Judson P. Bradshaw, BHS 1930
Judson Bradshaw, 92; performing arts his passion
By Jack Williams, Staff Writer, U-T San Diego, March 15, 2005
Once he discarded dreams of being an actor, Judson P. Bradshaw found he had the right stuff for a leading role in another field – education. Beginning as a teacher of drama, speech and English, he rose to director of adult and continuing education in the San Diego Community College District. Whether teaching, directing school plays or joining community theater productions, performing arts remained a passion.
In 1993, after moving into a seniors residential community in Spring Valley, Mr. Bradshaw founded and directed a reader's theater program. He died of complications from a stroke March 8, 2005 at Grossmont Hospital. He was 92. "What he liked about education was seeing people grow and expand their abilities," daughter Judith Quiett said. "It always pleased him." "His way to stay in theater was to teach it."
As a young man, Mr. Bradshaw acted in college plays at the University of Redlands and worked as a singing waiter. But his aspirations for an acting career didn't meet with the approval of his parents, who had worked as missionaries in China for several years. Mr. Bradshaw went on to earn a bachelor's degree at Redlands and a master's in speech and drama at the University of Southern California. He also pursued studies at USC toward a doctorate of education.
He taught drama at schools in Coalinga and San Diego before joining the Navy in 1944. Assigned to landing ship transports in the Pacific, he served two years of active duty. In 1950, Mr. Bradshaw was promoted from classroom teaching to administration. As principal of Hoover-Crawford Adult School, he oversaw more than 4,000 students and a curriculum of some 90 courses during the 1950s. The job often entailed reporting to his office at 9 a.m. and tending to administrative duties at various adult education sites until 9:45 p.m. During his tenure in adult education, Mr. Bradshaw held several executive positions locally and statewide. In 1965, he was elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Public School Education.
Mr. Bradshaw served as president of the El Cajon Boulevard Civic Association in 1955 and of the East San Diego Kiwanis Club in 1962. When adult and continuing education in the San Diego Unified School District shifted to the San Diego Community College District in 1970, Mr. Bradshaw was appointed director. In 1973, one year before his retirement, he received the George C. Mann Distinguished Service Award from the California Council for Adult Education.
In retirement, he taught a variety of San Diego State University Extension courses and worked part time at Answers to Travel, a Mission Valley travel agency. As a travel agent, he led three extensive tours to China, his boyhood home. He kept his hand in theater by directing community productions and served from 1977 to 1980 as vice president of San Diego Civic Light Opera. While living in the College Area, Mr. Bradshaw helped develop the College Avenue Adult Center. It provided daylong activities for seniors and featured various speakers.
Born in Malden, Mass., he moved as a child to Szechuan Province, where his parents opened a medical missionary clinic and church. At 8, he returned with his parents to the United States and attended schools in Burbank. His first teaching job, while pursuing a master's at USC, was at Burbank Military Academy in 1938.
A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Mount Miguel Covenant Village, Bailey Center, 325 Kempton St., Spring Valley. A viewing is scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow at Featheringill Mortuary, 6322 El Cajon Blvd., followed by an interment service at 1 p.m. at El Camino Memorial Park. Donations are suggested to Grossmont Hospice.
No comments:
Post a Comment