Robert D. Brady

Robert D Brady, 89, was called home December 28, 2020. He was born May 11, 1931 to Casper and Berniece (Lynch) Brady in Rockford Illinois. Robert married the love of his life, Dorothy A Kromholz on September 22, 1951, and together they raised eight children.

As a young man, Robert enjoyed photography, music, swimming, track, tennis, and kayaking. He played saxophone and had a small band in high school – The Shamrocks. After serving in the Marine Corps., Robert worked for his father at the Rockford Labor News before landing at Camera Craft, where he soon bought the business and made it his career. Having his business in the heart of Rockford for close to four decades, many called him “Downtown Bob.”

Robert took on many leadership roles in the Church and Community over the years. He was a Mass Usher for over 35 years at St. Edward Parish. He was very active in and served as President of the Holy Name Society men's group at St. Ed's. He was also Scout Master and participated in Boy Scout Troop 43 at St. Edward's Church for several years, including camp outs, Polar Bear camp outs, and Camp Lowden summer camps.

Robert spent many Sunday afternoons picnicking and boating with family. He enjoyed playing cards, Chinese checkers, shuffleboard, really any game! He always planned regular summertime family vacations to destinations across the country, but Devil’s Lake in Baraboo Wisconsin was a staple every year.

For nearly 20 years, Robert spent winters in Texas with Dorothy, where he would say they "danced morning, noon, and night", and they also enjoyed many trips across the border to Mexico. They did quite a bit of travel during their retirement years, visiting friends and family across the country, went on many cruises – including trips to the Caribbean, Alaska, and Hawaii – plus trips to Ireland and Rome.

Robert was very outgoing and enjoyed meeting and getting to know others – probably the reason why he was so successful in sales. He didn't talk about himself much, he was mainly interested in knowing and caring about others. At least one of his sons had the thought, at one time, that dad seemed to know just about everyone in town! He did truly make his life about others – his wife, his children and grandchildren, his church community, his East High classmates, his fellow Rockfordiens, his customers, strangers and, really, everyone. That's quite a life! Like each of us, he was and will always be “one of a kind!” He was, and is, an immensely LOVED one !!!

Preserving memories was Robert’s life work, and he will be remembered for being a kind, loving, and generous man with a great sense of humor that never faded. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy; his children, Michael (Carla), Patrick, Thomas (Cheryl) Mary Eileen, John (Jan), Kathleen Kirkpatrick, Edward (Shari), and Ann; 21 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Mary; sister and brother-in-law, Colleen and Paul Glavin; son-in-law, Donald Kirkpatrick; and grandson, Steven.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4401 Highcrest Rd. Rockford. Due to COVID 19 restrictions there will be no public visitation. Private family burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements by Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford, IL 61108. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford, 4108 Morsay Dr., Rockford, IL 61107 https://thepregnancycarecenter.org/