Brad was born on December 1, 1950, in Culver City, California to Harry and Eileen Bradley Pontious. The middle child of three, Brad grew up in Southern California and after his military service, returned to Southern California to raise his own family. In his youth, Brad enjoyed being active. He learned early in his life important character traits that he modeled throughout the rest of his life; loyalty, duty, respect, personal courage, honor, integrity and selfless service. Brad participated in Scouting, attaining the highest designation of Eagle Scout. He was proud yet humbled by this achievement. Brad was drafted to serve in the Army in 1970. After completing the required basic and skills training, he served as a Helicopter Repairman and Crew Chief in Vietnam.
Following his military service, Brad was employed by Hughes Helicopter in Culver City, California, filling roles in both Manufacturing and Quality Assurance. As the company transformed and became McDonnell Douglas, Brad accepted a transfer to Mesa, Arizona (1993) where he continued his career in many aspects of Quality Assurance and later as a Software Quality Engineer. As a leader, Brad knew the importance of education and mentored many employees along the way, encouraging them to seek, grow and achieve their full potential. Brad not only mentored these people, he also found ways to support them in their education, work, family and life balance. Brad made sure he set the example for his employees, mentees, and his children by establishing his own goal to attain a Master’s Degree in Computer Information Systems, which he attained in 2005.
While Brad had the drive, ambition, and courage to continue his career, his physical health challenges with Parkinson’s Disease, a result of his exposure to Agent Orange, brought him to the cross-roads of retirement. Brad retired from Boeing after 24 years of dedicated service to Hughes Helicopters, McDonnell Douglas, and Boeing, as it exists today. After retirement, Brad and his loving wife, April, moved to Forest Lakes, Arizona where he served the Fire District as their Treasurer and as a Dispatcher. In 2013, Brad suffered a debilitating stroke that destroyed half of his brain mass. In total Brad fashion, he fought back through numerous surgeries, rehabilitation and physical therapy events for more than a year to be one of the 5% of the survival rate. Though he was restricted to a wheelchair and required full time care, he continued to live life as best he could by traveling, going to theatre performances, and cruising the world with his loving bride, April.
In 2016, Brad experienced yet another health set back. A collapsed lung and hospitalization revealed that he had Non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Again, in true Brad fashion, with April by his side, he fought back. The will to live was in his spirit and his nature. Treatments of Chemotherapy and Radiation might have slowed him down, but he continued the fight with courage and commitment. It was in March 2022 that the battle he was about to face became evident. The Chemotherapy and Radiation Treatments he had endured mutated to Leukemia. Again, Brad decided though life was precious, it was worth fighting for. After a two weeklong trip to Houston for treatment by an MD Anderson Cancer specialist, Brad landed in the ICU here in Mesa/Gilbert. For 25 days, he fought yet another chemotherapy treatment to kill his cancer. It was on the 25th day (July 7th), after his kidneys and liver had failed, that it was time for him to go to his eternal home. Brad passed peacefully with his loving wife, two of his children, several close friends, and the incredible ICU staff at his side.
Brad is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, April; his five children, Heather, Bradley, Rebecca, Amanda and Doug, 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Also surviving Brad are his sister Leslie and his brother Bill.
Brad, you will be missed and thought of often. There will be tears but also fond memories that will warm our hearts and have us laughing, as you so often did. Whether it was just you cutting up or you trying to cheer us up, you lead us to focus on laughter rather than the negative things in life.
Rest in eternal peace and comfort! You did it right…
“You never know where life’s highway will take you and since you only get one chance, do it right so once is enough!!” (Author Unknown)
Brad’s family is planning on holding a service in his honor in August 2022 which will be announced later.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Brad’s memory may be made to two following organizations:
Independence Fund https://independencefund.org/
Boulder Crest Arizona https://bouldercrest.org/ways-to-give/
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