James E. Bradley, age 94, of Newark, passed away on September 13, 2025. He was born in Morgantown, W. VA. on December 13, 1930, the son of the late Alton Henry and Margaret May (Bobbs) Bradley. Prior to his retirement in 2001, Dr. Bradley had been a Professor of Geological Sciences at The Ohio State University at Newark for 35 years. He was a graduate of Muskingum College with a B.S. in Geology, The Ohio State University with an M.S. in Geology and a Ph.D in Mineralogy. He was a member of Sigma Gamma Epsilon Earth Science honorary, Phi Lambda Upsilon Chemistry honorary, Sigma Xi science honorary and the Edward Orton, Jr. Ceramic Foundation Fellow. He began his teaching career in 1965 as an instructor for The Ohio State University Dept. of Mineralogy.

Dr. Bradley served in the U.S. Army from 1954-56 as a Soil Scientist studying the need to find emergency water supplies in case of atomic attacks and a study of fallout due to atomic testing.

As a graduate student, from 1960 to 1962 he was employed by the Antenna Laboratory of the Department of Electrical Engineering to procure from commercial sources maser and laser materials. In addition, it was his job to evaluate and orient these materials. One of the results of his work was a report which was published by NASA, [Laser Materials: A Tutorial Review with Bibliography, NASA CR-75, 288 pp (1965)].

The years 1962-1964 were spent equipping a crystal growth laboratory in the Department of Mineralogy. This was made possible by a university grant of $50,000. In addition to equipping this laboratory part of these two years was also devoted to an Air Force project to grow large single crystals of MgGiO3 and an Owens Corning project to grow fibrous crystals of PiO2.

During Dr. Bradley's career at OSU-Newark, he was very active in governance, both on the Regional campus and the Columbus campus. He served many terms on the University Faculty Council which later became the University Senate after the riots of 1970 when students were included in the membership. He also represented the Newark campus on the Regional Campus Council and chaired it on several occasions. He also served as Newark Campus Faculty Chairman multiple times. In his 35 years on the Newark campus his service commitment was vast and numerous just a few of which were … The Advisory Council for Board of Regents, Chairman of the Faculty (multiple times), Search Committee Chairman for OSU-Newark Campus Dean-Director and COTC President.

Dr. Bradley had a strong sense of community, and always gave selflessly especially to Licking County since his move here in the 1970's. His community service included President and Board Member of the Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries, Trustee and President of the Licking County Historical Society, Board of Governors of the Robbins-Hunter Museum, Chairman and Trustee of the Webb House Museum, Licking County Litter Board, Past President of the Licking County Democratic Club, Past Chairman of the Licking County Think Tank, Chairman and Member of the Licking County Planning Commission, Summer Supervisor of C.E.T.A. Youth Program from 1976-1984, Supervisor of the County Park from 1982-1989, Licking Park District Commissioner, Local Federal Census Board, Chairman Local Cultural Alliance of Licking County, Babe Ruth World Series Committee, Licking County Litter Control Board, and Licking County Tax Abatement Board.

When Jim was Supervisor of the County Park from 1982-1989 he was responsible for finishing the conversion of the county farm into a park. It involved the creation of a Senior Citizen building, a 7-acre lake, added picnic shelters, extended underground electric and water to them, added a tree nursery which produced many of the trees seen in the park today, administered grants, remodeled the caretaker's house and added 70 acres of land. He was responsible for the Newark to Granville bike path and later the Granville to Johnstown bike path.

As a result of the Think Tank to improve the area culture and recreation, it was decided to ask the Probate Court Judge, Robert Moore, to form a park district. Hearings were held to get community input and as a result the Licking Park District was created in 1990. The Judge appointed three Park Commissioners, one of whom was Dr. Bradley. In June 2001, Dr. Bradley was honored when the Senior Citizen building at the Infirmary Mound Park (formerly the County Park) in Granville was named for him.

In addition to Jim's service to our community, he loved gardening, traveling, local history, collecting Ohio pottery, and cooking. When asked for his recipes for favorite dishes he would respond, "I don't have one … I just keep tasting until it's right."

Jim was always willing to lend a hand and would never ask someone to do something he wouldn't be willing to do himself first. He was always interested in and supportive of his students, friends, and family. His gift for storytelling made him a favorite teacher and he held the respect and love of those who knew him well.

If you didn't want a truthful answer from Jim you wouldn't ask the question. He was always blatantly honest even when it wasn't in his best interest, and he didn't just strongly believe in the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" … he lived it.

His survivors include his loving wife of 41 years, Nancy, one son, James E. Bradley II of Riverdale, NY, a daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and Rex Ziegler of Powell, one step-son, Robert E. Ferrari of Woodstock, GA, step-daughters Diann L. (Jack G.) Forbes of Cincinnati, Jean E. Stewart (John Prusakowski) of Mason, and Nancy J. Allenbaugh (Chad Reese) of Troy, as well as one nephew, Michael Rosmus, and a niece Shelly (Rick) Wyne of PA. Granddaughters, Lia and Maya S. Bradley, step-granddaughter Minette (Dan) Beaupre, step-grandchildren, Dustin R. Ferrari, Gabrielle, Jared, and Jansen Forbes, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lauren E. Hall, USMC (Jennifer Levine), Lindsay Hall, 1st Lieut. Samuel Stewart, USMC (Rachel), and Leah Stewart, Katherine (Wyatt) Damron, and Michael Allenbaugh, and one step-great-grandson, Kingston C. Pennington. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Patricia A. Rosmus of Washington, PA, and daughter-in-law, Ruth A. Mullen of Riverdale, NY.