James G. Brady, 74, built dream house

James G. Brady of New Milford, a race car driver who grew up in Ridgefield, died on Sunday evening, Aug. 10, at New Milford Hospital after a brief illness. He was 74 years old
Mr. Brady was born in Kingston, N.Y., on Oct. 4, 1928, a son of James J. Brady Jr. and Elizabeth Cook Brady. His father had been Ridgefield’s first chief of police.
Mr. Brady moved with his family from Kingston to Ridgefield as a child and attended Ridgefield schools. A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Brady participated in the Berlin Airlift of 1948.
He was a retired crane operator and a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local #648.
During his lifetime, Mr. Brady raced midgets and stock cars, especially at the Danbury Racearena, now part of the Danbury Fair Mall. He was a passionate fan of the NASCAR race circuit, and would keep his family up to date on all aspects of the point standings.
Mr. Brady held a private pilot’s license and a commercial fisherman’s license for fishing in the Florida Keys, which he loved to visit.
He also kept abreast of all local weather patterns to the point where he was affectionately known as “Doppler Dad.”
When he was in eighth grade in Ridgefield, Mr. Brady had a drafting assignment to draw his “dream house.” In an accomplishment he and his family were proud of, Mr. Brady took his eighth grade plans and many years later turned them into reality, building the dream house with the help of his sons. “He performed all aspects of construction,” his family said. “He was truly ‘jack-of-all-trades’.”
A resident of New Milford for the past 18 years, Mr. Brady had previously lived in Danbury for 20 previous years and in Ridgefield for 35 years before that. He had been a member of St. Mary’s Church here.
Mr. Brady is survived by four sons, James Brady of New Milford, Mark Brady of Unionvale, N.Y., Richard Brady of Sandy Hook, and Gary Brady and daughter-in-law Andrea of Unionvale, N.Y.; a sister, Kathryn Keeler of Franklin, Mass.; six grandchildren, Jessica, Meghan, Jennifer, Crysania, Erin and Mark; two great-grandchildren, Collin and Joshua; and several nieces and nephews.
A sister, Elizabeth Peterson, died before him.
The Rev. Peter Lenox, parochial vicar of St. Mary’s Church, will conduct graveside services today, Thursday at 11 a.m. in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ridgefield.
Contributions in Mr. Brady’s memory may be made to the New Milford Hospital Development Fund, 21 Elm Street, New Milford, CT 06776.
The Kane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.