Necrology

William Sutton Bradley '56

Feb. 22, 1935-Jul. 12, 2018

William Sutton Bradley ’56, a chemicals business executive of Williamsville, N.Y., who earned a Bell Ringer Award for his long service to Hamilton, was born on Feb. 22, 1935, in Buffalo, N.Y. He was the son of the former Helen Sutton, a registered nurse, and Donald Bradley ’28, president of Commercial Chemicals Inc. of Buffalo. He graduated from the Nichols School in Buffalo.

At the College, Bradley majored in economics and Spanish. He played on the men’s ice hockey and tennis teams, wrote for the Hamiltonian and the Spectator, and was a member of the Spanish Club, Economics Club, College Choir, and Psi Upsilon.

Reminiscing for his 40th reunion yearbook, Bradley recalled the influence of Hamilton on his life: “Having been born to a Hamilton parent, the College was woven through all aspects of my life. No one could sort out where all the credit is due.” As a result, he remained a loyal contributor to Hamilton’s various fundraising campaigns, following in the footsteps of his parents, who established the Bradley Scholarship Fund.

Bradley earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School in 1957. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1961, stationed in Japan. Throughout his professional life, Bradley worked in various capacities in the family chemicals business, including as president of the company. The business was sold in 1995.

Throughout his life, Bradley maintained close ties to his alma mater. His extensive list of volunteer activities on behalf of Hamilton culminated with his chairmanship of the Alumni Association from 1986 to 1988. He was honored in 1994 with the Bell Ringer Award, presented annually in recognition of exceptional service to the College, its alumni, and the community, over the course of the recipient’s lifetime.

Bradley also devoted ample time in service to his community as a regular host of international students through the Rotary Club of Buffalo and in leadership roles with the United Way, Salvation Army, and several other organizations.

William S. Bradley died on July 12, 2018. He was 83 years old. Along with his wife, the former Nelly van Leeuwen, whom he had married in 1959, Bradley is survived by four children, Peter Bradley ’82, David Bradley ’83, Timothy Bradley ’86, and Michelle Bradley ’89; and eight grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Donald Bradley ’62, just a few weeks earlier on June 20.

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