This month Marple Friends & Neighbors is pleased to introduce you to Michael Bradley and Meg Grant. Michael and Meg are longtime Marple residents whose story about second chances includes three sons, two busy careers, great neighbors and a home in Broomall where they can bring everyone together.
Michael grew up in Wynnewood with his parents and brothers and attended Waldron Academy and then The Haverford School. At a young age, Michael became fascinated with sports writing. It started with arguing with his brother over who got to read the sports section of the newspaper first. By the time he was a seventh grader at The Haverford School, he’d written his first article in the school’s newspaper. “At the time, the school paper only covered high school sports,” he explained. “I lobbied to get a piece in about the 12-year-old basketball team that went undefeated.” By ninth grade, he was writing pieces about Haverford teams for the Main Line Times, and later he contributed stories to the Suburban and Wayne Times.
After high school, Michael wanted to further his education at a big school with a great academic reputation and great sports teams. The University of Michigan checked all of those boxes. During his time there he wrote for The Michigan Daily and pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in History. His journalism career took off quickly after college when he moved back to Pennsylvania and began writing for a chain of Montgomery County newspapers.
Over the last 30 years, Michael has written for several national publications and websites. “Even after many years in the field, I still get excited about new article assignments,” he said. He’s also been a host on Philadelphia’s 97.5 FM The Fanatic and contributes to a variety of radio stations around the country, and can be seen on Fox29.
Michael is also a professor in the Department of Communication at Villanova University. After several years of working as an adjunct professor, Michael earned his Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies in 2016 and eventually became a full-time professor. When it comes to teaching, he is as passionate about it as he is about sports writing. “I can’t wait for each semester to start,” he said. “I hope to maintain this level of passion and enthusiasm for many years to come.” He is also the faculty adviser to Villanova’s student newspaper, where he ensures that the content is appropriate and that the staff members are making the online and print products better each week. “The combination of writing articles and teaching and advising students make a fun combination,” Michael added.
Michael’s wife Meg Grant grew up in Ridley with five sisters and two brothers. She attended Lakeview Elementary School and graduated from Ridley High School where she was active in theater and singing. While she was growing up, Meg said that her mother, a social worker, showed her the value of volunteering. “Despite being busy with a large family, my mom always made time for service,” Meg explained.
After high school, Meg went on to Millersville University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. That desire to serve that she learned from her mother led Meg to a career in healthcare. “I was thrilled to find a career where I could combine my business analytics experience with my love of community,” she said.
For the past 36 years, Meg has worked in healthcare and is currently the Director of Public Affairs and Marketing for AmeriHealth Caritas. “I thrive on being able to bring programs and services to the underserved communities,” said Meg. She is especially proud of the work she and her team at Keystone First did when they opened a community wellness center in Chester in 2020. The center allowed them to address the barriers and challenges that members of Keystone First had from engaging in healthcare and having positive life outcomes. Some of the initiatives included lead poisoning prevention as well as access to vaccines, including the vaccine for COVID-19.
Meg’s team is also about to launch a mobile fitness center that will provide programs throughout the Philadelphia, five-county area. “Through these centers, we can offer a variety of services including health screenings, fitness and nutrition classes, food programs and art and music,” she explained. “We will be working with community partners to make sure we have what the members really want.” In addition to her role at Keystone First, Meg also serves on both the Chester City and Delaware Valley Community Health Boards.
Michael and Meg met in 2001. Michael was a widower raising two sons in Broomall and Meg was a single mom living in Lansdowne. Their paths crossed at Holy Child Academy in Drexel Hill where their boys were in kindergarten. “I noticed Michael a lot when he dropped off his boys and I really admired the way he was with them,” Meg recalled. She said she even rushed to get to school drop off earlier, so she could get there at the same time that Michael did. Technically their first date was a party that Meg invited Michael to, but he admitted he didn’t realize it was a date.” I think there was some confusion on my part,” he said jokingly. Shortly after the party, they had a proper first date, and the rest is history.
The couple married on July 2, 2005, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Philadelphia. The wedding ceremony was followed up with a beautiful reception at the Independence Visitors Center. “Having a wedding over the Fourth of July weekend in Philadelphia’s Historic District made it extra special,” said Meg. “There were even fireworks. For our family, it really symbolized new beginnings and a second chance at happiness.”
For a honeymoon, Michael and Meg took their three sons Bryan, Christopher and Ian to Cape May for the week. “We really wanted something less traditional and to do something the whole family could enjoy,” Michael explained. Cape May continues to be a special place for the couple and their boys. Meg’s parents have a home there, so every summer, they spend a week there all together.
Meg and Michael found that Broomall was the perfect place to raise their children. Michael had already been in the home since 1999 and loved the quiet but friendly neighborhood. “Our block is very special,” said Meg. “We have the senior population as well as young families. It’s a great mix.” While the boys were growing up, Michael enjoyed helping coach them in various local sports including baseball, basketball and soccer.
Meg and Michael’s oldest son Bryan is now 31. Described as very outgoing, he graduated from Episcopal Academy and then earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He and his wife Carolyn live in Philadelphia. Next is 27-year-old Christopher, who Michael and Meg say is very thoughtful and relaxed. After graduating from The Haverford School he earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin. He and his wife Annie live in Chicago.
Their son Ian is 27, loves music and sports and his parents say he’s very outgoing with enthusiasm for life. He attended Friends Central School for High School before earning a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh. “The boys are now grown and busy, but we enjoy being able to visit them,” said Michael. “We also look forward to our annual week at the shore together.”
When they’re not working or spending time with their sons, Michael and Meg find time to enjoy their favorite spare-time activities. For Michael, it’s reading fiction or playing a round of golf. For Meg, it’s travel. In fact, shortly after our interview Meg was taking off for a trip to Italy with some of her family members. And they both love music. From Bruce Springsteen to Beyonce, they’ve been to numerous concerts over the years. “We’ve also been known to tear up the dance floor,” added Meg.
Most of all Michael and Meg enjoy being in their Marple Estates home where they’ve been for 20+ years now. “We love having people around and being surrounded by our friends and family,” said Meg. “Our home has been the perfect place for bringing our blended family together. It’s definitely been a place of healing and second chances.”
Publishers Note: The name Michael Bradley may have seemed familiar to readers with “expert” knowledge of Marple Friends & Neighbors. It should. But not this “Michael Bradley” we’ve just learned has a passion for family, sports fandom, writing, teaching and wife Meg Grant. No. You’re thinking of another “Michael Bradley,” also a Marple resident, who you know is our Tree Care and Inspection Expert-in-Residence (whose name and photo is found on pg. 2 listed with all our Experts), is the owner of Bradley Tree Experts, is an advertising Sponsor of his hometown magazine and Expert Contributor of tree care feature articles published in Marple Friends & Neighbors every third month. That Michael Bradley!
Do you know a Marple family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Holly Stupak at HStupak@BestVersionMedia.com.