Bradley "Brad" John Bennett, 73, passed away on March 3, 2025, in Saint Augustine, Florida. He was born on May 9, 1951, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Over the years, he made his home in Kenosha and Madison, Wisconsin, as well as Elmhurst, Illinois, before retiring to Saint Augustine in 2013.
Brad earned a degree in art education from the University of Wisconsin in 1976 but pursued a distinguished career as a professional artist. An accomplished watercolor painter, he published multiple fine art print series depicting Chicago, Houston, and other cities. His work also included a series on major U.S. landmarks for the Department of State. In recognition of his talent, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's staff invited him to visit the U.S.S.R. in 1989 as part of an artist exchange program. He was also among a select group of artists invited to create works portraying NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery mission to launch the Hubble Space Telescope. In 1982, he was inducted into the prestigious Society of Illustrators in New York City.
Brad's sports-themed artwork gained widespread recognition, including paintings of the Chicago Bulls' 1991 championship and iconic moments featuring the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago Blackhawks. In 1993, he became the first artist to paint all existing Major League Baseball parks in collaboration with the MLB Players Alumni Association.
Beyond his artistic achievements, Brad was an avid sports enthusiast who participated in varsity crew at the University of Wisconsin and enjoyed sailing, basketball, golf, and polo. He also had a passion for photography and model railroads, building two impressive garden layouts with scratch-built buildings of his own design.
Brad is survived by his wife of 21 years, Carol Crane; his daughter, Melissa, and granddaughter, Addison; his son, Blake, and daughter-in-law, Lisa, along with their daughter, Aspen; his brother, Barry, and sister-in-law, Liz Bennett; and his sister-in-law, Connie Tanner.
Private services will be held in Saint Augustine. Donations may be sent to Saint Jude's Children's Hospital, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, or Trinity Episcopal Church in St Augustine.