Arthur "Art" Badger Bradbury

Art’s life was distinguished by his love of family, respect for mankind, service to country and community, success in business, zest for life and enthusiasm for music and the arts.

Art and Charlotte made their home in East Hartford for more than 70 years. They raised four children and have enjoyed the admiration of 10 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and a close-knit network of family and friends throughout New England, across the United States and around the world.

Art was born Nov. 19, 1925 in Schenectady, N.Y., one of five children of the late Burke and Velma (Badger) Bradbury. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in World War II and flew as an Aviation Radioman 2nd Class in a TBM Avenger aircraft aboard the carrier U.S.S. Essex in the South Pacific.

Before the war, Art’s family had moved to Connecticut, where he met the beautiful and brilliant Charlotte Howell. After the war, Art enrolled at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, and a year later proposed to Charlotte. Their first home was in veterans’ housing on the Bates campus.

After graduation, Art went to work for Aetna Life and Casualty in Hartford. He worked at the Aetna for 36 years and retired as a Department Manager in the Group Insurance Division.

Art was a member of the East Hartford Rotary Club for more than 50 years. He was a past president of the club and a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest form of Rotary recognition. Through Rotary, Art and Charlotte hosted numerous foreign exchange students and developed many enduring friendships.

Art and Charlotte were members of the South Congregational Church, where they served on a host of committees, sang in the choir and appeared in theatrical productions.

He performed in comedies and musicals for the Little Theater of Manchester. At the age of 90, in his last performance at Little Theater, he mastered more than 1,000 lines for his role as the Grandfather in “You Can’t Take It With You”.

Art’s thespian skills extended to years of volunteer work recording audio books for the blind for the Connecticut State Library.

Art’s vocal warmth and talent on the harmonica were hallmarks of the Bradbury family Celtic music group, the Hibernians, which performed for years at public and private venues around New England.

His ability as an artist was displayed in the pages of the East Hartford Gazette, where he drew the “Dewey Duz Good” cartoon.

Art and Charlotte have been avid travelers; their favorite destinations included England, Scotland and the Canary Islands.

Art and his siblings held fond memories of childhood visits to Ocean Park, Maine, which has engendered a tradition of family reunions attended by over 100 relatives and friends for more than 60 years.

Art and his family were charter members of Glenbrook Swim Club in East Hartford. In his retirement, he enjoyed daily swims in his backyard pool. He also enjoyed golf.

Art was a sports fan, especially of the University of Connecticut women’s and men’s basketball and football teams; the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox.

He will be dearly missed on the annual family tradition of cutting down Christmas trees.

Art will be remembered as a true gentleman and a devoted and proud father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

Besides his beloved wife and soulmate, Charlotte, Art will be missed by his four children: Lynn Bradbury of Lubec, Maine; Patricia Heslin and husband, Thomas, of North Providence, Rhode Island; Rick Bradbury and partner, Windy Brown, of Bar Harbor, Maine, and Russell Bradbury and wife, Mary, of East Hartford; 10 grandchildren: Abby, Oliver, Tobyn, Molana, Kathleen, Kristine, Meghan, Joshua, Katelyn and Sarah; 23 great-grandchildren; sister, Enid Heyse of Milford; and brother, Robert Bradbury and wife, Beverley, of Flowery Branch, Georgia. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Along with his parents, Art was pre-deceased by his sister, Patricia Baldwin, and his brother, Burke Bradbury, Jr.

A memorial service celebrating Art’s life will be held at the South Congregational Church, 1301 Forbes Street, East Hartford, on Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 2 pm. Military honors and burial will follow outside on the church grounds. Art's family will receive relatives and friends in Charrier Hall at the church immediately after the services.

The family would like to thank the staff at Addison Place Thrive Unit, Glastonbury, for caring for Art.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Art’s name may be made to the East Hartford Rotary Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 380035, East Hartford, CT 06138-0035. The D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter St., East Hartford, has been entrusted with the care of the funeral arrangements. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.