Mr. Matthew "Matt" David Bradbury

Matthew “Matt” David Bradbury, 65, husband of Karen Bradbury of Salem, SC, passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Oconee Memorial Hospital. Born in Huntington, NY, the second of five kids, Matt was the son of Rev. Robert “Bob” and Beverly Saft Bradbury. He grew up in Bloomfield, NJ where he learned entrepreneurship from a young age, often discovering treasures while curbside thrifting, repairing and selling them for profit. He and his siblings regularly set up their own farmers market on the neighborhood corner, selling vegetables from their garden to the community. He graduated from Hopewell High School (Aliquippa, PA) where he was active in football, basketball, theater, musicals, choir and band. Matt loved the outdoors and was a proud Eagle Scout who carried that survival, do-it-yourself mentality his whole life. His strong work ethic was evident from a young age. During his high school summers, he worked on a dairy farm alongside his good friend, Bob Foster, where he developed valuable skills, lifelong memories, and a practical lesson he never forgot: bulls don't get milked. Matt met his life-long sweetheart, Karen, during his freshman year of college. They came from humble beginnings, marrying at 19 and quickly starting their family while attending and graduating from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He loved her fiercely for 45 years and if he had his way, he would have loved her earthside for at least another 50 years. Matt always said the key to any of his success was being married to a wife who was his biggest supporter and encourager. He loved shouting from the rooftops how amazing his wife is. A perfect match – Matt always started new projects and Karen with the gift for seeing them through. Matt was the proud father of Ginger, Heidi and Joel – always the loudest fan on the sidelines of all their sporting events, even inventing and becoming the Hembstead swim team mascot, Hurricane Man, where he rallied the team at every meet. He loved coaching them through the years, not just on their sports teams, but also on the skills of life. He taught them the value of hard work. Whether working during weekends on the basement addition, endless yard work, school commitments or learning a new skill. He taught them to follow through on their word, even when things got hard, intentionally ensuring strong character building. He was so open with his emotions, they always felt his unconditional love. Faith shaped the way Matt loved and led his family. He was quick to offer a patient word, steady guidance or the most thoughtful prayers at the perfect time. Matt adored being a Papa. His nine grandkids loved spending time with him at the lake where he made every encounter fun. From fishing, wake surfing, tubing and exploring nature during the day to hide-and-go-seek in the dark, playing lion, and Papa’s crazy bedtime stories at night. He never outgrew his playfulness with nine buddies to adventure with. He connected with each grandchild in a way that highlighted their strengths and interests. His grandchildren could always count on hearing his unmistakable cheers from the sidelines, a tradition he proudly maintained despite their best efforts to blend in. He honed his business acumen working for The Fitness Company and in 2006, Matt founded Business Acquisition & Merger Associates, an M&A advisory firm. For over 20 years, he loved leading and developing his tightknit team, meeting unique companies and working with hundreds of special clients who became like family. He had such a special gift of amazing people skills, smart negotiation and encouraging leadership. After living in Charlotte, NC for 25 years, Matt and Karen relocated to Lake Keowee in Salem, SC in 2019 where they were heavily involved in the Cliffs community. Matt was regularly found on the pickleball and tennis courts, learning the game of golf, participating in the men’s Bible study, jam sessions with neighbors, accompanying the McKinney Chapel choir with his upright bass and spending time connecting with his many neighbors and friends. Matt was one-of-a-kind with many special traits that made him amazing: He was a family man. Matt loved his family unconditionally and was completely devoted to their lives. Family was at the center of his life. He rarely missed a sporting event, activity, family dinner, or vacation, embracing every opportunity to gather and create lasting memories. He loved being together. He was a follower of Christ. Jesus got a hold of Matt’s heart during his freshman year of college that impacted the rest of his life. He loved teaching his kids and grandkids about Jesus and the bible. He knew where he was going once his time on earth ended and we have confidence he is with his Lord. He was a consummate learner. He regularly had multiple books dog-eared, always tinkering in the garage, fixing things on his honey-do list. He was a student of life. He was never afraid to try new things no matter his age – he learned to snowboard in his 40s and wake surf in his 60s. He was a teacher. He spent countless hours with his kids and grandkids helping them learn life skills. How to budget, the importance of confidence, doing things with integrity, investing in the stock market, and passing down wisdom for life. He loved going to conferences to share his business knowledge, even being asked to speak at Harvard Business School on multiple occasions. He was a lover. He started every greeting with a huge bear hug shouting, “Can you feel my love?” Matt loved community and being a small part of the whole. He loved being around people and genuinely getting to know them. Nothing was ever surface level with Matt; he invested deeply in others, making each person feel seen, valued, and loved. He was a musician. From a young age he learned piano, something he did daily until his passing. If he passed a piano in a bar or lobby, he confidently walked over and would start playing, lost in his own world of music. He picked up many other instruments over the years including trumpet, French horn, guitar, drums and even had a banjo delivered earlier this year. He was a builder – of friendships, relationships, homes and community. He was a true connector. Building not only tangible things but leaving a legacy of enduring relationships that extend far beyond his own reach. Matt loved attending Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC and McKinney Chapel in Sunset, SC. You could find Matt volunteering at the Walhalla Performing Arts Center nearly every weekend there was a show – dancing through the aisles as he ushered attendees to their seats. He loved supporting the Matthews Mavericks soccer program and various Oconee and Pickens County charities. In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Bradbury is survived by his amazing children: Joel Bradbury and his wife Cassie, Heidi Bradbury Kamm and her husband Zak, and Ginger Bradbury Dean and her husband Jason; brother: Douglas “Doug” Bradbury (Cande); sisters: Nancy Celmo (Angelo “Butchie”), Rebecca “Becky” O’Connor (Michael), and Ruth Ungerer; and his nine awesome grandchildren: Harleigh, Landon, Brooks, Lawson, Isla, Laylin, Jonas, Solomon, and Emmett. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at the Walhalla Performing Arts Center, 101 East North Broad Street, Walhalla, SC, 29691. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Walhalla Performing Arts Center, or the WPAC Facility Preservation Fund, PO Box 523, Walhalla, SC 29691, or by visiting the following link https://ci.ovationtix.com/36289/store/donations

Mr. Matthew "Matt" David Bradbury

April 26, 1961 - August 11, 2026