Bradford Mundy Obituary (1938 - 2023)

Oakland - On December 30th, 2023, Bradford Philip Mundy, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and teacher, passed quietly, surrounded by family after a short but mighty battle with cancer. Brad was born November 9, 1938, in Warrensburg, NY, the oldest of 5 children born to Philip and Lavinia Mundy. At age one, because of new employment for his father, the family moved to Schenectady, NY, where his two sisters, Phyllis and Sandra were born. Another move back to Warrensburg, and the family grew again to include his brother Alan. Brad started school at Warrensburg Central School. The family again moved back to Schenectady, where Brad’s brother James was born. Brad attended and graduated from Mont Pleasant High School in the Technical Mechanical Program, which was rich in pre-engineering math and science, preparing students for industrial work. There were no thoughts of college. However, because of its modest fees, in 1957 Brad was able to enter Albany State Teachers College majoring in mathematics. Because of a great teacher, Richard F. Smith, Brad was drawn into chemistry, a subject that became a lifetime love affair. Throughout his undergraduate years, Brad spent summers in Warrensburg, working as a bartender in a summer resort, which provided a separate education. After graduating from Albany State, Brad enrolled in the Masters Program there. During his first year, he was offered a full fellowship to enroll in the Chemistry Ph.D. program at The University of Vermont. During that summer he worked doing weather research and was the Whiteface Mountain radio weather reporter for Lake Placid. Brad continued his three-year Ph.D. program working on a mechanistic problem and the synthesis of natural perfume constituent, beta-vetivone. In 1963, during his second year at The University of Vermont, Brad married Margaret R. Saimond. After finishing his Ph.D., they moved to Berkeley, CA where Brad began a post-doctoral program at U.C. Berkeley working on the details of how the tobacco plant makes nicotine. While at Berkeley, Brad and Margaret’s son, Christopher, was born. After completing his post-doctoral studies, they moved to Bozeman, MT where Brad started his teaching/research career. In Montana, their family grew to include two daughters, Ellen and Jill. Brad spent 26 wonderful years at Montana State University as a professor, department head, and Associate Dean of Letters and Science, as well as one year at the National Science Foundation in Washington, DC. In 1992 Brad accepted an offer of department chairmanship and the Miselis Endowed Chair at Colby College in Waterville, ME. During his teaching career, Brad received numerous teaching awards. He published more than 13 chemistry textbooks and numerous journal articles. Brad was a longtime member of The American Chemical Society. After retirement, Brad and Margaret bought a home in Oakland, ME, where food and flower gardens became a passion. Their camp on Great Pond was the hub for good neighbors, good friends, and great times in the summer. Brad always said he had a great life! Margaret (great wife and partner), excellent children (who married well), the nicest grandchildren (called him PaPa or Grampy), and wonderful places to live. Most of all, the opportunity to be a teacher…in the classroom, laboratory, and at home with his own children and grandchildren. His students were a blessing and kept him young. Brad’s parting wishes for everyone: Live life with gusto. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not yet available, and today, right now, is what you have. Live life fully, do nothing to leave regrets and be curious about everything. Be a good person. Brad is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Margaret, his children, Christopher Mundy (Marion Streichsbier), Ellen Shuler (Dain), and Jill Putnam (Jon), his siblings Phyllis Veith, Sandra Pigliavento, Alan Mundy (Jacqueline), and Cheryl Mundy, his grandchildren Philip Shuler, Ethan Shuler, Seth Putnam (Jamie), Carson Putnam, Nicholas Mundy and Sophie Mundy, his nieces, nephews and many dear friends. Brad is preceded in death by his parents, Philip and Lavinia Mundy, Margaret’s parents, Charles and Angela Saimond, his brother James Mundy, his niece Lisa Pigliavento and his brother-in-laws, Paul Saimond, Lee Pigliavento, and John Veith. A special thank you to the wonderful care from MaineGeneral Hospice and the Oakland, Maine Fire Department. A mass of Christian burial will be held at 9:00 AM, on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 116 Silver Street, Waterville. Funeral services are being planned for later in the spring in Bozeman, Montana. Services will be announced. Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at www.gallantfh.com.