Ann Marie Bradley

Known as Nan to her grandchildren, Ann is survived by her husband, LTC (ret) John Bradley, four children James (Juliann), Susan, John Jr., and Thomas and his fiancée Denise Smith. Ann had six grandchildren, Abigail Bradley, Emily Bradley, Jack Bradley, TJ (Thomas Johnhall) Bradley, Tiffany Smith-Sheridan (Keegan), Cathleen Holloway (Winston), and four great grandchildren. She is also survived by three siblings: William Summa, Roseann (Phil) Perri, and Daniel (Anna) Summa. She was blessed with numerous nieces and nephews whom she treasured.

She was born to Rocco and Grace Summa in New Rochelle, New York and raised by Rocco and Catherine Summa after the death of her mother. She was particularly close to her Aunt Anne Chimento, all of whom predeceased her. She met her husband on a blind date as a teenage college freshman at the Fisheaters’ Ball – an annual West Point cadet “hop” or dance for Catholic cadets in New York City. They married in 1961 and spent a lifetime of adventures together.

She spent as much time as possible with her grandchildren, traveling to Waco as often as she could, enjoying more visits as cars became part of Abigail’s life and she delighted in watching great-granddaughter Bradley Louise “Birdie” Holloway try to figure out how to get into her pool.

She had a lifelong love of dogs, and many were fortunate to spend their lives with her and John beginning with Sir Dynadan the Beagle and several fabulous Great Danes including her favorite, Havoc. She continued to delight in her grand dogs and loved their visits and hearing stories about them.

She loved teaching and scholarship, earning a Bachelor’s Degree from The College of New Rochelle, her Master’s degree from Columbia University in New York, and her Ph.D. from Rice University in Houston. She began her graduate work at Columbia while living at Ft. Bragg and completed her graduate work after her children were born. Setting up a typewriter and an enormous pile of books in the dining room in the 1970s, she gained her degree from Columbia and earned a writing award for her thesis on Hemingway. Enjoying her time on the Rice campus in the 1990s between teaching classes at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart and the University of St. Thomas, she earned her Ph.D., a life-long dream. She was so happy when she was finally able to cross that stage with her family cheering her on.

She taught high school in NY before she was married, taught soldiers at Ft Bragg, took a break to raise her children, and when she returned to Houston taught for years at Duchesne Academy. Since retiring she has continued to correspond with her beloved students from Duchesne Academy. The family is still meeting former students who regale them with stories about having been in her classes and the guidance and encouragement she provided them during their school years and beyond.

Ann never met a stranger. She maintained an active social schedule, meeting friends for lunch, having guests visit, calling and corresponding with far-flung friends and texting constantly on her iPhone. She adopted many wonderful people who were drawn to her warmth and love of family, and she filled her home with amazing social events including her legendary 12th night parties, with many friends who became practically members of the family, and with laughter and joy and food and music.

Ann lived a joyful life and was active and engaged all through it. She had published two novels and a book of poetry in the last few years and was in final editing on a third novel, which will be published in 2023. She and John thrived together during the isolation of the pandemic, taking the time together to continue to set an example for how to have a great marriage. She loved to travel, visiting her family in New York regularly, seeing friends, going to England to drown herself in Shakespeare’s plays, and travelling to Manila, John’s city of birth, to absorb some of its history, marvel at its steel Church, and visit Noble Bradley’s grave in the majestic American Manila Cemetery.

Her proudest accomplishment was her children, and she would bend any ear with her pride in their accomplishments. It may be possible she exaggerated their accomplishments a little but none of them objected.

She loved her faith in God, and especially enjoyed Christmas. The house was always well decorated with many trees, lights and constant caroling. She sang beautifully and taught us all to celebrate the season of Advent with “Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel.”

Visitation with the family will be Tuesday, December 20th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with the recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m. at Earthman Funeral Directors, 8303 Katy Freeway in Houston. Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, December 21st at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail in Houston with a reception to follow at her home. Interment is planned for the spring at the West Point Cemetery in New York’s Hudson Highlands – a place she loved and used as the setting for her books and where so many friends from cadet days, from XVIII Airborne Corps, and from other army posts are at rest.

In lieu of flowers, the family is establishing a memorial fund at The Ursuline School in New Rochelle, New York, where Ann earned the New York State Scholarship as a high school senior. Donations or requests for information about how to donate should be sent to her husband John until the fund is set up.

Even though her family is devastated by her loss, we know she would not want people to be sad and somber, especially during Christmas. She would expect us to be joyful at her reuniting with her parents and loved ones, and to not let her down by doing anything but living our lives as best we can with optimism and joy. She would expect us to take a moment and reflect and then honor her by being the best people we can be and loving our families and friends as fiercely as she did.

For John, she was the Spring.