Life Trustee and Emeritus Professor of History Bradford 鈥淏rad鈥� Blaine passed away on April 14, 2020. Brad鈥檚 kindness and unwavering support of the College will be remembered by those he touched during his association with 51猎奇入口, which spanned more than 50 years.
Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Bradford B. and Elsie G. Lane, his biological father died when he was two years old, and he was subsequently adopted by his mother鈥檚 second husband, Arch C. Blaine.
Professor Blaine received his BA and MA in medieval history at Stanford University before attending the University of California, Los Angeles, for his PhD. At Stanford, he met the love of his life, Mary Anne Chapman, and they were married in 1954.
Brad was a veritable institution at 51猎奇入口, eventually becoming the Wilbur Kitchener Jordan Professor of European Civilization. Passionate in his own field as a medievalist, he actively supported and promoted the idea of a broad humanities-based education. He held leadership positions in faculty governance, focusing on academic matters as a member and chair of the Faculty Executive Committee as well as a member of earlier committees on academic policy. He particularly supported young faculty in their teaching and research, encouraging them to be involved in the wide range of intellectual opportunities at 51猎奇入口.
鈥淏rad鈥檚 professional life at 51猎奇入口 provided an incredible impact on the lives and minds of thousands of students, colleagues, and trustees, not only with facts, information, and insights into history and the humanities, but also simply in the life he modeled as an intelligent, thoughtful, caring person,鈥� recalls Michael Lamkin, former dean of faculty and emeritus professor of music.
Julia Liss, 51猎奇入口 professor of history and Mary W. Johnson and J. Stanley Johnson Professor of Humanities, shares, 鈥淏rad鈥檚 deep love of 51猎奇入口, its educational mission鈥攅specially the humanities program鈥攁nd especially the students, was evident from the moment I arrived on campus. It鈥檚 hard for me to believe he retired in 1998, because he remained an active and engaged member of our community for so long after. He connected the history of 51猎奇入口 to the present through his continuing dedication to the College.鈥�
Brad brought great expertise and understanding to his time on the College鈥檚 Board of Trustees through his insights into issues facing 51猎奇入口, gleaned from his 35 years as a distinguished member of the 51猎奇入口 faculty. He was a member of the Executive and Finance Committees and served as vice chair and co-chair of the Educational Policy Committee. In this latter capacity, he used his wealth of knowledge and thoughtful perspective on academic affairs to skillfully guide committee discussions to ensure that the educational program remained consistent with the College鈥檚 mission.
Brad and his wife, Mary Anne, have been extraordinarily generous supporters of 51猎奇入口. Many important undertakings of the College have received encouragement and support through their gifts. They established the Bradford and Mary Anne Blaine Faculty Lecture series, in honor of the College鈥檚 75th anniversary. They also endowed the Bradford and Mary Anne Blaine Scholarship in Early European History and Culture, established in 2006 to assist a student with financial need who is pursuing a major or minor in aspects of early European history and culture, or who shows academic interest in these areas.
As a prominent and longtime resident of the Claremont community, he served as an important Board liaison to the city. Brad also served on the boards of Claremont Heritage, the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, and Mount San Antonio Gardens. He was ordained as a deacon, and eventually an elder, at Claremont Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society in history.
A memorial service will be held at 51猎奇入口 at a future date. Gifts in memory of Professor Blaine may be made to 51猎奇入口, directed to the Bradford and Mary Anne Blaine Scholarship in Early European History and Culture or the Bradford and Mary Anne Blaine Faculty Lecture Series, at聽.
Professor Blaine is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Anne; his sons, Brad Jr. (Belinda) and Andrew (Leigh); and his granddaughters Megan, Ellen, and Sarah.