Bradley N. Cory

Brad understood rivers. He took his time with them. He fly-fished carefully, paid attention, and let most of the fish go. The point was not what you carried home, but what you learned while you were there. He walked the woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula the same way-often, quietly, and with respect.

Brad kept a large garden. He worked it without shortcuts and used it the sensible way, by cooking. He liked meals that took time and rewarded patience. Before illness shortened the distance he could travel, he and his partner, Karen Clay, hosted dinners that ran late. The food was good. The wine was better. The talk wandered, which suited him fine.

Brad read constantly. Paperbacks lived in the pockets of his sport coats. Waiting irritated him; reading made it useful. He played music, too. As a younger man, Brad often entertained his friends with his Gibson guitar, as others joined in. When his daughters were very young, he taught them folk songs by Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie-songs meant to be carried along, not polished.

He was an athlete by gift and inclination, though he rarely said so. He won golf tournaments and was known for the length of his drive. Earlier still, he leapt high on basketball courts and, for a time, on trampolines at Northern Michigan University halftime shows. In high school, he and his sister Liz ski-jumped at Suicide Hill, propelled mostly by youth and optimism.

Brad took his professional life seriously. He earned advanced degrees in speech pathology and administration and served as Administrator of the Marquette County Medical Care Facility, where he created the Special Needs Unit. He later served on state and local boards, including as Chairman of Marquette General Hospital during a difficult transition. He did the work carefully and without show.

Parkinson’s disease dealt him a long, narrowing hand. For thirteen years, it limited a man built for motion. He endured it without complaint. He adjusted. In the process, he became more patient and more reflective, though he remained recognizably himself.

What helped most was friendship. His friends kept coming. They visited, called, and brought cookies, conversation, and news. Their consistency mattered. It made the days manageable.

Brad was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Lesley Cory; his sister, Elizabeth (Cory) Jewell; and his former wife, Karen (Pearce) Guilbert.

He is survived by his daughters, Leslie Elizabeth Cory and Cynthia Jay Cory; his partner, Karen Clay; his brother, Michael Jay Cory (Terri); his Brittany Spaniel, Charlie II; and many friends who understood the value of showing up.

He leaves behind rivers still running, woods still standing, work that mattered, and friendships well kept.

It was a full life. By any fair measure, that is enough.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Bradley’s extraordinary team of round-the-clock care workers, whose continued dedication, kindness, and loving support helped provide him with a far better quality of life than would otherwise have been possible. The family is indebted to them all.

Donations in Bradley’s memory may be made to Lake Superior Hospice, Marquette County Medical Care Facility Activities Fund, or to the Trillium House.

Visitation will be held January 2, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Canale Tonella Funeral Home. The service will commence at noon, with a light lunch to follow.

Condolences may be expressed online at canalefuneral.com