Bill grew up in San Gabriel, CA where he raised award-winning pigeons, played high school football, and proudly earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Leaving California for the University of Colorado he joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and met the love of his life, Gloria, his freshman year. They were married during Christmas break of their senior years.

Bill’s college years fueled his life-long enthusiasm for skiing and many stories were told about 7’ wooden skis, moguls, and even jumping a road or two while heading down unmarked runs. Years later, those skills helped Bill come to the aid of injured skiers as a member of the Ski Patrol.

Colorado was just the beginning for Bill and Gloria. Bill accepted a position with Crown Zellerbach Corp. that took them to Los Angeles, Houston, San Antonio, San Francisco, Kansas City, and Chicago. All of those moves led them to be featured in a Time magazine story about corporate nomads.

While in the Chicago area, Bill became an Election Precinct Captain and spent his free time representing the University of Colorado at college nights. Ultimately, Bill received the Alumni Recognition Award and went on to become President of the University of Colorado Alumni Association, as well as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Business & Administration.

Bill left Crown Zellerbach to become Executive Vice President of St. Clair Pakwell, then Senior V.P. of Sales & Marketing at Handschy Industries, Inc. (St. Clair’s parent company) before leaving the paper industry behind and pursuing every child’s dream. He purchased and served as President and CEO of Kimbell Candy Co. Kimbell opened the door for a move to Spirit Lake, Iowa and a new position as President & COO of Sathers, Inc (candy) until it was acquired by Favorite Brands International where he accepted a position as Senior Vice President & Division President.

Upon retirement, Bill and Gloria moved back to their first love, Colorado. Bill turned his organizational skills to helping others during natural disasters by becoming a FEMA Reservist. He spent weeks on deployment to numerous FEMA sites including New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy.

To focus on his spiritual center, Bill, accompanied by one of his canine companions, would take daily 4 to 6-mile hikes through Colorado’s mountains – frequently climbing to 11,000 feet before heading home. In his late 70s, Bill summited several of the state’s “14ers,” accompanied by ambitious family members.

Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Jean. He will be deeply missed by Gloria, their children Michaelle Scanlon (Mike), Steve Bradfield (Heidi), Abbie Mulvihill, and Elizabeth Snakard (Jim) as well as eight grandchildren, Caroline, Samantha, Elizabeth, Andy, Ciara, Jack, Wyatt, and Luke and two great grandchildren, Reagan and Nora.

The family will have a private celebration of life in the Colorado mountains. To those interested in a memorial gift, the family suggests donating to the Alzheimer’s Association, contributing to the CU scholarship fund*,  gifting the charity of your choice, or simply performing an act of kindness for someone in need. 

*This link will allow you to make a CU scholarship donation "In Memory of Bill Bradfield":

https://www.givecampus.com/ca…

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