1921-2004

RUMFORD – Bruce Bradeen, 82, died Friday, Jan. 23, after a brief stay at the Rumford Hospital following several months of care at the Victorian Villa in Canton.

Born in Brownville on June 19, 1921, the son of Lester and Edna (Fredin) Bradeen, Bruce located in Rumford where he was employed at Oxford Paper Company as a log buyer. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II as a member of the famed 10th Mountain Division mostly in the Italian Alps.

A large and powerful man with a gentle soul, his greatest love was humanity and animals, mostly dogs and he would be most thankful for donations to be made to McKennel’s Animal Shelter in Rumford.

He was an avid outdoorsman with passion for hiking and cross-country skiing well into his 70s. He was known for his vice-grip hand shake, even as his health waned. He was a member of the Robert Shand Post 1641 VFW

He was married to Elodia Breau who died in 1995.

He is survived by: cousins, Jane Whitney and her husband, Richard, of Brooklin, and Sheila Fredin of Brighton, Mass., the latter being the sole survivor of the royal three musketeers of which he was a delighted member; his good and long time friend, Eleanor Welch of Wilton; caregiver and friend, Collette Aaron; and most important his very special care giver and true angel, Angelina Casey of Rumford.