Bradley Lesher
Bradley Cutler “Brad” Lesher, age 79, of Amelia Island, FL passed away on Thursday morning, November 13, 2014 at the Warner Center for Caring at Baptist Medical Center on Amelia Island, FL.
Brad was born in Ephrata, PA, son of the late Ralph Augustus and Edna Cutler Lesher. He attended Ephrata High School, earned a football scholarship and graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. While attending William and Mary he also sang in the choir where he met his future wife, Mary Ann Dyekman. During his time at William and Mary he was in ROTC which upon graduation afforded him a commission as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In the late 1950’s, he started a successful 37 year international career with IBM which led to many happy years living and working abroad. His first international position with IBM was Country Sales Manager in Tehran, Iran, and as Brad said in his published memoirs titled “Don’t forget the peanut butter George”, the journey of a lifetime began. His following assignments moved him to general management roles with IBM in Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, China and Latin America, where he crossed paths with dignitaries, actors, sultry actresses, and the occasional spy in the early days of international business and global travel. Brad and the family spent 21 years living overseas; six years in Tehran, Iran, eleven years in Paris, France, and four years in Hong Kong before returning to the United States to work from Boca Raton, Florida. He left IBM in 1995 and finished his career setting up the International Sales division for a Florida based computer company. In 2000, he retired to Amelia Island, where the family had maintained a residence since 1975, an oasis of calm in an otherwise busy world.
Brad was a connoisseur of fine food and fine wine. He possessed the unusual ability to recall specific details about enjoyable meals from many years past. He loved being around people and continued to have a love of singing and playing his guitar.
He leaves behind, his wife of 55 years, Mary D. Lesher, Amelia Island, FL, their children, Kim Norris and her husband Jeffrey, Ridgefield, CT, Mark Lesher and his wife, Lisa, Westport, CT, Tracey and Joe Limone, New Canaan, CT and eight grandchildren, Skylar Norris, Shauna Norris, Mackenzie Lesher, Cailyn Lesher, Lauren Lesher, Gabriela Limone, Nicolas Limone and Francesca Limone.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date. Brad will be laid to rest in the family cemetery in Ephrata, PA.
Please share his Life Legacy and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com