Bradley Elroy Sears

1934 - 2022

Bradley Elroy Sears

North Fort Myers, FL — Automobile Technician, Teacher, Historian, WGBH-TV and Radio Personality

Bradley (Brad) Elroy Sears, 87, of North Fort Myers, FL, formerly of Newport, NH, and regional Boston, MA, drew his last breath July 6, 2022 at his Florida home. He was shepherded by family and friends, assisted by Hope Hospice Care.

On Thursday, September 15, 2022, a Memorial gathering at Brad's last public school teaching opportunity, the Sugar River Tech Center auto shop. Friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, students and others, are welcome at 6 pm. Please bring Brad Sears stories to share.

Born October 3, 1934, in Boston, to Mary (Dodge) and Ralph Sears whom he survived, he was raised among numerous cousins. He began repairing neighborhood bicycles by age 8, and quickly moving on to auto service repair and maintenance when his parents leased the Gulf station in Needham, MA. He became known as "the kid with the hands". Turning wrenches and gaining familiarity with the rhythm of Boston radio, he was at home with each.

Military service followed Boston Technical High School. Serving in the Army Reserve during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, he was based in Texas, first with the base motor pool then as a flight engineer on assignments over Southeast Asia.

Drawn to journalism, for 20 years he became a syndicated columnist for the Manchester (NH) Union Leader, traveling to auto company promotional events with the auto writers' pool. By the 1980s, he developed and hosted Boston's WGBH-TV "Last Chance Garage", taking him to international venues, feature story subjects, auto races, and a range of audiences while promoting his book of the same name.

Radio call-in shows for the Boston area audience and public appearances were a constant, and the subject was automobiles: driving and maintaining them, and getting to know service professionals. Brad's interests and income included antique car restoration, fleet management, auto racing and its film production, technical innovation, and importantly, high school vocational instruction to corporate training and service station instructional workshops, around the U.S. Themes were developing self-respect as tradespeople, adapting to automobile innovations, ASE certification, and customer service.

Ever exploring, he became active in the Granite State Gas & Steam Club, and served as archivist for the Flying Yankee Streamliner Restoration Project for New Hampshire, a 1930s train. With spouse Lucy (Lucinda) G Wells of Newport, he was a reporter, photographer, gopher, and columnist (Views from the Geezer), during the 1990s for their monthly Wicked Good Calendar Newport and Regional editions. During those years, he was named "The Official New Hampshire Geezer" at his own suggestion and by informal proclamation.

Brad's first wife, high school sweetheart Lillian Lombardi predeceased Brad by two weeks. His second wife Janette Sears of Carver, MA, he had outlived. Lucy Wells, his "Last Chance Spouse" since 2004, resides in Newport. He is survived by daughter Linda Sears of Lady Lake, FL, her sons Victor and Matthew Smith, Matt's partner Crystal, and Brad's great-grandchildren Lillie and Dominic. Brad's son Steven Sears and his family reside in Massachusetts.

Lucy's three children benefited from Brad's guidance during the last 30 years. They are Rebecca W. Graves with Tobin Thompson, Seattle, WA, and their daughters Elise and Claire; Andrea W. Graves of Irbid, Jordan, with children Sumayya, Huda, and Ibrahim, whose father Dr. Wael Ammourah, predeceased Brad; and Lucy's sons, Edward S. Graves and his spouse K.P. Whaley, Hendersonville, NC.

We thank Hope Hospice and Healthcare of Fort Myers, the Southwestern Florida Veterans Administration, staff at Lee Memorial Hospital, neighbors, and auto tech associates for helping Brad find his way during his last several weeks. We could not have managed without their skill and support.

In memory of this lifelong advocate for vocational education, and an auto tech teacher for students in 8th grade through adulthood, the Brad Sears Vocational Scholarship Fund has been established in Newport, NH, with the community's Trustee of Trust Funds. Donations and inquiries in writing are welcome: c/o Paul Brown, 15 Sunapee Street, Newport NH. The Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center at Newport High School offers a variety of progrms to students from area towns, with career guidance toward continued education.