One of the very best of us, Dave Bradman, passed away on February 23 at age 78.
Ask anyone who knew Bradser what they thought of him, and their first reaction is to smile. He was a lot of things; husband, father, teacher, coach, mentor, friend. But in each of these roles he carried the same quality that made him so remarkable to everyone; he cared deeply about people. He greeted everyone with a genuine smile and a warm word. His calm demeanor made him feel like a friend to even those who barely knew him.
Many people have offered their remarks online or in person, and each of them echoes similar sentiments of a man who gave. He was generous with his time and his wisdom, but also made sure the basics were covered for any kid who needed it. Over the last week, I have heard more than one story of Brads helping outfit youth lacrosse players with no expectation of repayment. He just wanted to make sure everyone could play.
The stories collected here felt too special to paraphrase or edit, so they are included in their entirety. This is a small fraction of the impact Bradser made on the Canton community.
Tom Ryan
Bradser, as he was affectionately called in high school, is the reason I chose a life of lacrosse. I was a hockey player growing up and it was Dave Bradman that kept me involved in lacrosse and helped me grow to love it. When I was a Junior at Canton High School, he and Tischa were trying to adopt Nick. It was a stressful time for him and yet he treated me with kindness and respect at a pivotal time in my life. He has been a father figure to me and so many others. His positivity and laid back style attracted high school students to him. He had a way of connecting with everyone he encountered. He was everyone’s favorite coach and teacher.
He took us to empire state game tryouts and lobbied for us. The team was dominated by Albany area coaches and players at that time and so Dave became a coach in order for us to have the chance to play on that team. Mike Mahoney was on that team along with Leith Hunt and Tim Wennrich of Canton. That was the single biggest recruiting opportunity of that time period. That exposure led to our opportunities to play in college. He and Dan Fay started Canton summer league around that time as well. We all look fondly upon those games, but it was pivotal in my development as a player. The nightly finale was the “Tournament of Roses.” That tradition is still carried on by Pat Harrington on the boys side and Adam Todd and myself restarted it for the girls and young women this past summer. If Bradser was in town he was there. Danno attended many this summer as well. The Final Tournament of Roses Championship is a point of pride. I’ve been on that winning team the past two summers. As Danno so fondly would say, “Your name goes in the cup not on it,” as the roster of the winning team is folded up and placed in the cup at the end of the night.
I was excited to come back to Canton 13 years ago so that I could spend time with Dan Fay and Dave Bradman. Two men that showed me kindness and care over the years and were always eager to help in any way they could. We weren’t looking to buy a house but came across one that seemed too good to pass up. It was a log home with damage from carpenter ants and water that led many to pass on it. Dave had a background in carpentry and so he took a look at it with me. His assessment was that there was no structural damage and so I bought the house. He helped me remove the damaged logs and install sliding glass doors and windows. If it wasn’t for his role in that process, I am not sure I would still be living in Canton.
Whether you were the best player or someone that probably had no business being on the team, he connected with everyone and found something unique and good in each person. “If you can get everyone to put something in that they are good at, that they like doing, the outcome is greater than having one or two superstars.”
Taken from a speech Dave gave in Zambia to John Fay and his leadership team
We will be honoring the memories of Dan Fay and Dave Bradman at Golden Bear Reunion July 24 & 25 being held again at the Hoot Owl in Canton.
Bill Porter
It is times like this I wish I was more properly educated with regards to my knowledge of the English language. How does one put into words and articulate a description of a person who has so dramatically influenced one’s life? Simply stated, I loved Dave Bradman. As a young coach I had never witnessed an individual with such a unique method of interacting with ones’ students and athletes. I’ve heard outsiders viewing his style as “laid back, easy-going or relaxed”. These remarks came during a time period when a coach was supposed to be a command oriented leader. Each athlete called the coach “Sir or Coach”. The athlete was to listen to the coach and do what he was instructed to do. This transactional style was not Dave Bradman’s chosen method of leadership! He was truly ahead of his time.
What I witnessed daily was a man who met his athletes at their level. He understood each of them and their unique capabilities as he treated them with an abundance of care and respect. Dave was a master at building relationships. The athletes referred to Dave as “Bradser”, however if you were really close to Dave you called him “Brads”. Again I heard people comment on how disrespectful this was because it defied the social norms of the time. To Dave, however, it was a term of endearment. He knew that their relationship was built on something much larger and more meaningful than a proper title. He cared about his athletes and they cared about him.
I witnessed Dave debrief many football teams following the game. His calm demeanor and knowledge of the world was unbelievable as he searched for the appropriate words after a game. Whether it was a great win or a tough loss, Brads always had the best remarks. Words chosen carefully to either elevate or inspire, or to inject humility into the given situation. I was always amazed by this ability to frame things so perfectly.
