Bradford S. Clark's Obituary
Bradford S. Clark, Jr., of Maryland, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2025, at the age of 84.
Brad was born on August 3, 1941, in Georgetown, Kentucky, to Bradford Suter Clark and Margaret Elizabeth “Bess” Hamilton Clark. His early years were shaped by family hardship and the Second World War, which took his father overseas. After the war, Brad was raised largely on the Hamilton family farm near Stamping Ground, Kentucky, by his uncles and grandparents. Known affectionately as “Sonny” during those years, he developed a lifelong love of books, learning, and hard work, as well as a sense of gratitude to the family who helped guide his future.
Brad’s academic promise was clear from a young age. He graduated from Scott County High School at just sixteen and went on to study engineering at the University of Kentucky, where he was also a member of the Triangle Fraternity. With encouragement from his family and his own curiosity for radios, telescopes, and all things mechanical, Brad pursued what would become a distinguished career as an engineer.
He was first recruited by Bell Systems to support the Nike missile program, spending time on Ascension Island off the coast of Africa in the early 1960s. Brad then built a long and accomplished career in technology and defense, working 25 years at IBM before following the Federal Systems Division through its transitions to Loral and finally Lockheed Martin, where he continued his work for another decade before retiring. He was recognized by colleagues as both brilliant and dedicated, with a quiet but unshakable sense of responsibility for the work he did.
Brad was raised in a devout Baptist family, where the Bible was read often and many passages remembered by heart. Faith remained central throughout his life. As an adult, he was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church, becoming an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Olney, Maryland, where he served on the vestry. Brad was confirmed at the National Cathedral by Bishop John Walker and also encountered Archbishop Desmond Tutu; moments he carried with humility and reverence.
Beyond work and faith, Brad loved all things sailing, especially spending time with friends at Rehoboth Bay Sailing Association. He also had a lifelong affection for dogs, and he was preceded in death by Spot, Libby, Jake, and Mattie, and is survived by his faithful companion, Zuri.
Above all, Brad was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He married Carol Ann Croson, and together they raised three children: Carol Clark, Christine Clark (Tony Crivella), and Bradford S. Clark III (Erin McEnany). He was a proud grandfather to Emma Crivella, Charlotte Clark, and Joseph Bradford Clark, all of whom brought him great joy.
Brad never forgot the opportunities afforded to him by education and the encouragement of those who believed in him. He often reflected on how access to schooling and the support of his family on the farm changed the course of his life. In Brad's memory, the family asks that friends and loved ones honor his legacy by giving their time, resources, or contributions to the education of a child and continuing the cycle of opportunity that meant so much to him.
Brad will be remembered for his intelligence, his integrity, and his deep sense of gratitude for family, for country, and for the simple blessings of life. His story is one of perseverance, curiosity, and devotion, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
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