Mary Oliver Bradley
Mary Oliver Bradley, a member of the Dining Services staff for 42 years, died Sunday,
September 27, 2009, in Saratoga Springs.
Born October 25, 1946, in Saratoga Springs, Mary was the daughter of Violet and the
late Charles R. (Dick) Oliver. A lifetime resident of the city, Mary frequently visited
the Saratoga Race Course. She also enjoyed trips to Atlantic City and was a big fan
of the New York Yankees.
Mary joined the Skidmore Dining Services staff in 1967. She belonged to a family long
associated with Skidmore–her brother Jesse is in the facilities department; her mother
was on the housekeeping staff for many years; her husband, John W. (“Jack”), was on
the maintenance staff before retiring; and her sister Joyce and her daughter Tracy
also worked at the College.
Dining Services colleague Charles (“Chuck”) Ure worked many years with Mary, at both
Moore Hall and Murray-Aikins Dining Hall. Chuck remembered that Mary “was a very determined
person in all aspects of her life, and capable of making her points.” She was also
quite generous, he added, citing Mary’s longtime involvement with the local Give a
Child a Christmas organization. “Mary helped a lot of people,” he said.
And she was a hard worker, according to Chuck. “On those occasions when the power
failed, Mary would make sure everyone had the flashlights and the Coleman stoves,
to get the job done and the students fed. Mary’s macaroni and cheese was a favorite
of many who dined at Skidmore," said Ure.
Mary’s work on behalf of others prompted longtime colleague Joanne Dugan to communicate
with the Skidmore community earlier this year, when Mary was diagnosed with Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Said Joanne, “I learned from Mary
that people who need help don’t often ask for it. I never saw one person do so much
for so many.”
During the summer, as news of Mary’s illness spread, Joanne emailed the Skidmore community,
seeking contributions for ALS research. She said, “I could not believe the amount
of support provided by the Skidmore campus. People reached out to help her from all
levels of the college community.” Funds raised were directed to the ALS chapter in
Liverpool, N.Y., the ALS Regional Center in Albany, and to St. Peter’s Hospital, where
Mary received treatment.
Mary’s father; a brother, Charles Oliver; and stepson David Bradley predeceased her.
Her survivors include her husband, Jack; mother, Violet; two brothers, Jesse and Richard
(Becky); sisters Joyce Oliver and Wanda Wren; daughter, Tracy (John) Bateholts; and
stepdaughters Alinda (CK) Nichols and Aleah (Kirk) Wendell.