Martha A. Bradley, former assistant treasurer at Washington University in St. Louis, died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, after a 16-month battle with ovarian cancer. She was 74.
An alumna, Bradley joined the university staff in 1995 as a financial analyst and was named assistant treasurer in 1997, a position she held until her retirement last June.
“Martha, who loved Washington University and was dedicated to her alma mater, was a lead member of the team that helped create the university’s treasury office and debt strategy. Martha’s strong analytical and critical thinking skills allowed her to solve any complex financial challenge that she was given,” said Amy B. Kweskin, vice chancellor for finance and chief financial officer.
Kweskin said that Bradley, who was an active member of the Treasury Institute for Higher Education, “was highly regarded by all of her financial peers throughout the university and in higher education. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy lives on in the excellent financial policies, training and coaching that she provided to so many throughout her career.”
Bradley earned a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master’s in clinical nutrition from the University of Iowa. She worked for several years as a clinical nutritionist in Iowa, California and New York.
She earned a master’s in business administration from Olin Business School in 1985 and, before joining the university, she worked in corporate planning and analysis at Caleres.
To raise awareness and support for cancer research, she appeared in a 2017 video for Pedal the Cause, an annual cycling challenge to raise funds for cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Dean Bradley of St. Louis; sons John Stuart Bradley (Shanlin Ye) and Timothy E. Bradley; grandchildren Zoe Bradley and William Bradley; brothers David Smith (Lois) of Montgomery, Ala., and Jeff Smith (Janie) of Centralia, Mo.; and a sister-in-law, Karen A. Bradley Norton (Tom) of Cleveland.
A funeral service was held Dec. 23. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, where she was a vestry member, 600 North Euclid Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63108.