Robert L. Bradley

PORTLAND – Robert L. Bradley, 91, of Portland and formerly of Westbrook, passed away after a brief illness on Oct. 6, 2022, at Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland.

He was born in Taunton, Mass., on June 27, 1931, the son of William D. and Ruth E. (Stratton). When Robert was 6 months old, his father was killed in an industrial accident while working for the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant. Robert, his older brother William, and their mother moved in with his maternal grandparents, where Robert was raised in a loving household with aunts and uncles who doted on him.

As a child, he spent summers on Martha’s Vineyard where his paternal great-grandparents and family had settled after emigrating from Ireland. In high school, he began working at Hanson’s Drug Store as a “carbonate engineer”, i.e. soda jerk, manning the soda fountain counter. This would prove fateful when one day, a new girl in town sat at the counter and ordered a milkshake.

Our father referred to her as, “my Elizabeth Taylor” and in 1956, he married Janet Milligan. At the time, Robert was attending the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, supported by the G.I. bill after having served his country in the U.S. Army. Upon graduation, he was employed for 31 years by Eli Lilly and Company as a pharmaceutical sales representative.

Robert and Janet relocated to Portland in 1961 where they raised a large family of five children. In 1966, they purchased a camp on Moose Pond in Denmark where their children could be outside all summer long, swimming, fishing, boating and using their imaginations to entertain themselves. Dad was ahead of his time in embracing off the grid living: there was no television, no telephone and no running hot water.

As a young man, our father was introduced to the game of squash and became an avid player as a member of the YMCA, winning many tournaments. He was an elegant downhill skier, graceful skater and remained active throughout his long life. A great reader, he especially enjoyed biographies and history. A sports fan, he enjoyed all the fall football season has to offer, the NBA, the Maine High School basketball tournament, the Red Sox, and regrettably of late, watching the dreaded New York Yankees.

Following his retirement from Eli Lilly, he worked as a pharmacist for the Rite Aid Corporation. He and Janet began travelling and together they visited many parts of the world including the British Isles, Scandinavia, Europe, and Alaska.

After Janet’s death in 2009, Dad found great companionship with Lorraine Belanger of Westbrook. Together they spent many hours at the movies, dining out about town, going to shows, Sunday mornings reading the papers, and walks at Bug Light.

In the past year, he moved from his home in Westbrook to an independent living apartment at The Park Danforth in Portland. There, he met new people and formed new friendships. Sadly, this past year was marked with tremendous grief when he lost his beloved son, Stephen, in April.

Robert is survived by his children, The Reverend Michael Bradley and his wife, Becky, of Grosse Pointe, Mich., Susan Bowman and her husband, Mark, of Portland, Linda of Portland, David and his close friend, Mary Coford, of Standish; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Janet (Milligan); his brother, William, of Taunton, Mass.; and his son, Stephen, of Sweden.

Robert will be remembered for many things, not least his sartorial flair. He leaves behind a vast collection of patterned suspenders with matching bow ties and many Ascot caps. Throughout his entire life, our father was a decent, honorable man. To his last days, he maintained his interests in books and sports and was always wanting to know, “Did you see the game last night?” He faced down the indignities of old age and died in keeping with the punctuality with which he lived: it is always best to arrive a half hour early for any appointment.

It is not unreasonable, nor irrational, for loved ones to imagine the departed in a better place. Our family hopes Mum and Dad are together again, young, beautiful, and strong. They are on a warm sunny beach and Mum is lounging on a blanket. Dad is surf casting, gazing out at an endless horizon, knowing he is precisely where he deserves to be.

Our family wishes to thank the staff at The Park Danforth for their support and assistance, Dr. Ellis Johnson and the Home Health Aides at Maine Medical Partners, and Dr. Eliot DeSilva and the nurses and staff at Northern Light Mercy Hospital.

In keeping with Robert’s wishes, his remains have been donated to the Anatomical Donor Program at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Our thanks to Hope Memorial Chapel in Biddeford for arrangements.

A memorial to honor Robert’s life will be held at a later date.

Those wishing to make donations in Robert’s name may do so to the

charity of their choice.