I will recount one story. We were in Malone during a football game many years ago. The situation was late in the game. The Bears were driving and the Huskies had stopped us just across mid field. As we took our final timeout, Bradser asked me and JIm Crawford if we should try to punch it across the line with a dive or attack the outside with a sweep. Since we were running the Wing-T offense at that time I suggested the outside sweep given that the Huskies lineman were enormous and they’d be expecting it. Coach Crawford wanted to dive it of course. As Dave left the team huddle and walked back to the sideline, he was shaking his head side to side, muttering the classic remark…….”Ohhh Mannnn”. I asked him what he had decided. He said that the kids talked me into running the waggle. So with fourth down and inches, we fake the dive, fake the sweep and find a wide open receiver downfield for the touchdown!
It was always more important for Dave to display trust in his athletes than it was for him to be right. What lessons he taught! I cannot thank Dave enough for the impact he has had on me personally, or the influence he had on his student-athletes. The best of him lives within us in so many ways. The world is a better place because of his legacy. We will miss him dearly.
Jim Nee
It is difficult to imagine a world without Dave Bradman. He was a kind and genuine individual who positively impacted many people he encountered. His influence extended well beyond the sport of lacrosse; for him, the game served as a means to connect and inspire others.
When asked to share words about Coach Bradman, I readily agreed. Selecting a single memory that encapsulates his character was challenging, as his presence was felt in so many aspects of our lives—be it games, practices, bus rides, informal conversations, physical education classes, coaching alongside him at CCS, or the memorable discussions during Hoot Owl sessions. Rather than attempt to capture everything at once, I will share a few personal reflections on Dave Bradman.
Canton versus Carthage was always a significant rivalry in my youth. During my eighth grade year, Coach Bradman kindly invited me to ride the bus to an away game and observe from the sidelines. Despite all his preparations and responsibilities as a coach, he took the time to include a young student in this experience. After the game, Coach Fay and Coach Bradman even purchased me lunch—a small gesture that exemplified his dedication to fostering connections and demonstrating genuine concern for young people who loved the game. His kindness and actions as an educator built lasting relationships within the program.
In high school, I had the privilege of playing under Coach Bradman. While our team experienced success on the field, what I remember most vividly is how he treated everyone, including team managers and scorekeepers, with respect and inclusion. He had a talent for connecting students to something greater and providing opportunities beyond merely participating in the game. This approach profoundly influenced my development as both a coach and an educator. Emulating Coach Bradman meant maintaining a strong moral compass and leading by example.
Coach Bradman demonstrated unwavering dedication to his players and community, well beyond the school day and school year. He volunteered his time to coach weekend and summer teams and actively participated in lacrosse events such as the Empire State Games. His involvement in the Adirondack team selection process reflected his commitment to advocating for North Country lacrosse players. During one tryout in Lake Placid in the early 90’s, he suggested a scrimmage between Section X and Section II players, showcasing our region’s talent and proving that we could compete at the highest levels. His efforts reinforced regional pride and the belief that our athletes belonged on that statewide stage.
His infectious smile, kindness, and commitment made a lasting impact on all who knew him. I am grateful to have been his player, colleague, and friend. We will sincerely miss him.
Kevin Nee
Memories of Bradser start with wanting to be a part of that crew that would congregate in his office on any given day or period. At first I thought it was the seniors or best athletes, but as time went on I learned it was a group of people different with backgrounds, gravitating to one individual that treated us all the same. I remember being a confident hockey player but not so much in every day life or other sports. Brads encouraged me to tryout for empire star games as a freshman lacrosse player. Never thinking I’d make the team, he’d continue to encourage me with his “hey man” you got this message. He was so right. We all have different paths but I’m sure Brads gave me that confidence I needed to go to the next level. One of the best all time.
Mike Mahoney
Dave Bradman was a true gentleman who impacted so many in his teaching, coaching and administrative roles. Many years ago when I played for him in the Empire State games and competed against him in high school , it was clear that his players always came first. A true “player’s coach”. His teams loved to give everything they had for “Brads”.
At the same time, he had a very competitive desire to be successful, that was so evident in the many victories that his teams earned over many years.
The impact that he made in the lacrosse community and his ability to mentor so many young men and women, can not be understated, and he will be so dearly missed. Those that knew and loved him, are heartbroken by this devastating loss.
Lyle “Sparky” Newman
Dave was my teacher, mentor and most importantly my friend. I coached JV football and lacrosse for Dave. I never had the opportunity to play lacrosse so Dave taught me the game as my teacher and fellow coach. He also was my mentor when it came to both football and lax. But it never felt like he was teaching and definitely not lecturing me. Instead he shared himself with me in the same way he shared himself with his students and athletes. What I learned most importantly was how to treat all people and live life with some amount of humility and a lot of humor. We lost a very special person!!
