30 am; both will be held at St. Margaret of Antioch Church, 208 N Narberth Ave., Narberth PA 19072. A reception will follow in St. Margaret's Antioch Annex, at the same location. A livestream will be available at: https://saintmarg.org/livestream (The recording will be available for 90 days at the same link) Dr. Brightman's remains will be interred alongside Vernon's in the Brightman family burial plot in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

In lieu of flowers, Signe's family suggests a donation to any of the following:

(1) the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine honoring Signe and Vernon's legacy, especially student research (donations can be made online at www.dental.upenn.edu/BrightmanTribute , noting "Signe Brightman" in the Memorial section);

(2) the Providence Animal Center in Media, PA, https://providenceac.org/support-us/donate/memorial/ , where many of her canine friends at Shortridge Memorial Park were adopted;

(3) of blood or platelets at your local American Red Cross donation center or community blood drive.

** photo credit to Alistair Brightman