Neil Jeffrey Bradford

Neil Bradford died on Aug. 24 at St Mary’s Hospital after sustaining severe head injuries following an early Sunday morning biking accident on Pinyon Mesa.

Neil was born in Gary, Ind., on Nov. 19, 1951, to Stanley and Elizabeth Bradford and grew up in rural Merrillville, Ind., where he attended school and graduated from Merrillville High School.

Neil was an avid outdoorsman and adventurer, with a deep love and respect for nature and all that it could offer him. He developed this love and inspiration early in his life, during yearly summer camping trips with his family from the l964 New York World’s Fair, to the Colorado Rockies and all places in between. His career started as a faithful and meticulous paperboy, moved on to become manager of the local McDonald’s, and, as a boy of about 10 or 12, even became the creator of the now infamous Bullwinkle’s Health Club.

Keeping in mind that this was in the days before anyone had even thought about health clubs and staying fit, Neil had all the neighborhood kids paying him a dime to run around the block or walk the neighbor’s dog! Saturday meetings were in a neighbor kid’s smelly basement and Neil presided over all. Neil always excelled at school, played baritone and trumpet in the high school marching band, played softball and some football, and was involved in student government.

Neil attended Indiana University and graduated with honors with a double major in geology and anthropology. Always up for a challenge, he followed his sister and moved to Colorado in l977 to pursue work in his field of study. He was owner and manager of Western Land Associates and Mineral Lands Corporation, involving claims staking for Shell Oil and other major oil companies throughout the West.

With Bullwinkle’s Health Club never far from his thoughts, he began his career in health and fitness in l986, attending classes at Mesa College and obtaining his certification as an athletic trainer. He as hired on at Crossroads Health and Fitness Club in l986 as an athletic trainer. Within six months, he was promoted to general manager and as they say, “the rest is history.”

Above all, Neil had a tremendous love for life and living. The greatest and truest loves of his life arrived in l992 and again in l994, with the births of his two sons. As he would say, “the boys have given me a life” and he was extremely proud and supportive of all their many activities and accomplishments.

Neil was also very civic-minded. He organized and coordinated the first Earth Day Celebration in Sherwood Park in l990, and was active in the committee to establish the Tabequache Scenic Byway. He served on the Mesa County Planning Commission for two terms in the l990s and volunteered for the past two years on the Mesa County Obesity Task Force.

Neil was a good person, with a friendly, loving and helpful nature, and will be grievously missed by his family and many friends.

He is survived by his much-loved sons, Eric and Noah; his parents, Stan and Bette; his loving sister Kim; and numerous other extended family.

He was preceded in death by his brother Philip.

Memorial services to honor Neil will be held Saturday, Aug. 30, at 2 p.m. at Redlands Community Church, 2327 Broadway. At Neil’s request, his ashes will be scattered in the Lochsa River, Idaho, by his family at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Neil Bradford Kid’s Scholarship Fund at any Alpine Bank or to any environmental or conservation group of your choice.