BAY RIDGE — The fifth annual Jimmy Bradley Fundraiser was held on Oct. 12 at The Wicked Monk before hundreds of friends and family, honoring a Brooklyn-born military man who took his own life six years ago.
Bradley, who was from Bay Ridge, was the youngest of five. He attended Le Moyne College for two years but decided he wanted to join the Navy. After enlisting, Bradley went through bootcamp and later went to the Mississippi Gulfport United States Naval Construction Battalion, better known as the Navy Seabee. He was sent to California, then deployed to Okinawa, Japan.
Jimmy Bradley Jr. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
“We talked about going to visit him,” his father, Jim Sr., recalled. “He said he’d be home at Christmas time, so we said we would wait.”
Unfortunately, that day never came. On the evening of Oct. 30, 2019, Jim Sr. and his wife, Teri, were contacted by a Navy chaplain and a casualty case officer.
Bradley was found dead inside his locked room at the Port Hueneme Naval Base barracks in Ventura County, CA, in a suspected suicide. He was 22 years old.
According to the U.S. Department of War, in 2023, there were 523 deaths by suicide among U.S. military service members, up from 493 in 2022. Further, from 2011 to 2023, suicide rates for active-duty forces have shown a long-term increasing trend.
Keeping the name and legacy alive
After the first anniversary of Jimmy’s passing, the Bradley family decided to create a fundraiser designed to keep his legacy alive.
Mary Qualben, Jimmy’s older sister, told the Brooklyn Eagle, “We needed to do something positive, so we started a nonprofit in his name to try to make an impact on somebody else’s life to carry on his legacy. When you have such a traumatic loss, you can either lie down or do something about it.”
Qualben underlined that it’s easy to find darkness but the goal of her family was to use their pain to make something “really beautiful.”
Tens of thousands of dollars have been donated to various charities over the past four years as a result of the fundraising events.
A true patriot
According to Qualben, Bradley was incredibly impactful in the short time that he was here.
“I really want the memory of him to be something that people are proud of and will remember,” she said.
From left: Ella Sicurelli, David Kelly, Coner Leary, Nicasio Alonso, Jill Nixon, Nicholas Peragine, A.J. Wingert, Paul Cameron, Brooke Signorile and Shannon Ryan. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
When asked how she thinks her brother will best be remembered, Qualben said he was a true patriot and a man of faith, as well as “annoyingly stubborn and very funny.”
“He was a devout friend and family member as well,” said Qualben. “I think that’s what people will remember most. Jimmy was my best friend. We were 10 years apart. He was so impactful for me in shaping who I was, and I think doing something so profound in his name is the best way to honor him.”
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
