White River Junction, VT – Edward M. Bradley died peacefully on Sunday, October 4, 2026, in Hanover, New Hampshire, following a short, rapid decline. A husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and teacher, he will be remembered for his love of his family; his fascinating personal stories; his tremendous knowledge of language, history, and literature; his passion for teaching; and his devotion to generations of students – both in and out of the classroom – many of whom have gone on to become lifelong friends. He was 90.
Edward-never Ed-is survived by Marie-Hélène, his wife of more than 50 years; one brother; four sons; and eleven grandchildren.
Edward was born in New Haven, Connecticut, the middle of five boys, and was raised in nearby Cheshire. He attended the Hotchkiss School, graduating in three years, and received an English-Speaking Union scholarship for a gap year at Mill Hill School in London. He earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University in 1958 and his Ph.D. in Classics there in 1963.
Professor Bradley taught ancient Latin, Greek, Classical literature in translation, and Roman and early Christian art and architecture at Dartmouth College for nearly 60 years. He helped launch Dartmouth’s language program in France before founding the college’s first Roman Foreign Study Program. He played an important part in establishing the Classical Association of New England Summer Institute that brought large numbers of New England teachers and scholars to Dartmouth’s campus for a summer seminar on the ancient world. Shortly before his retirement from full-time teaching in 2006, he received the student-awarded Jerome Goldstein Teaching Award.
He loved ice hockey and proudly served as faculty advisor to the men’s Dartmouth hockey team for many years. His was a regular face at Aquinas House, the Catholic student center on campus, and he relished his longtime service as overseer at AQ and the relationships he formed with its priests and students alike.
He continued teaching classes as an emeritus professor long after his retirement and more recently at Osher. Just recently, days before passing, he had lectured on Ovid’s Metamorphoses. He will be missed dearly.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Aquinas House located at 2 Occum Ridge, Hanover, NH 03755.
Immediately following the service, from 11:30am-3pm, family and friends are invited to gather for a reception at The Hanover Inn, located at 2 East Wheelock St., Hanover, NH 03755, to share memories and celebrate the life of Edward M. Bradley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Aquinas House.
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