James M. Bradley

James M. Bradley Esq. of Braintree, formerly of Hingham and Woburn, died suddenly December 23rd. He was 67.

He was the beloved husband of 46 years to Deborah A. (Arena) Bradley, his high school sweetheart.

He was also the loving and devoted father of five children: Garrett Bradley and his wife Heather of Hingham, Patrick Bradley of Quincy, Michael Bradley and his wife Nicole of Marshfield, Kristen (Bradley) Tikonoff and her husband Alex of Abington, and James G. Bradley of Weymouth. He was the brother of George Bradley of Weymouth, Tommy Bradley of Quincy, David Bradley of PA, Mary Binks of Woburn, and the late Carol and Paul Bradley. James was the devoted grandfather of Amanda, Emma and Will Bradley; Jake and Ty Tikonoff; Samuel, Maxwell and Michael Bradley; and Declan Bradley. James was the son of the late Virginia and James Bradley. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Born and raised in Woburn, Jim attended St. Charles School in Woburn before attending Matignon High School in Cambridge, graduating in 1965. He received his bachelor’s degree from Boston College in 1969 and went on to earn a law degree from The New England School of Law in 1974, also working simultaneously for the then Holiday Inn Inc. 

His years with Holiday Inn led to a full-time position in Memphis, TN and he moved his family there in 1977, returning to Massachusetts in 1980, working as a hotel consultant. The hotel industry would become both his path and passion.

In 1983, Jim co-founded Beacon Hotel Corporation- a Boston-based hotel development and management firm- with longtime friend and colleague Richard Kelleher. In just four years, the firm grew to 40 hotels. With Jim’s leadership, in the year 1985 alone, Beacon Hotel Corp. opened five hotels in that single year-  an accomplishment Jim proudly referred to as “5 in ‘85”. 

Named President and Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Hotel Corp., Jim led the company in its acquisition of Guest Quarters Suite Hotels, developing and managing over 30 hotels in just six years- one being the world-renowned Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf. The company would go on to acquire Doubletree Hotels Corporation.

Jim retired early, taking his broad experience with hotel financing, acquisitions and re-branding, and worked as a financial advisor to several national institutional investors. His early retirement also allowed him to fulfill two dreams- spending more time with his wife and children and to fulfill his longtime dream of owning and operating a bed and breakfast. In 1994 he and wife Debbie bought The Cranberry Inn, an 18 room historical B&B, in Chatham, Ma. He later sold the Inn and returned to the South Shore, settling in Braintree, in order to be closer to his children and extended family. He opened Bradley Law, a mortgage company, in Braintree in 2000. 

Jim was the epitome of hard work and dedication. His work ethic was one of his greatest strengths.

In 2003, Jim would need that strength when he tragically broke his back and faced the possibility of never walking again. But he persevered, not only learning to walk again but going back to work as Senior Vice President of Pyramid Hotel Group, LLC in 2005. He would later retire for good from  Pyramid in 2009.

Jim had a love for politics as well as art, music and poetry, often penning poems for his wife or his only daughter. He was a skilled piano player and recently returned to playing the guitar, an instrument he put down some 25 years ago. He loved to travel and did so throughout his life all over the world, either with his wife, or bringing his children along to experience the diversity of different cultures.  He also loved all New England Sports, shedding tears in 2004 and 2007 when the Red Sox won the World Series because, as he said, it was something he thought he’d never see in his lifetime- never mind seeing it happen twice.

Jim  was a generous man with a huge heart. He was a caring and supportive spouse and a devoted and dedicated father to his five children, always encouraging them to go after their dreams and passions. He led by example, showing his children what hard work really looked like. He was a loving grandfather, who truly enjoyed watching his nine grandchildren navigate their way through life and he was so proud that he got the chance to be a grandparent.

Loved by so many, Jim will be sorely missed.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Tuesday 4-8 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hospital). There will also be a visitation at St. Charles Church, 280 Main St., Woburn from 8:45 AM – 9:45 AM on Wednesday followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 AM. Burial in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.

 Donations in memory of Jim may be made to Operation Smile, 3641 Faculty Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23453.