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When Brad was still living in California and I was in Oregon, seeing him was always one of the bright spots on our trips down to see the family. Though we only saw each other maybe once a year, I felt close to him and enjoyed his company greatly. A bit older than me, he was halfway between a cousin and uncle. We shared laughs and a good time, and I also felt like he was looking out for me, and was there for me. Inevitably the laughs and jokes carried the day, and we had our fun. And at the same time what stood out was the respect he showed to those around him. I always felt valued, comfortable, and safe (even if I was the butt of a few jokes). I never quite got used to seeing him in his police uniform. He was the only police officer I knew, and I understood that represented a sacrifice on his part. But it never seemed to weigh on him. Nothing did. In reality he must have had his share of stresses and worries, but they never showed. He must have been a man of tremendous inner strength.
Later, I moved away, and he moved to Oregon. I was glad for him to find a new home in my home state, but I saw him even more rarely, as my own life progressed and I found it harder and harder to come back home. The last time I saw Brad was two summers ago. I can’t believe that will be the last time forever. I’m only his faraway cousin… and yet I feel a void with him gone. I realize now he wasn’t just family, he was also a friend, and I miss him a lot. Love you, Brad!

I have so many fond memories of Brad and considered it a privilege to have worked with him. Perhaps my favorite story about Brad actually occurred in Eureka. We traveled there together for a first aid instructor’s course and Brad became more animated the closer we got. We’d had an ongoing joke about the fact he’d been raised in Eureka and I’d been raised in L.A. and how different these environments were, in negative ways of course, and we laughed a lot about it. Upon arriving in Eureka we discovered the course had been cancelled. Brad saw this as a golden opportunity to educate me about the wonders of Eureka and we spent a better part of the day driving around on a “sightseeing” tour, at least according to Brad. The highlight for me was visiting the Harley Davidson store, which as I recall was owned by a relative of his. On the way back to Santa Rosa we continued to comment about each other’s hometowns and I told Brad I’d been wrong about Eureka and that it was worse than I’d thought. I will never forget how hard he laughed at that.

I remember Brad’s always present smile and humor. He always lifted you up when work wasn’t so much fun. Working with Brad was a gift. I’m very sorry for your family. It’s always very sad when one of the good guys leaves us, but I’m thankful for the time I spent with Brad.

Most favorite, shared memories are about family and one of my favorites includes Brad and Jen. Patti and I didn’t buy our first home until later in life. (I was 48). We celebrated a lot of very special times with family wherever we lived, but none was as sweet and worth waiting for more than when, shortly after buying our Sonoma home, Brad and Jen asked if they could be married in our garden.

Like most fixer-uppers, this house needed a lot of work, something no Bradley (Conners) ever shied away from. Everyone pitched in and help paint the entire house! We planted the garden, built an arbor, purchased two Iceberg roses, rented a dance floor and the rest turned into one of those memories that only brings sighs of love and tears when looking at old photos. My favorite picture of my mother was taken that day.

Each year in Sonoma, when doing our annual 2 day rose pruning getting ready for spring, instead of carpet pruning the iceberg roses on our arbor, I would spend upwards of 4 hours trimming and pruning each and every stem of those now 10 ft. roses, remembering that day, chuckling each and every time when I remembered Brads dad going head over heels on the dance floor. Laughs and tears that are only, always better when they are about family.

To know Brad was to celebrate memories even as they happened because he was that special of a guy. I know that even today, he would find a way to share a sideways comment to take the edge off and for that my tears are bittersweet. I hope that Sheron, Jen, Ben & Emily, Jamie, Christen & Declan can find solace in knowing that those are the moments and memories that will endure whenever they think of Brad.

I dropped eight pics here…I hope they all come through