Bradley Alan "Brad" Kingery, a vibrant personality full of humor, sarcasm, creativity, care, and intelligence, passed away on July 9, 2024. Born on October 29, 1982, Brad lived a life packed with adventures and truly memorable "you can't make this $h!+ up" moments.   

Brad leaves behind his parents Ken & Lisa-Kaye Kingery; sister, Melissa Kingery, and nieces Aubree Howard and Della Striegel.  His grandmother, Garnetta White; uncles, Michael (Amy) White and John Kingery; his aunts, Vicki (Ted) Sholl and Rae White; and his cousins, Melody (Eric) Riggs, Jeff White, and Catherine (Andrew) Staker, Christy Moreland, and Jacob Abbs. Bradley was predeceased by his grandfathers, George Patrick White and Kenneth Earl Kingery; his grandmother, Helen Louise Clay Kingery; and his uncle, David White.  There is also a plethora of extended family on the Kingery, Atkinson, White, and Clay branches of the family tree left to miss his wicked humor and good naturedness.  

Brad was born in (West) Germany during the Cold War at Landstuhl Army Hospital.  His life of adventure began when he was just 10-months old.  He became seriously ill at Linderhof Palace, King Ludwig's Hunting Estate.  An American Doctor performed CPR on him on an over 150-year-old bed used by one of King Ludwig's servants.  Rushing by ambulance to what was the only Children's Hospital in the Region just 12 miles away in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Brad had an amazing doctor who diagnosed Brad with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) which damaged his kidneys and left him with a lifetime of anemia.  After over two weeks in the hospital Brad said goodbye to his breathtaking view of the Zugspitze, and headed back home to Zweibruecken.  Brad's parents were so thankful that he survived, their only wish was that Brad grow up and be happy doing something he loved.   They never cared that he didn't like yogurt, or sports, or girls.

At Norwood High School, Brad focused on student government, Key Club, Debate Club, music and vocal performances.  He was in the NHS Marching Band, Jazz Band, the Silhouettes performance choir (remember Glee?), and annual Spring Musicals which were Brad's happy place.  He graduated from Norwood High School in 2001 and attended Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati before transferring to the University of New Orleans in 2004. 

Beginning in 1999 during his sophomore year of high school and continuing through college, he was employed at Parmount's Kings Island (now Cedar Fair) as a rides operator for some of the best roller coasters in the world.  When Brad moved to New Orleans, he had settled in on a political science degree and wanted to enter government service, but in 2005 Hurricane Katrina changed that plan.  Instead, Brad went on a 10-month "Hurrication" with his savings and a little help from FEMA, traveling the US.  Brad returned to post-Katrina NOLA and continued his life of adventure in the French Quarter actually living at 1309 Bourbon Street, the Garden District, the Irish Channel, and the Bywater until 2016.  In 2016, he was hired by the Holland America Westmark Resort in Skagway AK.  During the off-season, he traveled on a backpacking trip across northern and eastern Europe for 10 weeks.  The next year, he traveled for 5 weeks to India and Asia.   Brad joined Uncruise Adventures in 2018 where he sailed Alaska in the Summer and the Sea of Cortez during the Winter.  He managed to fit in a 30-day trip to Australia and New Zealand during a break.  His most recent position was at BEAK Restaurant, as Sommelier, which he started in 2023 in Sitka AK.

Bradley was a man of great taste, fond of Cincinnati favorites like LaRosa's spaghetti, Skyline Chili, and PRC's Gravy Cheese Fries. His favorite books were anything on the Banned Book List, and he loved the music of Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, and Dashboard Confessional.  In 2022, Brad took his niece Aubree to her first concert at the Caverns, a subterranean venue in Tennessee.  Among his favorite TV shows were RuPaul's Drag Race, Game of Thrones, Cannonball, and more recently The Quiz With Balls!

His passion for cinema and performance was evident, with favorites including the Marvel Avengers Series, Harry Potter, and Drag Shows. Bradley also enjoyed going to the movies and watching Netflix, walking and hiking as his forms of exercise, and traveling around the world. Some of his favorite local hangouts included BEAK Restaurant and The Pub on Bourbon Street.

Brad was an advocate for LGBTQ Rights, Animal Rescue, and Equality.  If there was ever a doubt for his passion to help others, his nickname "Captain Save-a-Ho" should say it all.  His fondness for the color blue was as deep as his eyes, and his Nissan Versa "Veruca."  Brad loved all animals, having spent hundreds of hours at Cincinnati Zoo Camp, and helping his parents manage their varying menagerie of critters.  Frank the Tank is the dog Brad adopted two years ago and is in one of the posted pictures. 

His legacy will always be: "Live your best life. Don't be afraid of taking chances or an adventure." Brad packed so much living into 41 years that it would be amazing to share your memories of Brad with us while having a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.

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