Bradley Clayton Sawyer, 71, of Haverhill, passed away Sept. 5, in Sandwich, of renal cancer.
He was born in Haverhill, son of Roger and Evelyn Sawyer. He was the husband of Diana (Abraham) Sawyer for 48 years. His survival for the last 41 years amazed the medical experts after his 1975 diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis, a debilitating connective tissue disease. His unfailing good humor and courage despite great pain amazed his many friends over the decades. He looked forward to every day with joy and anticipation. Every morning he and friends would solve the problems of the world over coffee at Barnstable Harbor where he also kept his Seacraft for many years. He was an avid deer hunter, first by bow and arrow and then musket, until a few years before his death.
He graduated from Haverhill High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was a radar specialist at a Nike missile site in Bristol, R.I., (now Roger Williams College) at the height of the Cold War. After his three years of service, he attended Northern Essex Community College and worked in sales with National Cash Register in Hyannis, and then began working in real estate. Later he became co-owner of Ski Bradford with his brother, Neil, a family owned ski area in Bradford where generations of families have learned to ski for 65 years.
In addition to his wife, Diana, Brad is survived by their son Abraham Bradley Sawyer of Yarmouth Port; brother Neil Sawyer of Bradford; nephews Brian and Mark Sawyer; niece Deborah; and many friends.
Celebration of his Life takes place Saturday, Oct. 22, at Ski Bradford, 60 South Cross Road, Bradford, beginning at 11 a.m., inside the Lodge. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Mary McCarthy House, Hope Hospice, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601.