posted 04-04-2004 05:31 AM               

Ray was born in 1920. A sister, Elizabeth, was born about six years later. She died about a year after that. I never did learn what Samuel or Elizabeth died of. (Sam--not that Sam--if you're reading this, do you know?) Ray had been jealous of his sister and was DEEPLY affected by her loss. He NEVER got over it. It is mentioned briefly in "Dandelion Wine," as is the death of his grandfather, who died around the time Elizabeth was born.

Leonard grew up, married, had kids, and lived to be pretty old, but I don't know if he is still living, or, if he died, at what age and from what cause. (Again--Sam?)

posted 04-04-2004 08:01 AM               

I'm guessing...but if Sam died in 1918...it's likely that it was from the Swine flu epidemic that killed millions of people...

There is an effective movie about the tragedy, produced by Horton Foote, and starring Matthew Broderick, called, "1918".

posted 04-04-2004 02:12 PM            

Later
Patrick

posted 04-07-2004 10:16 AM               

Here's one I've wondered about:

posted 04-07-2004 11:30 AM            

Those of you who have Ray B's home phone number, please don't call at this time.

The man has a had a few close family/friends members leave this world, in the last few months. So Please say a prayer for him.

Take care
Patrick

posted 04-10-2004 01:36 PM               

Resurfacing for an all too brief moment and noticed this thread. It's very sad news about Skip Bradbury. Poor Ray. He has endured so much in the last six months. Maggie. Julie Schwartz. Now, his one and only brother. Still, Ray Bradbury's spirit is indefatigable. Anointed by the tip of an Excalibur sword, Ray Bradbury will endure.

I interviewed Skip several times in the last few years and he was always very gracious and had a terrific sense of humor. It became apparent to me that Leonard and Esther Bradbury raised two very kind, polite, and gentle boys.

As for questions about Ray and Skip's sister, Elizabeth "Betty Jane" Bradbury. She passed away from influenza on February 8, 1928. She was just shy of being a year old.

posted 04-10-2004 01:46 PM               

Thanks, Sam. Ray's source of energy and hope go deeper than he realizes. What a gift he is to the world of literature.

posted 04-13-2004 06:26 AM               

It seems that besides other previously-mentioned matters, I may also have been misled/misinterpreted/misunderstood Ray's relationship with his brother. I wrote (and I'm not going back and edit it now) that they never got along. Perhaps closer to the truth would be that they may have gone through periods of not getting along, but reconciled, or that since Donn is a very different personality type, somewhat high-strung and demonstrative, he may have interpreted any reserve in Skip's manner as dislike or unfriendliness. Sam says Skip was always polite and pleasant. Ray also asked if I'd been in contact with Donn. I said not lately. It's possible Ray thought I heard about his brother through Donn--almost my only source before the internet!

Ray asked as usual what was going on with me. I said obviously I hadn't finished a chapter that week as I was getting ready for Easter. My entire family were here and I also had church and so on, but I wasn't going to feel too bad over it, just pick up and go on with it.