Jeff Meyers
Coach Dave Bradman was one of the most caring, genuine and kind individuals to ever grace Canton. His humanity and selflessness filtered into every student, athlete and coach that were lucky enough to know him. Years ago, I remember telling some friends I had taken the Varsity Lacrosse coaching job. They responded “So you’re the new Bradzer.” A quote which left me feeling both deeply honored and incredibly anxious. Honored to carry Coach Bradman’s legacy, but anxious in knowing these were immense shoes to fill. I realized it was a near impossible task to achieve the impact Coach Bradman left on Canton. Stepping in after Coach Bradman and trying to replicate his impact was like reaching for perfection; knowing you’ll never fully grasp it, but striving each day to get as close as you can.
Coach Bradman left a legacy of kindness, which is evident when talking to his sons, Nick and Sam, two of the kindest and most genuine people to come out of Canton.
I want to thank Dave and the Bradman family for everything throughout the years: The meetings before a big lacrosse game, the badminton matches and all the thoughtful talks over the years. His spirit and lessons will live on in Canton forever.
Thanks Dave.
Tony Vaccarro
There are no words that can describe how I feel about the passing of Dave Bradman.
It’s just heart wrenching.
I feel for Tisha, Sam and his family and Nick and Dave’s brother and his other extended family members.
As you know, I only worked with Dave for about 5 years but knew him for many more.
He had more of a positive impact on me as a person and as a coach than the many other coaches I’ve worked with or for over the years.
Dave, “The Gentle Giant”, allowed me to be myself. He never judged me and he gave space to grow as a coach.
Dave and I didn’t always agree on which play to call but we did agree on how we should treat both our athletes and others.
He will be missed.
May he Rest in Peace.
If you have a memory of Bradser you’d like to share, email it to plaindealersports@gmail.com and we will update this story.
Adam Todd
When Dave was handing the reins over to me at SUNY Canton to take over the women’s lacrosse program, I asked him what was the most important thing he could tell me about coaching. His answer was simple – the kids need to know that you care about them. That simple lesson has served me well and speaks volumes about how and why Dave was a coach. He cared about every kid he coached regardless of their talent. He wanted to see them all have success on the field and off. The players on his teams were not pawn pieces to be moved about so he could secure another victory, they were young men and women that he believed could make a positive difference in the world.
Another lesson he taught me that year was every coach has to do it their own way. “You can’t be Dave Bradman,” he told me. “We already have one of those.” Even with all of his success over the years he knew that there are many different coaching styles that can be successful. You need to look no further than his two friends and “rivals” – Dave White at Salmon River and Kirk Ventiquattro at Carthage. Each of these three men had a different style and method for coaching but all three were wildly successful. Part of the reason for that was their authenticity.
This will be a hard season for our team and a difficult one for me personally, but I am extremely grateful for the years we had together and will do my best to carry his lessons forward.
Bob Nelson
I never played for Dave Bradman; I’d graduated long before he got to Canton, and I can’t remember how we actually met. Maybe I just stopped in to CHS to say hello, more likely at a lacrosse clinic, probably at Skytop. As the coach at Oswego HS we competed against each other a few times over the years, and my impressions of Dave were the same as everyone else on this page. I made a point of watching his teams play whenever they came to Central New York; Dave brought a lot to the game and I always learned something from him. But one day sticks out in my mind.
The Bears were playing a Saturday morning game in Syracuse. Their opponent was also an Oswego opponent, so it gave me a chance to watch the alma mater and get some scouting in at the same time. The SYR team was one (of many) programs who tried to pattern themselves after West Genesee: the two lines, the high socks, the discipline… plus the expectation of trouncing a team of hicks from the North Country.
The Bears got there well before game time. A few kids were on the field shooting randomly, a few were stretching, some were playing catch. Others straggled out to join their teammates. I noticed that not all of their shorts matched. Dave walked around the sideline talking to guys, seemingly unconcerned about the relaxed warm-up going on. Other coaches would have been pulling their hair out.
The home team came out as expected: two lines, socks hiked up to their knees, sticks in their right hands and held perfectly straight and high, no chatter, eyes straight ahead. The crowd of parents cheered and the music blared. I heard more than one parent scoff at the Canton kids and laugh at the beating they were going to receive.
Now I get trying to be like West Genesee; who wouldn’t want to be like the best team in the country? But marching in lock step and wearing high white socks don’t make you West Genny. These guys weren’t Genny. To make a long story short, Dave’s boys rolled ‘em. They passed the ball with confidence, shot the lights out, and defensively played that physical kind of game that NoCo teams are so good at and Section III teams hate. They played loose, which I took to be a direct result of Dave Bradman’s coaching… and personality.
Bob Nelson
Canton ‘74
Oswego HS lacrosse