Because I knew you, I have been changed for good. As I think about my brother Brad, and process all that has happened in the past week and the past eighteen years that he has been in my life, in our lives, I cannot help but think about the countless interests that he had. He brought to our family a unique combination of interests and thanks to Brad, many of us now know about Bonsai trees, coin collecting, Pi, chemistry, dinosaurs, snowboarding and too many other things to name. I am sure as I share with you my list, those of you that knew him are thinking about things you would add to the list. Brad was an intellectual. If he had a question, he would not ask it. He would research it on his own until he became an expert and then share with you the answer…in detail.
But intelligence was only a small part of what he brought to this world. To really understand and know my brother, you needed to see him as a whole…..who he was for eighteen years, not just who he became. Bradley McDonald McLoone was giving. He was kind. He befriended those that needed a friend. He stood up for those that could not stand up for themselves. He was sensitive and empathetic. He was kind. As I remember my brother in recent years, I cannot think of him without thinking about how he was with my son, his nephew, Elijah. When I would visit my parents at their home in San Antonio, Brad could normally be found sitting at the computer with his headphones on. Elijah adored his Uncle Brad and would toddle over and climb up next to Brad. Brad always had a smile for Elijah and seemed to enjoy the attention of his first nephew, He never hesitated to hold Elijah and I think Elijah got the most smiles out of Brad in the recent years. When I think of my brother I think of him as helpful. I think of how every time I would visit my family, Brad was always ready and willing to help me unpack and pack my car. He was always responsive with me and my children and willingly received my affection. I want you to know this because it is important that his family and friends that love him realize that the kind hearted, generous, helpful, loving and sweet little boy that we all adored remained a part of him until the end.
What would my brother Brad want you to know and remember about him? First I think he would want all of you and my parents especially to know that he loved you. It was not something he showed to many as he got older but as this week has passed and so many of his close friends have come forward with memories and condolences it has become quite clear that he loved his whole family and that he knew we loved him. I believe he would want us all to know that. I believe he would also want us to know that he found a lot of happiness in this life. Everything he did, he did with passion and enthusiasm. And he leaves behind him a world that is a better place for him having been a part of it.
Our family loved Brad. We love his uniqueness. We love his incredible heart. We love his brilliant mind. We love the many facets that made up our Bradley bear. And as we move forward from today and saying good bye to our Brad, I know that he will be present in our daily lives through memories, music and many of the “Bradisms” that have come to be a part of our family dialogue. Snacker Nack Haggis. Oh, oh thanks. Chicken wing, Helga, Markia, Word, Look ma skin on the bottom.
Brad, because we knew you, we have all been changed for good.
I put together a video montage for Brad’s memorial. Below are some of the photos that I didn’t include in the that montage. I would have loved to include every picture I had but since I could not, I wanted to share some additional ones.
Brad and I enjoyed a lot of brother/sister outings sponsored by our parents. Here we are at Astroworld.
Family photo Fourth of July 2013. (Patrick and Rory are there too in utero.
Another brother/sister date at Splashtown.
We had such a neat bond. <3
He was so much fun to be around. I loved spending time with that little boy.
Baby Brad with Daddy and Mark before my high school graduation.
Dinner with the family. Elijah was in utero in this picture.
He was such a cute groomsman. He took the job very seriously.
We had fun with an underwater camera.
I built my first gingerbread house with my baby brother.
Some of my favorite high school memories included napping with Brad after school and loading him in my moms car taking him EVERYWHERE…to friends houses, to go visit my work.
I love that smile.
THAT is an Elijah smile. I see so much of Brad in my first born.
I remember how TINY he was. Our family always seems to have big babies and so when Brad was born at under 7 lbs, he felt so little. I loved his “littleness”.
My dad and brothers immortalized on the walls of several Palm restaurants.
Goodnight baby brother. We miss you already. But I faith I will see you again.
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