Arthur "Brad" Brown Bradsher

Arthur “Brad” Bradsher, 67, of Durham, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on November 19, 2025, surrounded by family, after a prolonged and complex hospitalization following an unexpected heart attack on September 27. Brad lived a life defined by curiosity, craftsmanship, intellect, and a desire to help others. A handsome, witty Renaissance man, Brad was gifted across myriad disciplines, prolific in his creativity, and endlessly generous with his knowledge. In countless quiet ways, he made the world better a better place.

Brad was born on September 25, 1958, at Watts Hospital in Durham. He grew up in North Carolina and attended Duke University, where he majored in English and developed literary and artistic sensibilities that shaped his adult life. A pioneering entrepreneur, Brad co-founded Systems Innovations, a highly successful technology company that helped usher many North Carolina businesses into the computer age long before “IT” became a household word. Throughout, Brad was everyone’s go-to person for computer problems and solutions.

Brad’s talents were broad. He was a skilled marksman and gun craftsman; an avid model-train builder; a leather worker; a sketch artist; and a painter whose large-scale model airplanes were known for their precision and beauty. He was deeply engaged in the study of World War II, loved reading, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of cinematography. A gifted photographer and videographer, Brad documented life with a quiet artistry that reflected how closely he observed the world.

Brad spent many years as a member of the APA pool league at The Green Room in Durham, known as a magnanimous teacher, a tough competitor, and an unfailingly loyal friend. He was an active member of the online Colt Forum, a group of enthusiasts dedicated to learning about the history of Colt firearms and their role in world history. He was admired for his expertise and his willingness to help anyone seeking guidance.

Brad is survived by his wife, Victoria Albright, whom he loved deeply; his children, Lindsey and Christopher Bradsher, and their mother, Karen; and his step-children and grandchildren: Nesta Gerberding, Kevin Gerberding, Phillip Anthony, Ian Anthony, Gregory Gerberding, and Jacob Paul. He was especially proud to be an avid "Junior Hurricanes hockey dad,” traveling far and wide to cheer on Phillip and Jacob. Brad is also survived by Tigger, one of the many cats that he nurtured throughout his life. 

Brad is survived by his sister, Sandra Dunevant of Roxboro. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eleanor Bradsher and Arthur Bradsher, who met in Toronto while she worked in a clinical laboratory and he attended medical school, as well as by his sister Patricia Vogel.

A service to honor Brad’s life will be held November 29 at noon at Maplewood Cemetery (Section 6), where his ashes will be laid to rest in the Bradsher family plot. After the internment, guests are invited to join a celebration of life and enjoy traditionally cooked North Carolina BBQ ribs and fixings.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Coltsville Heritage Partnership (coltsville.org/donate), a group dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of Samuel Colt at the Coltsville National Historical Park.