The Life of George Seymour Bradley
Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 15, 2013, at a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Wisdom Chapel on the ULL Campus for Professor George S. Bradley, age 82, who died peacefully from cancer on Thursday, April 11, 2013, at his residence in Lafayette surrounded by his loved ones. Reverend Tom Ranzino, nephew, will conduct the funeral services. Interment will be in Holy Mary, Mother of God Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Ann Bell Bradley of Lafayette; his nine biological children namely, three daughters, Liz Ann Bradley, Monica B. Tauzin and her husband, Kevin and Angie B. Moreau and her husband, Andre, all of Lafayette; six sons, Steve Bradley, Phil Bradley, Tim Bradley and his wife, Marcia, Shawn Bradley and his wife, Gina, Brian Bradley and Colin Bradley, all of Lafayette; an adopted son, Walter "Yank" Rippas and his wife, Dawn, of Lafayette; three foster children, Freida Barnard of Florida, Bobbi Rue and her husband, Rob of Lafayette and Gwen Gros of Lafayette; two sisters, Pat Ranzino of Baton Rouge and Mary Wartelle of Opelousas. George is also survived by 23 grandchildren Micheline Saucier Torres, and husband Jean, Austin, Morgan, George, Lafayette and Belle Saucier, Brandon Bradley, and wife Shellie G. Bradley, Katelyn Bradley Townley, and husband Adam, Jillian Bradley, Genna, Jonathon and Alana Bradley, Colin Jr, Chelcee, and Chauncey Bradley, Tyler, Caroline and Francesca Tauzin, Camille and Joel Moreau, Brandi Vincent, Katherine Rippas Cordes, Liz Rippas Hebert, 3 great grandchildren Elle Bradley, Vivian Torres, Lily-Cait Bradley and one on the way .
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Harrison Bradley and the former Louisiana Guilbeau; a son, Kevin Bradley and two brothers, Joe Bradley and John Bradley.
George S. Bradley was born on August 8, 1930 in Washington, DC and was a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana. He was a veteran of military service, having proudly served in the United States Marine Corp. George was a graduate of SLI (now ULL) and received a Masters in English at Marquette University in 1956. George taught English and Speech and Debate in Opelousas and then in Green Bay, Wisconsin and served as a Professor of English at USL (now ULL) from 1965-1996. George also worked for Bradley Abstracting and was known for his extensive and exacting research skills utilized in this field and was endeared to all of the courthouse staff in many South Louisiana parishes.
George truly lived and completely embraced the world of academia. The world was his classroom and any one who carried on a conversation with him was affected by his intense desire to make each of us better students, teachers, Christians and human beings.
The Newman Club at Our Lady of Wisdom Church at ULL has a special place in the Bradleys’ hearts as it was the place where George met and fell in love with the love of his life, Patricia Bell. Theirs was a true love affair of that lasted over 62 years. Until the day he passed, George adored Patricia and his piercing blue eyes lit up every time his Patricia walked in the room or entered his mind.
Second only to the love he had for his wife and family, George loved the art of language. His characteristic adoration of language allowed him to connect with others. At his core, he had an inexhaustible curiosity about others and an immeasurable love of humanity. He was never afraid to critique one’s language skills, written or spoken, for genuine constructive purposes, yet did so out of love and compassion. George had a way of making you love him and fear him in equal measure. He had a witty intellect, was compassionate and generous to a fault, He will be remembered for his incessant teasing as well as his grizzly hugs and kisses to all he met, male or female, friend or stranger. His legacy not only lives on with his children and grandchildren, but with all the students, friends and strangers whose lives he touched.
George was especially progressive in his political views and was a true soldier of social justice. So much so that he received personal acknowledgements from John F. Kennedy for his efforts as an integral member of the state’s Democratic Party Committee back in the 1960’s.
Throughout his life, all he who knew George were affected by his strong core belief in the tenets of the Catholic religion. George was a true Christian and was at the forefront of the lay apostle community in the 1950s and 1960s.
George served on the Board of Directors of S.M.I.L.E. Community Action Agency, one of Acadiana’s leading anti-poverty agencies, as well as Gate House Foundation, a homeless shelter, and was intricately involved with Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity
Pallbearers will be Steve, Phil, Tim, Shawn, Brian, and Colin Bradley, Yank Rippas and Eric Waltner.
The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille''s DOWNTOWN location on Sunday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Monday from 8 AM until time of service.
A Rosary will be prayed by Euna Mae Hargrave and Angelle Smith on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 6:30 PM in Martin & Castille Funeral Home.
The family would like to thank all those with Hospice of Acadiana as well as the medical staff at Lourdes Hospital for their kind and compassionate care. Special thanks goes out to Hospice nurse Iggy Landry, Dr. Angela Snow and his caregiver Gladys Bellard as well as everyone for their prayers and support over the past few weeks.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Professor Bradley''s name to Hospice of Acadiana , 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200, Lafayette, Louisiana as well as the Ragin Cajun Catholics Ministry at Our Lady of Wisdom P.O. Box 42371, Lafayette LA 70504 or donate online to ragincajuncatholics@org.
Recommendation for parking for Our Lady of Wisdom Chapel on the ULL Campus will be directed to the Olivier Parking Tower on McKinley Street behind Angelle Hall.
Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN-330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311
