Shrewsbury – Bradford Tompkins Greason, 99, of the Southgate community in Shrewsbury died at home on October 27, 2023 after ten days of hospice care. He was born August 20, 1924 in Newport, R.I., the son of A. Leroy Greason Sr. and Pauline Brown Greason.
Brad was predeceased by his loving wife of 61 years, Renee Griffiths Greason, and his brother A. Leroy Greason Jr. He was also predeceased by his loving life partner Yvette Gemme Kumpey. He leaves his two daughters, Linda Greason Yates and her husband David B. Yates Jr. of Berlin and Suzanne Greason Harlow and her husband Keith B. Harlow of Shrewsbury. He leaves three grandsons, David B. Yates III and his wife Mallory of Sommerville, Alexander G. Yates of Baltimore, MD, Bradford G. Harlow of Shrewsbury, two great-grandsons, and three generations of nieces and nephews.
Brad was raised in Wellesley and graduated from Wellesley High School where he lettered in football and track, was president of the student union and the dramatic club and was captain of the debating team. During his first semester at Norwich University, he enlisted in the Air Corps Flight Program and was called to duty in World War II in February 1943. Following flight training he served as co-pilot on a B-24 crew in the 494th Bomb Group out of Okinawa. After the Japanese surrender, he flew C-46 transport planes with the 375th Troop Carrier Group out of Japan. As a 1st lieutenant, he later served as an air cargo control liaison in the Philippines. While finishing his education at Norwich, he served for several years as executive officer of a heavy weapons company in the Vermont National Guard.
His graduation from Norwich University was with honors in Mechanical Engineering. While there, he lettered in football, was president of the class of 1950 and president of Theta Chi fraternity. After graduation, he served as Gift Chair for his class and served on the college’s Board of Fellows. In 2001 he received the Norwich Alumni Directors Award.
Brad’s career was spent with New England Electric System (now National Grid). He started in engineering and then operations as Assistant Superintendent in Worcester. Moving on to Human Resources, he was Training Manager before becoming Director of Labor Relations and Director of Personnel Resources.
He enjoyed 36 years of retirement, skiing and playing plenty of golf and contract bridge. He researched and documented his family ancestry, and he created genealogy books for his daughters and their first cousins. He was a life member of Worcester Country Club and a charter equity member of Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida. He volunteered for the Mass. Golf Association serving 25 years rating golf courses, most of that time as captain of the Central Mass. Rating Team. He also worked as a tournament official for over 15 years. Other volunteer activities included reading for the sight impaired on FM radio for Audio Journal in Worcester and preparing income tax returns for AARP while in Florida.
He was a member of the “Loonies,” a large group of friends who enjoyed weekend ski trips together in their 60’s and 70’s to Loon Mountain and later to Breton Woods. He travelled to many U.S. states, including Alaska, countries in Europe and enjoyed cruises to the Caribbean and central America in his later years. During the years he lived at Southgate in Shrewsbury, he made many friends, sang solos in the annual talent show, helped create and manage a duplicate bridge group, and attended many lectures and other activities. He loved life and had a positive can-do spirit. Difficulties were just a “bump in the road.” To celebrate his 95th birthday he flew a glider; he played golf until last October, at the age of 98.
Brad was a loyal and loving husband and partner. As a loving father, he taught his daughters what was important in life – family, friends, loyalty, having fun, making the most of things, finding humor in times of difficulty, learning from your experiences, and standing on your own two feet. He will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched.
The family will hold a gathering to remember and celebrate Brad at 12 noon on Sunday, November 5, 2023 in the Community Room at Southgate at Shrewsbury, 30 Julio Drive, Shrewsbury, MA.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Brad’s name to a charity of your choice to honor his memory.
Chiampa Funeral Home of Shrewsbury assisted with arrangements.
