Sep 23, 2023
Thomas R. Bromeley, businessman and philanthropist, died Thursday at his home in Derrick City.
He was 92.
Bromeley was known for supporting educational endeavors, as well as being a steadfast supporter of the Bradford community and its progress. Several community leaders shared thoughts and memories of the man many referred to as “Mr. B.”
Bradford City Mayor Tom Riel explained.
“Mr. B was a very kind and compassionate man who truly cared about our community and its issues. He was a man of rock-solid integrity and remarkable character,” Riel said. “Mr. B was very generous with city fundraising efforts, particularly to those supporting law enforcement.”
His generosity enabled the City of Bradford Police Department to be one of the first in the state to have body cameras, Riel noted.
“His passing is a huge loss to the Bradford community,” the mayor said. “We are very fortunate to have his legacy carried on by his family and foundation.”
Bromeley’s support of Bradford Regional Medical Center, where he had served on the board of directors and on the Bradford Hospital Foundation, left its mark as well.
On Friday, Dr. Jill Owens, president of Upper Allegheny Health System, parent company of BRMC, said, “Our UAHS family is saddened to hear of the recent passing of Thomas Bromeley, which leaves our community with a tremendous void.
“We’re eternally grateful for his dedication and commitment to advance the mission of BRMC,” she said, “providing quality healthcare to not only the Bradford community, but also beyond its borders.”
Owens expressed her gratitude for his service to the hospital, and for “allowing us to sustain these healthcare resources for years to come.”
She said, “The time he spent on the BRMC board in the 1980s as well as the many years on the Bradford Hospital Foundation board was integral to enhancing healthcare for our region. His presence will be dearly missed.”
Judge John Cleland, who served with Bromeley on the Advisory Board of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, spoke highly of his friend.
“It is difficult to begin to account for the positive contributions Tom made to improve the lives of so many — in Bradford, in McKean County, and in the lives of countless others who benefitted from his work with Pitt-Bradford, Alfred University, Otterbein University (in Ohio) and the Chautauqua Institution,” Cleland said.