Joseph V. Braddock, a well-known nuclear physicist, businessman
and Catholic philanthropist, died Feb. 6 of natural causes at his home in
Alexandria. He was 91 years old.
A lifelong Catholic, Braddock actively supported Catholic
education and institutions such as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception in Washington and the Catholic Distance University in
West Virginia.
Born Dec. 10, 1929 in Hoboken, N. J., to Ralph and Rose Braddock,
Braddock earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from St. Peter’s College in
Jersey City, N.J., and a master’s degree and doctorate in physics from Fordham
University in New York City.
He taught at Fordham and Iona College in New Rochelle, N. Y.,
before traveling to New Mexico to assist in the U.S. Army’s early missile testing
exercises. Later moving to Texas, Braddock was a cofounder of Braddock, Dunn
& McDonald, a defense-oriented professional consulting service.
In 1965, he married his wife, Bertha, and the couple had two
sons, Tony and Robert.
In the 1970s, Braddock, Dunn & McDonald relocated to Northern
Virginia, working on defense projects and undertaking special government
assignments.
After his retirement, Braddock remained active with the Defense
Science Board, the National Security Agency Scientific Advisory Board, the
Defense Threat Reduction Agency Advisory Committee, the Defense Nuclear Agency
Scientific Advisory Group on Effects, the Sandia National Laboratories National
Security Advisory Panel and the Army Science Board.
A strong advocate of Catholic education, Braddock supported
scholarships at The Catholic University of America in Washington and St.
Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, N.J.
For his service to the Catholic Church, he was awarded both the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal and the Benemerenti Medal.
At the shrine, he served on the plants and facilities committee
and helped oversee the installation of “The Universal Call to Holiness” bas
relief as well as the interior dome mosaics.
“With Dr. Braddock’s passing, the shrine and the many entities he
supported have lost a faithful friend, a brilliant mind and a devoted son of
the church,” said Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector. “I spoke with Dr. Braddock
the night before he died, seeking his guidance on a forthcoming project. Little
did I know that would be our last conversation. I now will count on his
guidance and prayers from the other side of life.”
Msgr. Rossi recalled that “Dr. Braddock began his association
with the national shrine in the late 1990s, when he and his wife wanted ‘to do
something more’ for the shrine.”
“At the suggestion of Cardinal James Hickey, who was the
archbishop of Washington and chairman of the national shrine’s board of trustees at
that time, the Braddocks agreed to support the ‘Universal Call to Holiness,’
which now fills the south wall of the Great Upper Church,” Msgr. Rossi
said.
At the time of his death, Braddock had just begun serving his
second nine-year term on Catholic Distance University’s board of trustees.
“Dr. Joseph Braddock was instrumental in the leadership of
Catholic Distance University,” said Marianne Evans Mount, president of Catholic
Distance University (CDU). She said Braddock led the university to relocate its
headquarters from Hamilton, Virginia, to Charles Town, West Virginia, in 2015.
“He promoted the use of technology in higher education and
recognized CDU’s pioneering mission in distance and online education as a
powerful instrument for serving the new evangelization,” Mount said. “He guided
and financially supported the development of technology and remained a strong
advocate for promoting CDU’s contributions to Catholic higher education,
especially the ability to serve the underserved.”
At CDU, Braddock launched the Mission Scholar Program that
provides scholarships for mission dioceses, supported CDU’s prison ministry
program and nominated outstanding Catholics to serve on the board and succeed
him in leadership.
Noting Braddock’s “deep religious faith,” Mount said “his
leadership is an indelible mark on the history of Catholic Distance University.
CDU honored Dr. and Mrs. Braddock in 2011 with the Founders Award, CDU’s
highest honor.”
Outside of the Catholic Church, his many philanthropic and
charitable activities included supporting the Alexandria Symphony and the INOVA
Hospital Foundation.
A devotee of opera and classical music, Braddock and his wife
frequently attended performances by the Metropolitan Opera, the Washington
Opera and the Alexandria Symphony.
Braddock was predeceased by his sister, Regina. In addition to
his wife and two sons, he is survived by his daughter-in-law Erika, his grandchildren
Lucia and Theodore, and his sister Mary.
A Mass of Christian burial will be offered Friday, Feb. 19, at 11
a.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in
Washington.
