My cousin, Dave Thomas (Class 1964) passed this obit along to me. I had the pleasure of having Coach Bradford coach me in Cross Country for ether two or three years. While not favorably impressed at the time (because it took so much work), I learned very valuable life lessons from Coach Bradford. He was very serious about coaching, and in getting the best out of his runners. He was extremely prepared and disciplined. He knew exactly how to produce high-caliber runners as displayed by the success of many teams during his coaching years. (NOTE: for some unfathomable reason, I still have all of his weekly coaching assignments.)
If anyone has any Coach Bradford stories, please feel free to reply to this email- your thoughts will be posted to share with classmates. Chris Grady
December 5, 1923 – December 15, 2014 Jack Taggard Bradford, age 91, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed peacefully from death to eternal life on Monday, December 15, 2014. Jack and Barbara, his wife of 61 years, had recently moved from their long-time home at Emerald Bay in Laguna Beach, to Rowntree Gardens Senior Living Community in Stanton, CA. Jack was born in Pasadena, CA on December 5, 1923 and grew up in San Marino. His parents were Luther Taggard Bradford and Ruth Agnes Bradford. He attended South Pasadena-San Marino High School, Pomona College and UCLA. Jack and Barbara raised their family in San Marino and retired to Laguna Beach in 1979. Serving as a Captain attached to the 4th Marine Division during World War II (including the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he was wounded twice and received a purple heart) and the Korean War, Jack T. Bradford was proud to serve his country. We honor him for his great sacrifice. Jack is perhaps best known as a history teacher and coach at San Marino High School from 1954 until his retirement. He touched the lives of many young people through mentoring and being an encourager. His successful coaching career in tennis, golf, cross-country and track produced many league and CIF championship teams. Jack was also a Master Teacher. Lovingly known to many as “General Jack” he was more interested in the character of the young people he taught and coached than in their performance. Following his retirement from teaching, Jack enjoyed playing tennis and golf. He was an avid gardener and also volunteered several thousand hours at the South Coast Community Hospital (now known as Mission Hospital) in Laguna Beach. He loved spending time with his family and being a part of the beach community in Emerald Bay. Besides his wife, Barbara, Jack’s surviving family includes his children: Leslie Cannell (Bob) of Yuma, AZ, James Galbreath (Shery) of Denver, CO, Kim Butts (Dave) of Terre Haute, IN, and Ruth Anne Reddick (Phil) of San Gabriel, CA; his sister, Nancy Butler of Corrales, NM; eight grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. At Jack’s request, a private family service is being held on the beach in his favorite place, Emerald Bay. Son-in-law, Rev. David Butts, will officiate. There will be an open house to celebrate Jack’s life for all who would like to attend from 1:30 – 4 PM on Saturday, January 31 in the Fireside Room at Rowntree Gardens (formerly Quaker Gardens) located at 12151 Dale St., Stanton, CA. This is just an informal time to drop by and visit with Barbara and family. Please feel free to bring written memories, tributes and/or photos of Jack, which will be put in a memory book for the family. The family requests no flowers; however, memorial gifts in honor of the memory of Jack Bradford may be made to Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or to Pomona College.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on Jan. 22, 2015