Plan for the Future
Bradner McPherson Littlehale, Longtime Chatham Resident
Bradner McPherson Littlehale, 95, much loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away peacefully at home on May 18th, 2012.
Born on October 29, 1916 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Brad’s growing up years were spent in Cranford. He had fond memories of watching the Lindbergh parade from his father’s office in the Flat Iron Building in New York City.
Brad attended the Cranford public schools, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in Elizabeth and in 1938 from Princeton University. He received a B.S. degree in economics and worked on Wall Street for a year before deciding to take night classes and pursue a career in engineering. He went to work for General Motors and when WWII came along, Brad worked on the design of a Navy fighter plane called the Wildcat. Many years were spent as a Design Engineer for Foster and Allen in Chatham. While there, he designed the machines which cut the Bic pen and the hula hoop. He was an enthusiastic horticulturist who spent many years working on a hydroponics growing system and also on an automatic irrigation device which was patented.
In 1949, Brad moved with his family to Chatham and lived there for 62 years. He was a member of the Old Guard of Summit, an avid bridge player, gardener, tennis player, bird watcher and lover of the French language which he spoke fluently. Brad will be remembered by all who knew him for his gentlemanly manner, his dry sense of humor and unfailingly optimistic outlook on life.
Brad was predeceased by his brother Langdon. He leaves his wife of 68 years, Marjorie Gabrielson, and two children; daughter Suzanne O’Malley and her husband Dennis of Long Valley, New Jersey and his son Brad Jr., and his wife Linda, of Dover, Massachusetts; four grandchildren; John Cramer IV of Spicewood, Texas, Aimee Rockwood of Austin, Texas, Brad Littlehale III and Walker Littlehale both of Dover, Massachusetts; and four great grand children ; Devon, Zachary, Jasmine and Cypress.
The family will be holding a private Celebration of Life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in his memory to your favorite charity. For further information, please go to www.www.bradleyfuneralhomes.com.