Dr. Bradford Bomba and his wife, Rita, spent a sound marital life of almost six decades, i.e., 56 years, until Rita’s passing in 2016.
Born on January 9, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, to Peter and Angela Walther, Rita Gene Bomba grew up alongside her sister, Patricia, and brother, Peter.
She attended Loretto Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school on Chicago’s east side, where she was a cheerleader.
It was during these formative years that Rita crossed paths with Brad Bomba, a football player at nearby Mt. Carmel High School during their parochial school days.
In nearly no time, their romance blossomed into a love story that lasted over half a century.
With Rita attending Michigan State University and Brad playing football at Indiana University, the couple maintained a long-distance relationship.
Despite the challenges of a long-distance relationship, the couple stood the test of time and remained unbreakable.
Rita graduated as a Spartan but embraced life as a Hoosier, wholeheartedly adopting Bloomington as her home.
Later, after years of courtship on July 2, 1960, Rita and Brad walked down the aisle, beginning a 56-year partnership.
Bradford Bomba’s wife, Rita, was with him until she took her last breath.
Dr. Bradford Bomba Outlived His Wife, Rita Gene Bomba, By Almost 9 Years!
Rita Gene Bomba passed away on June 22, 2016, at the age of 81 in Bloomington, Indiana. However, details surrounding her demise remain unknown.
Bradford lived nearly nine years longer than his wife, eventually passing away on May 8, 2025, at the age of 89 while receiving hospice care in Bloomington, Indiana.
Not to forget, Bradford Bomba and his wife, Rita, were preceded in death by their infant daughter Angela.
Rita was a gifted artist whose watercolor paintings and portraits captured the essence of her subjects with grace and precision.
Her talent found a special place within the Indiana University community, where she painted portraits of IU Athletics Hall of Fame members for decades.
These works, displayed in IU’s Assembly Hall, speak volumes about her skill and her deep connection to the Hoosier spirit.
In keeping with her wishes, no visitation was held following her passing. A funeral mass took place on June 27, 2016, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Bloomington.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Dr. Bradford Bomba faced allegations from multiple former players, accusing him of performing inappropriate rectal exams during physicals, despite medical guidelines not recommending them.
- He died in May 2025, survived by his children: Brad Jr. (Angee), Elizabeth, Joseph (Jennifer), Chris (Wendy), Matt (Kelly), Eric (Angie) and his twelve grandchildren: Trey, Tori, Tyce, Madeline, Joey, Lindsey, Cydney, Christopher, James, Mason, Harrison, and Aidan.
