FAIRHAVEN — Dr. E. Bradford Weaver, of Fairhaven, MA and Casco, ME passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on February 28, 2012. He was the husband of Corinne R. (McMenamy) Weaver. They had been married 48 years.
Born in Providence, RI, he was the son of the late Horton and Ailsa (Ramsden) Weaver. He graduated from Mount Hermon School in 1955 and Brown University in 1959. At Brown, he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. After Brown, he received a MEd (Masters in Education) from Bridgewater State College in 1962, a CAGS from Boston University in 1965 and an EdD (Doctorate in Education) from Boston University in 1978. While at Boston University, he was elected to Phi Kappa Delta, a professional honorary society in education.
Dr. Weaver began his 39 year career with the New Bedford School Department in 1959 as a 5th grade teacher at the Hosea Knowlton School. He remained as a teacher for 3 years at the Knowlton School. In 1962-1963, he worked as an Assistant Principal at the Betsy B. Winslow and Ellen R. Hathaway Schools where he met his wife to be. The following year, he was an Assistant Principal at the John H. Clifford and Thomas A. Greene Schools. In 1965, he was appointed Principal of the Clifford School where he served until 1975. During the 1965-1975 period, he held additional responsibilities for the busing of pupils displaced by the Knowlton School fire as well as for the development of desegregation plans and redistricting plans for the School Department. During the summer of 1973, he worked as the Director of 5 Title I programs. Other summers, he taught a Power Reading Program at the private Kinyon Campbell School.
In 1975, Dr. Weaver was appointed Principal of the new Hayden-McFadden School. In this new school, there were over 1,000 pupils who came from diverse backgrounds. Providing effective educational experiences for all new pupils was a most challenging assignment for the new staff.
Throughout the 1990s, he became focused on creating programs which were geared to bringing children to school ready to learn. An important part of supporting this proactive approach was the creation of the Hayden McFadden Family Center. The Center became a popular site for many parents who participated in its parent support and education programs, after school programs, volunteering and partnering programs. The Center attracted funding from Title I, Massachusetts Department of Education as well as organizations like Blue Cross/Blue Shield. All of the proactive programs that were run at the school were the result of teamwork involving many people both in and out of the School Department. Witnessing the outcomes of the proactive approach he considered it to be the most positive experience of his professional life.
Brad is survived by his three daughters, Jennifer Paiva and her husband, Michael of New Bedford, Stephanie Pereira and her husband, Edgar of Dartmouth, and Beth Dupre and her husband Robert of Fairhaven. There are six grandchildren, Marissa Pina and Lauren Paiva of New Bedford, Sarah and Megan Pereira of Dartmouth and Grace and Luke Bradford Dupre of Fairhaven. He was especially fond of spending time with his family at their cottage in Casco, ME. He is also survived by his sister Janice Lima and her husband Frank of Falmouth, MA as well as his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Frederick and Carol McMenamy of York, PA.
Remembrances in his name may be made to P.A.C.E., Inc./Family Center, 166 William Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.
Visitation will take place at the Wilson Chapel, 479 County Street, New Bedford on Friday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Service will take place at Grace Episcopal Church, 422 County Street, New Bedford on Saturday at 11:00 am. Burial will be private.