Bernard Brady

Bernard D. Brady of Goshen, NY, the founding partner of the Brady Law Firm, respected member of the Orange County legal community, and beloved resident of the Goshen area, died Thursday, October 20, 2016 at Orange Regional Medical Center, Middletown, NY. He was 72. Bernie proudly served his country during the Vietnam War from 1968 until his honorable discharge in 1970. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his service. While modest with respect to his time in the military he loved his country and was always prepared to take extra time to help a fellow veteran. He graduated from Fordham University in 1965 and obtained his Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law in 1968 as a member of the Law Review. As a young attorney he served in various trial and senior advisory roles for the Legal Aid Society in New York City building a reputation as an aggressive and respected defense attorney including time advocating for Legal Aid before the NYS Legislature. He moved to Goshen, NY in 1977 to become head of the Orange County Legal Aid Society. Several years later he began a 37 year career in private law practice which counted local and national high profile defense cases and innumerable smaller cases, matters and consultations that helped shape his reputation as a generous and selfless community servant. As an attorney, he always found a way, regardless of money, to help a person in need. He was also a big believer in passing his knowledge and respect for the law and his profession to as many who were prepared to learn, whether it be his own children, a new lawyer, or even a young and passionate adversary who he just challenged in the courtroom. The people he helped through his profession were too many to count and the lawyers he has mentored to love and respect the law have come to lead the profession in Orange County. While dedicated to being a lawyer, he often enjoyed most coaching the local youth baseball and soccer teams of Goshen, with many a weekend tournament road trip starting at the Goshen diner and ending at 1st or 2nd place finish for the team at a local soccer or ball field. But above all he was a family man. He loved his wife and children dearly and was dedicated to them. Despite his busy career he rarely missed an event and was always there to support them whether it was as coach, cheerleader, motivator, or just a great person to have an intelligent, entertaining and often sarcastic conversation with. Despite his own accomplishments he was always more comfortable bragging about the successes of his wife and children as he followed them closely, sometimes without them even knowing. He will be missed dearly as a husband, father and simply a great man who we all loved spending time with. Survivors include his loving wife of 48 years, soul mate and best friend, Lorraine Brady who he met one late summer day in 1963 and never let her go; three proud sons, Justin and his wife Kimberly of San Antonio, TX, Damian and his wife Amanda of Goshen, NY, and Rory and his wife Elizabeth of Goshen New York; seven beautiful grandchildren: Jackson, Mackenzie, Dylan, Reagan, Riley, Brooke, and Brendan; his brother Phillip; and eleven nephews and one niece. He was predeceased by his parents Cornelius and Margaret, his brothers Matthew and Cornelius, his sister Susan Derecskey, his in-laws George P. Kennedy and Agnes Kennedy and his godson, Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 P.M. and 6 to 8 P.M., Monday, October 24, 2016 at the Donovan Funeral Home, 82 S. Church St., Goshen, NY. Funeral services, will be at 10 A.M. on Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at St. John's the Evangelist Church, Goshen, NY . Burial will be at the Orange County Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Goshen, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, tribute "Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy", 1818 Library Street, Reston VA 20190 or at www.fallenpatriots.org. Arrangements entrusted to the Donovan Funeral Home,82 S. Church Street, Goshen, NY. 845-294-6422. www.donovanfunerals.com.