Reuben F. Bradford Jr.

Reuben Frederick Bradford, Jr., 75, formerly of Middletown, Glastonbury and Hamden, CT, died on Wednesday, September

22, 2021. He was born on August 9, 1946 to Reuben F. Bradford, Sr. and Vivian Morris Bradford in Bronx, NY. He graduated high school from St. Emma’s Military Academy in Powhatan, Virginia, a prestigious academy for young Black men founded in 1895. Reuben earned a BS degree from Fairfield University and earned an MPA from the University of New Haven. He entered the Connecticut State Police Academy in 1974, where he spent 22 years ultimately achieving the rank of Major. In 1996, Reuben joined the National Football League as Assistant Director of Security and retired in 2011 as Senior Director of Security of the NFL. Reuben achieved many “firsts” in his career; he became the first African American instructor at the State Police Training Academy, the Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection as the first African American. He also implemented Gun Violence Prevention legislation as well as being the president of the Hamden Pop Warner Football League. He leaves behind his children, Troy Bradford (Vanessa), Shelby Bradford.

Viewing will be on Thursday, September 30th, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by Celebration of Life at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Temple Church Of God, 285 Dixwell Ave., New Haven, CT 06511; Interment will be at Hamden Plains Cemetery, Hamden CT. Services will be organized and administered by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services. To leave a message of comfort for the family and to read the full obituary, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com.