Mrs. Mary Jane (Claflin) Bradford, 90, of Whitefield, formerly of Easton, Penn., and Melrose, Mass., passed away Nov. 18 at Winchester Hospital.
She was born on Oct. 11, 1921 in Malden, the daughter of the late George Verne Claflin and Laura P. (Goodlin) Claflin. She was raised in Melrose, Mass. and was graduated from Melrose High School as valedictorian, Class of 1939. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology cum laude from Mt. Holyoke College in 1943 and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1945 and 1948, respectively. During the course of her academic studies, she was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi honor societies and to membership in the American Academy for the Advancement of Science. Her early research with H.R. Wolfe and C.A. Herrick at Wisconsin led to a series of pioneering studies published in 1946-48 on the application of serum antibodies for neutralizing parasitic infections.
In 1944, she married Robert W. Bradford, beginning a partnership of 67 years. They settled in Easton, Penn., where they raised a family of three children. There she was active in the College Hill Presbyterian Church, the League of Women Voters, various community groups, and acted in faculty theater productions at Lafayette College.
In 1960, Mrs. Bradford resumed her scientific career, first as an Assistant in Biology and later as an Associate Professor of Biology at Lafayette College. Her interests turned from immunology to ecology during her tenure at Lafayette, where she and R.L. Smith published a popular guide to ecology. She was also elected to the presidency of her Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi chapters, and was honored by the college for her outstanding teaching.
In 1985, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford retired from college teaching, eager to move to their “Edgeriver Farm” on the banks of the Sheepscot River in Whitefield where they intended to breed a flock of Suffolk sheep. Her retirement gift from Lafayette College was an unusual matched set – a Suffolk ewe and a Suffolk ram.
For over 25 years, she and Mr. Bradford lived and worked happily on the farm raising a flock of 80 sheep and several cows. Successful in their endeavor, they sold the meat locally and produced enough wool for many warm blankets, sweaters and mittens.
Continuing her academic work and with an eye toward the ecology of Maine, Miji became actively involved in local conservation efforts. She was a member of the Sheepscot River Watershed Council and the Governor’s Agricultural Council. She loved canoeing, camping and studying the ecology of the surrounding land and streams.
In her spare time, Miji enjoyed watercolor painting, photography, square-dancing with Mr. Bradford, membership in a book club, cooking, and braiding rugs. She will also be remembered as a great cribbage player and for her love of Claflin family reunions.
An active member of St. Giles’ Episcopal Church, Miji sang in the choir and loved baking for the annual summer fair.
Miji is survived by her beloved husband, Robert W. Bradford with whom she shared 67 years of marriage; daughter, Martha Jane Bradford and husband Alfred M. Ajami of Brookline, Mass.; sons, R. Verne Bradford and wife Martha P. Bradford of Winchester, Mass., and John W. Bradford and loving companion Laurette A. Crane of Natick, Mass.; grandchildren, M. Tucker Bradford and wife Victoria of San Francisco, Cal., and Katherine B. Aleo and husband Michael of Northampton, Mass.; and great-grandchildren, Ruby E. Bradford, Miles O. Bradford and Jacob B. Aleo.
Relatives and friends will honor and celebrate Miji’s life by gathering for a memorial service at the St. Giles’ Episcopal Church, 72 Gardiner Rd., (Rt. 126), Jefferson, 11 a.m., Sat., Dec. 3. Interment will be done privately in the Whitefield Cemetery Association, Whitefield.
Gifts to honor Miji’s life may be made to the St. Giles’ Episcopal Church, 72 Gardiner Rd. (Rt. 126), Jefferson, ME 04348.
Arrangements by the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose, Mass.
