Obituary: Robert James Bradley

Robert James Bradley, 87, of Sarasota and formerly of Longboat Key, died Jan. 22.

Born March 16, 1922, in Jersey City, N.J., he moved to Buffalo, N.Y., as a child and graduated from Kensington High School, in Buffalo. Mr. Bradley served in the U.S. Army during World War II, achieving the rank of sergeant, and spent two years in the South Pacific before he was honorably discharged in November 1945. He and his brothers, Bill and Jack, founded Bradley and Sons Roofing. Mr. Bradley went on to start a building-supply business and eventually owned and managed multiple nursing homes and commercial real-estate properties in Western New York and Florida.

In the early 1990s, Mr. Bradley moved to Longboat Key. He was a former member of the Longboat Key Club. He enjoyed golf, tennis and skiing.

Mr. Bradley was preceded in death by his sons, Michael and Jeffrey. He is survived by his sons Robert Jr., Gregory, Steven and Douglas; daughters Kathleen Donahue, Susan Ulrich and Amy Bortner; friend and former wife Arlene Bradley; brother, John; 21 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at First Presbyterian Church of East Aurora, 9 Paine St., East Aurora, N.Y., 14052.