Sara Manwell Bradford, 82, of Providence, passed away on Saturday, February 15, 2025, after a brief illness. Born in Northampton, MA, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Edward Jones Manwell and Dr. Claire Cutten Manwell. Sara received her BA from Connecticut College in 1963 and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965, where she met and married her husband of 52 years, Derek Bradford. A registered Landscape Architect, Sara was the owner and principal Landscape Architect at Bradford Associates.

During her 60-year career in Landscape Architecture, Sara contributed to countless municipal, state, and residential projects. Some of Sara's most notable contributions include Patriots Park in Portsmouth, RI, Hunt's Mills Recreation Area in East Providence, RI and the Ten Mile River Greenway. However, projects closest to her heart were those right in her own East Side neighborhood. She worked on numerous landscape improvement projects at Brown University, the First Baptist Church in America, Prospect Terrace, North Burial Ground, and Benefit Street. Upon her "retirement" at the age of 80, Sara continued to consult, serve on several boards and volunteer her time to support the causes that were important to her including the American Society of Landscape Architects, RI Tree Council, Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects, and the Mile of History Association. She also enjoyed taking Spanish language classes and movie and dinner nights with neighbors and friends. Sara was an active member of the First Unitarian Church of Providence.

Sara was a lifelong advocate for the protection and preservation of natural and open spaces. She was happiest when she was walking her woods in Connecticut, gardening, tending her bee hives, building stone walls, identifying various trees and plants, and embracing the peace and solitude of the outdoors.

She is survived by her children, Nyssa Bradford Mundy of Cumberland, RI (Jason Mundy) and Carya Gail Bradford of Orlando, FL (Ernest White), her two sisters, Suzanne Ames and Gail Gaustad, her three grandchildren, Sasha Mundy, Ella Mundy, and Georgia Mundy, and her much loved canine companion Will.

A Service will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM, at the First Unitarian Church of Providence, 1 Benevolent Street, in Providence, RI, with a reception following the service, at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bradford Family Fund with the Rhode Island Foundation , in continued support of charitable causes important to Sara.