Robert Edward Bradford

Robert Edward (Bob) Bradford, known to many as “Bobby B,” entered his fifth quarter and became our angel on January 3, 2026, after a multi-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born June 10, 1947 to Edward and Helena (Hallie) Bradford, Bob grew up in Natick, Massachusetts alongside his four surviving sisters (Carol Dignan, Dianne Doppler (Paul) , Muriel Rose (Richard) and Kathie Hessler), watching American Bandstand, going to drive-in movies, and riding his bike with his baseball cards in the spokes (for the engine sound of course). While relishing his role as the “Crown Prince” and his mother’s favorite, he developed a love for sports and competition at a young age, playing football, baseball, (and a bit of track and wrestling) until his graduation from Natick High School in 1965. He went on to play defensive back at Northeastern University, after which he began his life’s work as a husband, father, teacher, friend, guidance counselor and football and baseball coach.

Bob’s first adult chapter began in Holliston, Massachusetts, where he raised his children, Lisa Cooney (Jack) and Jeffrey Bradford, with his first wife Joanne Bradford (who was taken by cancer in 2004). He taught, coached and mentored thousands of students and players, serving as Holliston’s head football coach from 1983-1989, leading the Panthers to a state title in 1989. After shoveling too many driveways, and an actual football field, the Bradfords moved to Naples, Florida in 1990, after which Bob taught and mentored many more students at East Naples Middle School and Naples High School, where he was an assistant and head football coach for several years until he retired from coaching in 1998.

Naples High is where Bob met his soulmate, Molly Bradford, who he wed in 2006, after which they relocated to the Orlando, Florida area to be closer to Bob’s bonus daughter, Julie Helton, and her husband Sean and where he continued as a guidance counselor at Freedom High School. Over their 20-year marriage, Bob and Molly lived life to the fullest, before and after retirement. They loved partying with their Trilogy family, golfing, playing cards and games, and traveling with family and friends, particularly close friends Candy and Garry Hough and Kerry and Mike Ward, and more often than not on cruise ships. In fact, Bob was known for booking cruises on the spur of the moment while drinking with Molly and her family (including her sister Kathy Culler and niece Carrey VanDyne) on the beach. Most of all, they relished spending time with their grandchildren Dillon Cooney, Cameron Cooney and Bethany Bradford, of whom he was so very proud. We all share countless memories spending time together in Florida and on Cape Cod (and of course, the cruises): swimming, bowling, having shaving cream wars, horseback riding on the beach, watching movies, eating cold pizza, and of course drinking Fireball, introduced to Bob by his son-in-law, Jack Cooney.

To say Bob touched many lives is an understatement. Just a few sentiments from his students, players and loved ones upon his retirement:

• “I will never forget the impact he had on me as an athlete…but also as the human being and man I wanted to be.”

• “Your confidence and words of support is what has gotten me where I am today. You are the fatherly figure I grew up without.”

• “You will be one of the main reasons why I have succeeded in life and became the best I could be.”

• “You helped make what everyone else called impossible, possible.”

• “You helped me believe that no dream is too big despite how unrealistic it may seem.”

• “He made us the men that we are today.”

• “He is the spark plug of our family.”

As he headed into his final chapter, Bob confronted his dementia like past life challenges, with ferocity, grit and humor. Even as he began to lose his memory, mobility and speech, he continued to put others first, bringing us tissues when we cried, thanking us when we helped him after a fall and apologizing to others if he uncharacteristically called them a bad name. Fortunately, the disease never robbed him of giving his amazing hugs and until his final days, he never forgot his jersey number, 32.

Bobby B, you will be in our hearts forever.

As you mourn Bob’s passing and reflect on how he touched your lives, please consider making a donation to Alzheimer’s research, including through the national Alzheimer’s Association, using the link below. It’s time to tackle this disease once and for all.