Long-time Navan resident and dedicated community builder Ross Bradley has passed away at the age of 94.

Ross was born at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on Jan. 6, 1932 to Morris and Elda Bradley of Navan. You could say that he came into this world pre-ordained to be a community leader. His grandfather was John Thomas Bradley, the founder of J.T. Bradley’s Country Convenience store.

When John Thomas died in September 1932, Morris Bradley took over the business with his brother Borden. The two brothers managed the store through the Great Depression and the Second World War.

After Borden died in 1952, Morris ran the store on his own with the help of his oldest son Lorne.

Morris was a charter member of the Navan Lions Club in 1952 and a huge supporter of all community activities throughout his lifetime. His wife Elda was a tireless worker of the Navan Women’s Institute, the Navan Branch of the Canadian Red Cross Society, particularly during the Second World War, and a proud and faithful member of the Ottawa Women’s Canadian Club for many years.

Lorne Bradley took over the store after Morris’ death in 1975. At the time he had already been operating a school bus business since 1965. Today, M.L. Bradley Ltd. has over 100 buses owned and operated by his daughter Kathleen, her husband Gord and managed by their son Andrew.

While Lorne was running the store, Ross was a dedicated civil servant. He spent 35 years at StatsCan before finally retiring in the late 80s.

Although technically “retired”, Ross never stopped working. He led the effort to twin Navan, Ontario, with Navan, Ireland, and he helped orga-nize visits to both towns by their respective residents.

He also lead the effort to create the Navan Curling Club and served as it’s first president. He co-chaired the rebuilding committee for the Navan Cenotaph, and he was heavily involved in the effort to renovate St. Mary’s Church in the Village.

After Ross’ son, John Bradley, took over J.T. Bradley’s in 1994, Ross became a fixture in the store and could often be seen walking the day’s receipts down to the local bank.

He was also Secretary-Treasurer of the St. Mary’s Cemetery Committee, and chair of the Jerry Calver Memorial Bonspiel, named in honour of his dear friend who passed away in 2013.

As a member of the Cumberland Town-ship Historical Society, Ross co-wrote The Domes of Navan (2012) and was a key organizer of the 75th Anniversary of the Constable Harold Dent Memorial at the site of his murder in Navan in 1940. One of his last volunteer initiatives was the weekly bell ringing at St. Mary’s Anglican Church to support front-line workers during the pandemic.

Ross was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Gwen Bradley (née Tapscott). He is survived by his sons John and Don, daughters Carol and Heather, five grandsons and one great-grandson.

A celebration of Ross’ life will take place at the Navan Curling Club at 1305 Fairgreen Ave. at 2:30 p.m. on July 16.