Richard W. Bradley

Richard W. Bradley, 78, of Crofton, Maryland, passed away peacefullyon July 30, 2025, after a long struggle with a neurodegenerative disease.

Born on July 25, 1947 to Leila Hoyle and William Bradley, Richard grew up in Baltimore and pursued a career in public service. He earned a Bachelor of Accounting and an MBA degree from the University of Baltimore. Richard spent his entire professional career with Prince George’s County, Maryland, where he began as an accountant and retired in 2009 as Deputy Director, after over 40 years of service.

Richard met the love of his life, Sheila Seltzer, at a Halloween party in 1968. When she first refused to give him her phone number, he cleverly wrote to her instead, securing their first date at the Latin Casino. Twelve years later, on November 9, 1980—the anniversary of that first date—they married. The two shared 45 years of marriage, filled with travel, adventure, and daily joys, challenges, and deep companionship.

Richard loved to travel, and Italy became a special destination to which he and Sheila returned many times. Aside from international travel, he enjoyed sharing hiking adventures, cross-country skiing trips, and tandem biking with his beloved wife Sheila. At home, he cultivated his year-round vegetable garden—often in friendly rivalry with squirrels and chipmunks, with whom he eventually declared a truce. He was an avid reader of Allen Ginsberg’s poetry, a lover of wine and salmon, and a thoughtful listener who delighted in people’s stories. Friends and family alike valued his financial insight, wise advice on investment and retirement planning, and playful sense of humor.

Richard is survived by his wife, Sheila Seltzer; his sister Joan Bradley Cregar; his sister- and brother-in-law, Susan and Bill Kuthy; nieces and nephews Jerry Kuthy, Kathleen Temple (Kuthy), Jonathan Kuthy, Daniel Kuthy, and Laura Kuthy, Matthew Cregar, and Timothy Cregar; and great-nieces Keira, Koli, and Kai Temple.

A viewing will be held at 12pm on Sunday, August 17th, followed by a memorial service at 1pm, both atBeall Funeral Home at 6512 Crain Hwy in Bowie, MD 20715 (www.beallfuneral.com). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a charity of your choice in Richard’s name.