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Junior Bridgeman
1953 - 2025
Junior Bridgeman
1953 - 2025
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1953
DIED
2025
Junior Bridgeman Obituary
Junior Bridgeman was a former NBA player who went on to become a successful entrepreneur, owner of Ebony and Jet magazines, and co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.
We invite you to share condolences for Junior Bridgeman in our Guest Book.
Read the full obituary in Legacy's headline news section.
(Photo: Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images)
17 Entries
Rowan Mardis
July 23, 2025
Richard Grundman
April 10, 2025
Big fan of Milwaukee Bucks here! Growing up in Wisconsin, you were a favorite along with all your teammates. As a grown man, I appreciate how hard work, determination and our capitalist system can lift up society.
You exemplify the best of the American dream.
God Bless you and your family Junior
LueElla McWilliams
March 24, 2025
God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Otoniel Marrero
March 21, 2025
Condolences to the family had a pleasure of knowing him in High school mighty mighty senator!! R.I.P.
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Mary Quiroz Monteleone
March 17, 2025
To The Bridgeman Family, With Our Deepest Sympathy. May he rest in peace. May you find comfort in all of the shared memories. I will always remember when the Senators were invited on the Ray Rainer Show,WGN. I will be praying for the whole family. Sincerely,Mary (Quiroz) Monteleone Dyer IN
Mary Monteleone
March 17, 2025
To The Bridgemen Family my Deepest Sympathy. I will always remember him being on the E.C Washington Senators. We take pride that one our own made it Professionally and In the business world. April and Darrel I will pray for your whole family. Sincerely, Mary Monteleone (Quiroz)
Brennen Garcia
March 16, 2025
My thoughts and prayers are with you!
May you Rest in Peace
Lord Jesus Name. Amen
Brennen Garcia
March 16, 2025
I will missed you. Rest in Peace
Chris Hodge
March 16, 2025
`85-`86, I was one of the four ballboys for Junior´s NBA squad [the Clippers]. Whether it was in the locker room (of the now demolished L.A. Memorial Sports Arena), while handing Junior a steamy towel-wrapped hydrocollator hot pack (for an ailing Achilles)... or throwing him a towel or getting him a cup of orange Gatorade on the sideline, as he was substituted out of the game (by head coach Don Chaney)... Junior once complimented me on the batch of Gatorade that i made for the Team (i would mix one and a half 1lb bags of powdered Gatorade per barrel of ice & water versus the manufacturer´s recommended instructions of 1lb per barrel), or watching team trainer Mike Shimensky tape up his ankles at team practices at the YMCA gym (located on Vermont Ave and Century Blvd)... or eavesdropping on conversations (at team practice sessions at LMU´s gymnasium) with teammate Lancaster Gordon about investing & purchasing KFC franchises... or rebounding midrange jump-shots (for Junior, Marques Johnson, Kiki VanDeWeghe, Stuart Gray, David Greenwood, Brad Wright, Reggie Miller, & high schooler Brian Williams) during summertime workout sessions [led by photographer/trainer/actor Malik Mansour (who starred as "Bullet" in the `79 silver screen basketball hit "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh")] inside the UCLA John Wooden Athletic Center, or watching Junior partake in the world´s best summer pick-up games (which invariably included Magic & Marques Johnson) upstairs at center court of the old UCLA men´s gym, i observed and learned, from Junior [as a 14/15-year-old, who grew up (having never met my Italian father) in south-central Los Angeles (raised by a single Mom, who worked as a civil servant for LA County as payroll clerk] valuable life lessons that undeniably helped me reach the high level of success that my family and i enjoy now [and that I´ve passed forward to my four children... one of which (my 34-year-old Son) is passing forward to my two grandchildren]. The valuable life lessons that I learned from Junior [again, just through observing that way Junior carried himself] include how to respectfully interacted with others (from NBA franchise owners to Custodians / Groundkeepers); how to move emotionally (keeping an even keel demeanor), the ability to not get too low or too high, no matter what situation life brings your way; how to be thankful; how to do your best, how to use please and thank you; how to work your tail off; how to cherish family, friends, and community; how to believe in yourself, how to be thankful; how to help others; how to never forget to smile, to laugh, and to enjoy the joy of living!
Christy Sciarra
March 16, 2025
I worked at Wendy's years ago, right after Mr. Bridgeman bought it actually. It was Easter Sunday and I had sprained my ankle and had to work the next day at the Blankenbaker store. I was cashier in the money window and I was sitting in a break room bar stool. He showed up and it's not like I could move, I was in an air cast boot. He started to be a boss and get upset that I was sitting AND had my foot propped up. Then I showed him my leg and pointed at the hospital paperwork and my bottle of Rx on the break room table. He read the paper and then asked if I needed anything, a water cup or my medicine. His heart for others showed them and I knew that his heart was as huge as he was standing next to my 4'11" stature. Lol All my love to his family and close friends, he was a really nice man!
Dr. Renee Campbell
March 16, 2025
My sincere condolences and sincere respect to someone who was a true humanitarian.
Edmond Jordan, former Wendy's Entrepreneur & friend
March 15, 2025
Deepest and sincere condolences to the family . He will be missed. RIP
Edmond Jordan
Mark Ursa
March 14, 2025
I knew Junior from high school. Not only was he brimming with talent, but he had a heart of gold. My most sincere condolences to the family. May he rest in eternal peace.
Mr.Jr.
March 14, 2025
My Condolences.
RB
March 14, 2025
Mr. Bridgeman was a great NBA player and more. He went on to become a co owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, successful businessman and entrepreneur. He was also the owner of the magazines, Ebony and Jet. He was well known and well loved. Heartfelt condolences to the Bridgeman family, so very sorry for your loss. May God be with you as you endure this very difficult time of your loss.
Margaret Estes
March 13, 2025
I am so sad to hear of Mr Bridgemans passing. I never met him in person but worked for a vendor that serviced his Wendys Restaurants . He was my favorite franchisee to talk with on the phone. He was so down to earth and appreciative of my service. It has been over 30 years and I still remember those conversations like yesterday.
My deepest sympathies to the Bridgeman family.
Susan Simmons
March 13, 2025
I feel blessed to have known such an outstanding gentleman. Rest in peace fine sir. You were one of the best. I know your legacy leaves so many people better off for having known you or benefited from your unselfish generosity.
Showing 1 - 17 of 17 results
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