Brad Slemmer, longtime resident of Cedar Key, passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 2, 2010 at the VA Center in Lake City, Florida. He was 65 years old.
He is survived by his brother, Tom Slemmer of Columbus, Ohio, and his sister, Sue Devers of Kodiak, Alaska, as well as a number of nieces and nephews. He was born in Marion, Ohio on June 20, 1945. Brad grew up in Upper Sandusky, Ohio where he graduated High School, class of 1963. He was a veteran of The United States Air Force, USAF Security Service, a division of the National Security Agency headquartered at Ft. Meade, MD, where he specialized in the translation of Russian language during the Cold War. He was based at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo ,Texas. Brad attended Ohio State College in 1970-1971. He transferred to Bowling Green University in 1971, graduating with a B.L.S. , from the College Of Liberal Studies where he studied economics, accounting, marketing, and business law. Following graduation at Bowling Green he went to work for White Motors as Parts Manager, Western Division, based out of Oakland California. He also lived in Alameida, California during this time.
In the early 1980`s Brad traded in his suit and tie permanently for a pair of shorts and sandals and made his move to Cedar Key with his wife Karen. He ran a crab business on State Road 24 for a number of years. He tended bar for a time at the Island Hotel and beginning in 1986 was a fixture behind the bar at the L&M Bar on Second Street until it finally closed its doors in July of 2004.
2005 found him running a seafood shop in Henry Brown`s old fish house across from the Island Jiffy, which was then home to the Blue Bayou Marina. He retired in 2007 and then returned to bartending for a brief time at Annie`s Cafe. He was a member of Cedar Key chapter of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 4194, where he was Chaplain for many years.
Brad`s passions were literature, music, birdwatching, and sports. Brad also enjoyed a good game of golf. He was a huge Gator fan, although he was most passionate about baseball and the Atlanta Braves. It is only fitting that his beloved Braves made it back to the playoffs on Sunday in the year of Bobby Cox`s retirement. Brad would be pleased.
Brad`s extended family here in Cedar Key was a large one, and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
A memorial will be held on Saturday, October 23rd in the courtyard of the Island Hotel from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
