Carl “Brad” Lewis
Carl “Brad”, Lewis Jr., 80, longtime resident of Sandarac Condominiums on Fort Myers Beach and of Columbia, Conn., passed away peacefully at Hope Hospice Health Park, Friday, April 10, with his family at his side.
Lewis, a consummate University of Connecticut Huskies basketball and New York Yankees baseball fan, spent nearly eight months a year dining and dancing with a close circle of friends primarily at Holiday Inn, Castaways, and the Sand Bar. He will be sorely missed by many Fort Myers Beach friends — particularly his happy hour sidekick Jay as well as his numerous Conn./Fla. beach friends, all who date back to his partying days with his late wife, Lorraine.
“He was a gentleman and gentle man,” many recalled. “Brad always wore a wide smile and was eager for a turn on the dance floor.”
Brad was born July 31, 1928 in Hartford, Conn., son of the late Carl Lewis, Sr. and Alice (MacDonald) Lewis. He and Lorraine had two children, daughter Karen Vanderbilt and her husband David; and son Scott Lewis and his wife Donna, all of Columbia, Conn.; and two grandchildren, of whom he was very proud.
Lewis graduated from Windham High School and went on to attend the University of Connecticut. Brad served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954, and was stationed near Anchorage, AK during the Korean War.
After serving his country, Brad and Lorraine moved to their home in Columbia where they resided for more than 50 years. He was an owner and president of Capitol Garage in Willimantic and a director of the New England Chrysler Plymouth Advertising Association for a number of terms. Brad was a lifetime member of the Willimantic Elks Club as well as a longtime member of the Columbia Lions Club and the Willimantic Country Club. He was a member of Eastern Star Lodge #44 AF & AM for over 50 years.
Brad’s funeral service was held on April 15, in Connecticut. Messages and photos can be sent to the family care of Karen Vanderbilt, #213, Route 87, Columbia, Conn. 06237, or posted online in his guest book , searchable under obituaries at www.courant.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Brad’s name may be made to Columbia Lions Club, P.O. Box 1, Columbia, Conn. 06237.