Obituary of Hugh Robert "Bob" Brady

Hugh Robert "Bob" Brady of Huntington, Connecticut passed away peacefully on January 10, 2018, at the age of 88. Bob was born in Bridgeport on February 27, 1929 to the late George F. Brady and Ethel M. Robinson Brady. He graduated from Central High School in 1948 where he met the love of his life, Audrey Blair. Bob and Audrey were married on June 10, 1950 and were blessed with two daughters. In 1952 Bob graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of Connecticut and joined the United States Air Force and retired with the rank of Captain after 2 years active duty and 11 years of reserve duty. Bob was employed by Sikorsky Aircraft for 14 years before going to work at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and moving to Pennsylvania in 1978. The last 3 and a half years of his outstanding career in aviation were spent working as a Project Manager for the FAA at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels Belgium. Upon his retirement, he and Audrey returned to Pennsylvania and ultimately moved back to Connecticut, the place that had always been home to them and where many of their extended family still reside. Bob's lineage can be traced back to the early settlers and founders of Hartford and New Haven. Bob was an accomplished musician, proficient on the clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone among others. In his leisure time, he enjoyed listening to big band music, especially his favorite, The Glenn Miller Orchestra. He also played clarinet and saxophone in several community bands and orchestras. Bob was also a private and commercial pilot. He loved to fly, and even piloted his own Mong Sport aircraft from Illinois back to Connecticut in the early 1960s. His interest in history made him a prolific reader, and he was well-versed in war history especially WWII and battles of the Civil War. He spent time teaching his granddaughter Stephanie about the Battle of Gettysburg as they walked the battlefield together. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the U.S. Submarine Veterans in Harrisburg, PA. He volunteered for many years with the Sikorsky Aircraft Archives in Stratford and was also a docent at the New England Air Museum in Hartford. Bob also built models, enjoyed board games, sailing, and loved spending time with family and friends. He was dapper, stylish, and always smelled of Old Spice aftershave and pipe tobacco.

Bob was preceded in death by his siblings Eunice M. Brady Castelot and George F. Brady, Jr., as well as his beloved nephew Bradford Jennings and brother-in-law, Charles W. Kelly.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Audrey L. Blair Brady, his two daughters Maura C. Brady of Rainier, WA, and Dr. Kara J. Brady, Ed.D. of Harrisburg, PA, his dear niece Lorraine Castelot of Milford, CT who is like another daughter to him and Audrey, as well as his two granddaughters Stephanie Ybarra-Rotelli and her spouse Amanda of Olympia, WA, and Sabryna du Vair also of Olympia, WA, his sisters-in-law Patricia Kelly-White (Bob) and Kathy Annicelli (Charles), and many truly loved nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass celebrating Bob's life will take place on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. directly in St. Lawrence Church, 505 Shelton Rd., Shelton. There will be no calling hours.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.