Bradley, Russell
Bradley, Russell Milne
June 12, 1956 – September 6, 2026Russell Milne (Russ) Bradley of Hamilton died on September 6, 2026. He was 70, had cancer and just plain wore out. He was a character and didn’t want a funeral, so let us tell you about him this way.
Russ was born June 12, 1956 and raised on Hamilton mountain by Alec and Joyce alongside siblings Robert (Marsha), Ronald, Mardie and Edwin (Michelle). He married twice and fathered Brian Joseph (the Kid) and Alexandra Lee (Sweet Baboo). He recently and unexpectedly became a grandfather to Charlie (Chucker) who, he said, he liked more than his kids. He had aunts Isobel and Nan in Scotland, nephews Jamie, Scott and Alex, nieces Alanna, Jeanie, Nicole, Heather and Andrea, and adopted family in the Watsons and the McAllisters.
Russ went to Southmount High School. He met his first wife Cindy (Clark) there but the best times of his life would be with his “Hamilton Rat Pack” - Lee Acker, Joe McDermott, Mark Chernenko, John Anderson, Steve Hamilton and Paul Brown. They were exclusive members of F.A.D.C. (Friday Afternoon Drinking Club) at the Plantation Motor Hotel. He said he was “everybody’s Bob Newhart,” meaning he was a friend to turn to with a deadpan sense of humour. Russ briefly took marketing at Mohawk College but didn’t want to “end up a used car salesman” so signed up for what would be an almost 30-year career at Stelco. He was most proud of that life and memories of his steelworker days stayed with him as his memory faltered about everything else. He could tell you about the blast furnace, oxygen furnace, coke ovens, the cranes, surveying, BML crew, the plumb bob, the pulpit and the disappointment in being prematurely shown the door. He lived in east Hamilton with his second wife Kim (Ellis) for over 30 years, where on any Saturday night you could find him in the back room watching CFL games or listening to Jazz FM91 on the radio while waiting to roll another one. He later lived solo on the Mountain where he walked on the brow, shopped at Opies and watched the Concession Street goings on from his balcony, still listening to jazz. A night out was a party in Edwin’s garage, fish and chips at Squires or a beer at the Corktown. He loved the Tiger Cats, Steely Dan, Thelonious Monk, David Letterman and “getting a pint at his local.” He liked reading about history and world news just as he did Rolling Stone. He thought himself to be Jack Nicholson cool but he was better with his Three Stooges impression. His life may seem a little less full than others, but in his words, he didn’t know how he got so lucky.
Russ’ last year was spent at St. Joseph’s Home Care at First Place, where he was a patient on his own terms. Thanks to all health care providers for understanding and for all their help. No funeral is planned because that’s just not his style. Russ will be cremated and scattered. We will toast him with a beer and Miles Davis on the radio. Donations can be made to his favourite station: jazz.fm/donate
