Tom Bradrick, one of our two art teachers, retired from CW in ’87; he started his career there in ’57, the year CW was made a high school (it had been the middle school for Fairview). "That was a neat time," he says. "We wrote the alma mater and chose the mascot."

     Since retiring, he does his own art work full-time, and his ceramics can be seen regularly in regional exhibits. He recently had a piece in the Dayton Visual Arts Center’s Clay show, and now has a piece in Kettering’s Rosewood Gallery’s annual show, The View. He’s also shown in some national exhibitions.

     "I just finished a Piqua show," he said, "and I teach ceramics at Hithergreen Senior Center." He also just completed his second term as chairman of the Centerville Arts Council.Bradrick says that "clay’s my thing, and although I’ve done some commissioned pieces, I work mostly for myself." He presented a clay pot to President Clinton when he was in town, and also did a piece as a retirement gift for the superintendent of Centerville schools.

     Speaking of "gift commissions," he well remembers the bust of Mr. Whitworth, commissioned by the Class of 1965, by the well-known Dayton sculptor, Bob Keopnick.  Remember it being placed in the entranceway to the auditorium?" Well, according to Bradrick, "a kid stole it, then returned it, and it was given to Mrs. Whitworth." No one seems to know its whereabouts now (hopefully safe and sound – and appreciated - with a Whitworth), but Miss Armstrong was upset about its loss, and looked high and low for it.

     Bradrick is now married to a former Fairview Scotchette - class of ’57 (she attended CW for junior high)! "That’s strange after being so involved with the Little Colonels for so long," he said. And, of course he remembers OUR Little Colonels.

     On a sad note, he recalls Sherry Williams: "Sherry and I worked together after she graduated from college," he said. "I was supervisor of arts and crafts in the summer program of the county recreation department, and she was my assistant. She married Rick Bachelor from the recreation department, and they had a daughter. Then, she got cancer and died; it was a sad thing."
On a happy note, he recalls the class of ‘64 as "a neat year, with all you people in the art classes. I enjoyed working with you and remember we established a studio behind the study hall that year for Nick Stamas and Sally Teofanov."

     Other names from his art classes that pop out are (besides yours truly) Shirley Floyd and Mike Harbaugh (they met in his class and are married now, and Shirley teaches art at Wayne H.S.), and Tim Potter, who started a school for advertising art in Kettering. "It’s doing very well," he said of the school, and remembers Tim as "very talented but quiet."

     And who could forget the great sets that Bradrick designed and built with the help of students from his art classes? He remembers our productions: "The senior play was Skin of Our Teeth and the musical was Wonderful Town - that was a great class."

     And, speaking of Skin of our Teeth and drama, be looking for updates and memories from our drama coach, Jim Payne, which should be appearing soon - right here on our website!

     The following photos are from Tom’s gallery of personal work. He now advises a class at Hithergreen Senior Center in Washington Township where he is still inspiring and encouraging “new” students.

 

 

Tom Bradrick is Honored

     Several months ago I sent out a letter to the alums asking for donations to purchase a slab clay roller for the Ceramics class at Hithergreen that Tom has been teaching for 17 years. This is a really necessary item for us to use and was quite pricey. As it was not in the Center’s budget we knew we would have to get the funds from somewhere. Well as you all know, I do not take no for an answer. I knew we could find the money somewhere but I was not prepared for where it came from.

     I received an e-mail from Nick Stamas and Mark Stockstill telling me that they would like to donate the roller table to Tom’s class. I was stunned. I was not expecting this amount of generosity. They were very emphatic that Tom had made such an impact on their lives that doing this for him was just one way they could extend their appreciation to him. The item was delivered to the class and on our next class day both Nick and Mark came out to the Center to see Tom. I really believe that Tom appreciated the visit more than the table. Tom was beaming, he was so happy and I know that both Nick and Mark made his day.

     I am a student in this senior class of Tom’s. I am really a novice, but I am learning so much from him. I am so happy that he was remembered in this kind and generous way. I received a few more donations and they were given to Tom to buy some supplies for the class. I will have pictures from the class and of the table as soon as I figure out my new camera!

     Thanks, Mark, Nick, Virginia and my Ed for donating to this cause.

Magda