Friends, family and employees of the late John D. Bradley said their final goodbyes this week.
Following a private funeral in Dover, a celebration of the late developer's life was held Monday at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre.
Marianne Lucio still works with the Bradley family. She says he wanted to keep his empire growing.
"Obviously with the apartment buildings and shopping plazas, when all of this was very new to Chatham. He was already planning and doing those things, and he had more vision for this city."
Janet Bernreuter's parents worked for the Bradley family, and she says the man behind the vision was a great one.
"Very generous. When we look at various parts of Chatham, we can thank, not only John, but his brothers Bob and Dave for being so interested in their community."
A photo of John D. Bradley (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)
In addition to his entrepreneurial spirit, Bradley also had a charitable one as well. Diana Doyon worked with Bradley at the Wheels Inn for 30 years. When she was trying to get her autistic son to see a specialist in Chicago, Bradley organized a fundraiser to pay for their travel and lodgings. Doyon's son went from being non-verbal to speaking, and she says she has Bradley to thank for that.
"He always smiled every time I saw him in the hallway. I'll think of him as someone who made a huge impression."
Bradley was behind multiple Chatham-area developments including the Thames-Lea Plaza and the Chatham Holiday Inn. He died earlier this month at the age of 90 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's.
