Concord's Brad Bigham: Businessman, Philanthropist, Writer Dies at 77

The following is from Dee Funeral Home:

Bradford William “Brad” Bigham, 77, a businessman, philanthropist, writer, historian, and a longtime Concord resident died Monday, March 30th at Emerson Hospital in Concord.

The son of the late Edward and Hazel (Brennan) Bigham, he was born in Waltham on November 21, 1937 at the Teresian Hospital on Main Street which stood on the site of the now St. Jude Church where his funeral Mass will be held.

Brad grew up in Waltham where he graduated from St. Charles High School in 1957 and later attended Fitchburg State College. In 1967, he graduated from Boston College, School of Business, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He was an active alumnus of St. Charles High School and Boston College.

For many years prior to his retirement, Brad was the owner and president of Bigham and Sons, Inc. in Waltham. Active in community affairs, he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Bedford Minutemen Association, a member of the Boston Chapter of the Yankee Division Veterans Association, an associate member of the Concord Independent Battery and a Director of The Friends of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. He was the second founding member of His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot and served as the first captain of the infantry.

Brad was an avid supporter of the Concord Museum, the Waltham Historical Society, and the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

A talented prolific writer, he contributed numerous articles about military history to the Concord Journal and the Waltham News Tribune. He helped author the military history and other information for the book, “Waltham Rediscovered.”

An avid collector of many things including Concord Minuteman memorabilia, he was recognized by the National Park Service for his efforts. He also collected stones, rocks, and anything shaped like an octagon. He enjoyed attending the Brimfield Antique Flea Market and regularly frequented antique shops in Concord.

As am advocate for veterans, he coordinated tributes and memorial veteran markers for James Fahey of Waltham who authored “Pacific War Diary”, John Ryan of Newton, a prominent member of Custer’s Regiment, George Maynard of Waltham who was a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, and the Brown Brothers of Waltham who were casualties at the battle of Gettysburg.

Brad had a photographic memory and was well versed in the arts, literature, and especially historical facts. A military archivist, he researched his father’s World War I Company F, 101st Infantry, 26th Yankee Division at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. He followed up on this research by traveling to England and France on several occasions and visiting the actual sites involved with the 10th regiment and his father’s regiment.

Survivors include his sister, Mary Martha Bigham of Waltham, his brother, Edward T. Bigham, Jr. of Weston, his beloved Traxi and Peltz, as well as several nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, and friends. He was also the brother of the late Hazel Sears and Harvey Bigham.

To share a remembrance in the online guest book, please visit www.deefuneralhome.com