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Shared Passion
Edward Bradley and daughter, Annice Bradley Rockwell, share their passion for education and a family legacy of kindness and generosity through the Bradley scholarships at Woodstock Academy. Courtesy photo.
WOODSTOCK --- Through the generosity of family, friends, and her colleagues at the Woodstock Middle School, the legacy of. Arleen Bradley lives on at Woodstock Academy. Bradley was a beloved science teacher at Woodstock Middle School for 20 years and died in October of 2006. In her memory, an endowed fund was established at Woodstock Academy to support an Academy graduate pursuing a career in science or medicine. Bradley’s family presented the award to its first recipient, Valerie Voccio of the graduating Class of 2011. Many students of the Class of 2011 were former students of Bradley’s. “I told the graduates of the Class of 2011 how proud my mother would have been of them,” said daughter, Annice Rockwell who made the presentation on behalf of her family. “My father, my son, and I are grateful for the generous contributions of my mother’s colleagues at Woodstock Middle School, and our family and friends that allowed us to proudly say that this award would be forever given in her memory to a deserving student.”
She added, “My mother was known for being remarkably strong and exceptionally kind. She led by example, acting on her belief that, ‘Kindness is the highest form of wisdom’.” Rockwell has lived by that principle, following in her mother’s footsteps as a teacher at Killingly High School. She is also a Academy alumnus, Class of 1987.
The Bradley family has endured not only the loss of a wife and mother, but faced the tragic loss of son and brother Christopher Bradley, in a car accident in 1995. Christopher was also a Woodstock Academy graduate, Class of 1992. Facing tragedy with kindness and giving, family and friends established an annual memorial scholarship in his name in 1996 which honors an Academy graduate who exemplifies the characteristics of Christopher Bradley, demonstrating strength in character and an innate willingness to help others.
“Our family was honored to endow another significant scholarship in memory of my mother,” said Rockwell. “It gives me a deep sense of comfort to know that each year, my Woodstock Academy family provides us with such a meaningful opportunity to honor both the memory of my brother and now my mom."