Bradley Lange Sell, Mattapoisett, died at 12:15 am June 16, 2007 after a long battle with prostate cancer. Brad leaves behind his beloved wife of 27 years, Dawn Winkler Sell and two sons, Dana Bradley Sell and Courtney Lange Sell, both of Mattapoisett. He was the son of Barbara (Trundy) and David W. Anderson of Marion, MA and the late Bert Sell.
Born in Winchester Hospital, Winchester, MA on March 9, 1953, Brad lived in Wilmington, MA until the age of 9 and then resided in Marion and Mattapoisett the rest of his life.
Brad also leaves 5 brothers and several sisters-in-law whom he loved very much, Bert and Faye Sell, of Londonderry, NH, Barry and Connie Sell, of Cape Coral, FL, Peter and Lorraine Sowden, of Marion, MA, Paul and Ronnie Sowden, of Attleboro, MA, Bradford and Kathy Winkler of Southborough, MA, Nancy Sell Erion of St. Augustine, FL and Carol Jean Sell Tirey of Cape Coral, FL. Very proud of his many nephews and nieces whom he loved and adored, Brad was also very excited when life long friends, David W. Anderson Jr. of Marion, MA, Lisa Anderson Camp and Ruth Anderson, both of New Bedford, MA became members of his extended family.
Like many of his family members, Brad was a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School ('71) and Union College, Barbourville, KY ('75).
Proud of his local heritage, Brad was a great-nephew of Everett W. Leonard, Wareham's first soldier to be killed in World War I after whom the "Everett W. Leonard Square " in Wareham's Center Park is named. Brad's grandfather, Harry E. Trundy, and great-uncle, Arthur Benson Trundy were also soldiers from Wareham serving in France with the First Yankee Division who survived the same foxhole attack where 19 year old Everett W. Leonard was killed. Soon after France was liberated, Harry Trundy married Wareham native Florence Marion Leonard, Everett Leonard's sister and Brad's grandmother, and that union created the "foxhole family of men" where Brad's relatives fought for our country's freedom, liberty, peace and God-given way of life.
Brad was an Eagle Scout with Marion's Troop 32. During the summers of his college years Brad served as a special police officer and harbor patrolman on Marion Harbor. Years later he would help develop a program entitled "Protecting Those Who Protect Us" designed to bring messages of early detection of cancer, preventive screenings and follow up procedures to the area police, fire, EMT, ambulance and sheriffs departments.
Prior to Brad's diagnosis of prostate cancer he served as Executive Vice President, New England Wholesalers Association and President of Association Management Services, Inc., both of Milford, MA.
Subsequent to Brad's diagnosis he served as; Volunteer, American Cancer Society, Brockton, MA, Member, New Bedford Mayor's Crusade Against Cancer, New Bedford, MA Member, Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition, Boston, MA, Member, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester ACS Tri-Town Relay for Life Committee, Ordained Minister, Southern Baptist Convention, Haven Baptist Church , New Bedford, MA, Lay Lector & Prayer Leader, St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Marion, MA, Nursing Home Chaplain, Community Chaplain Service, Inc., New Bedford, MA, Missionary Chaplain, The Chapel at Nichol's House Nursing Home, Fairhaven, MA, Volunteer, Beacon Hospice & Palliative Care, Fall River, MA, Board Member, Baptist Convention of New England, Northborough, MA, Executive Committee Member, Massachusetts Baptist Association, Northborough, MA, Member, Clerical Advisory Council, Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, New Bedford, MA, Trade Association Representative, Credit Research, Inc., Milford, MA, Industry Consultant, Associated Cooperative Wholesale Distributors (ACWD), Marketing Consultant, F. W. Webb Company, Bedford, MA, Marketing Consultant, American Supply Association, Chicago, IL, Marketing Consultant, Modern Plumbing Supply, Inc., New Milford, CT.
Brad was recently honored with the 2006 Community Service Award, Greater New Bedford Health & Human Services Coalition, 2006 American Cancer Society's Volunteer of the Year Award for Southeastern MA , and 2006 Mattapoisett Man of the Year. In April, 2007 a group of New England business leaders established the Brad Sell Fellowship Award to commemorate the selfless acts people commit toward improving the lives of others. Brad's message on early detection of prostate cancer may be viewed at www.bradsell.info.
His Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, June 19th at 10 AM in the First Congregational Church of Marion, 28 Main St., Marion. Burial will follow in Cushing Cemetery, Mattapoisett. Visiting hours Monday, June 18th from 3-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the organization that kept Brad alive many more years than originally thought, Harvard Institute of Medicine, c/o Dr. Glenn Bubley, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, East Campus, HIM 1047, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.