Richard "Brad" Nail, born May 28, 1943 at the US Navy Hospital in Vallejo, California, passed away peacefully on Christmas Day, 2016. He leaves as he lived, with grace and surrounded by his loving family.
Brad attended Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, California where he met his life's love, Cheryl. He graduated with the class of 1961, and went on to attend San Mateo Community College and then completed his Bachelors of Science in Marketing at San Jose State University in 1965.
After college, Brad entered the US Army. After completing officer's candidate school, Brad was honored by being chosen to serve as Aide de Camp at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Brad was discharged in 1969 at the rank of First Lieutenant.
After the Army, Brad and Cheryl returned to California where he began a career in retail as the owner of Mosher's Shoes, a chain of five retail shoe stores spanning Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties. His passion for small, local business led him to the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce in 1989, after closing the shoe business. Brad went on to become the Director of the Concord, California Chamber of Commerce and from there, he joined the staff for California State senator Richard Rainey. Brad was also proud to be involved with Delta View Golf Course and the Pittsburg Yacht Club as well as being a past President of the One Hundred Club of Contra Costa County, an organization close to Brad's heart with which he treasured his long involvement.
Brad's professional life led him back to Pittsburg, his and Cheryl's chosen home where he retired as the Director of Economic Development for the city.
Brad's passion for Delta boating, golf, and RVing ensured that where ever he went, he was sure to run into a smiling friend. Brad is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Cheryl; his two children: Catherine Wells of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Steven Nail of Santa Rosa, California; his brother Kenneth Monroe Nail, Jr. of Austin, Texas; three grandchildren, Jessica Catherine Jordan of Colorado Springs, Colorado; LeAlta Michelle Plunkett of ST. Charles, Missouri; Akua Theodore Bradford Wells of Litchfield, Illinois; six nieces and nephews and four great-grandchildren.
Brad is preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Mary Nail and his beloved younger brother Joseph Nail, and his Granddaughter, LeiLani Wells.
A celebration of life Brad's life will be held on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 2:00pm at the Pittsburg Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The One Hundred Club of Contra Costa County P.O. Box 773 Danville, Ca. 94526.