John Bradford Kent

Born in Brockton, MA, he grew up in Boston and attended Boston Latin School for six years and played on the ice hockey team. Following enlistment in the US Army, Brad continued his education at Boston University earning a bachelor’s degree in Slavic languages; and then at Harvard University earning a master’s degree in East Asian Studies. He was a gifted linguist and polyglot. Brad had linguistic fluency in Russian, Chinese, French, German, and Polish languages. This expertise aided Brad’s career in public service that included working for both the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and US Department of the Treasury while residing in Falls Church, Virginia.

Brad’s lifelong passion for sports included ten years of coaching the Georgetown University ice hockey team (1991-2002). During his leadership the Georgetown hockey team celebrated three League Championships including an undefeated season (1997). Brad & Lee left Falls Church, VA in 2002 to settle in Cumaquid on Cape Cod where he formed Gerihatricks II (competitive Ice Hockey for players 65+ years). Brad competed with the Gerihatricks II until the age of 82 and the league continues to thrive. An avid sports fan, Brad closely followed the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, and Boston Red Sox…rarely missing a game.

In addition to career achievements and sports, Brad was deeply involved in the intellectual and social communities he cherished. He was a proud member of the National Press Club and a founding member of the Harvard Club of Washington D.C. and co-chaired the Schools & Scholarship Committee, supporting future generations of scholars. Brad was also a member and past-President of the Harvard Club of Cape Cod. He was a voracious reader of books and periodicals; and not a day went by that he didn’t read the NY Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and the Cape Cod Times. Brad particularly enjoyed writing letters to the editor of the Cape Cod Times with a liberal slant that were often published. The follow-up letters failing to disparage Brad’s opinions made him chuckle.

Brad is survived by his beloved wife Nathalie (Farley) Kent known as Lee; son John B. Kent, Jr. known as Jay of Bedford, TX; daughter Margot Kent Phillips and her husband Jeff Phillips of Beauford, SC; granddaughter Karli Kent of Euless, TX; great-grandson Teagan Kent Willoughby of Eusless, TX; nephew David Adams, nieces Colleen Adams and Brittany Adams, and godson Christopher Adams all of Fairfield, CT; nephew Justin Adams of Vero Beach, FL; and niece Laura Ackers of FL.

A Celebration of Life will be held at his home in Cumaquid in early summer.

Donations can be made in Brad’s memory to Broad Reach Hospice of Cape Cod with Lee’s thanks for excellent palliative care by nurse Jean Butter (Brad’s primary caregiver), and EMT Services by Barnstable Village Fire Department Local 3276.