Michael David Bridgham

Michael D. Bridgham

September 27, 1963 - January 11, 2025

Michael David Bridgham, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the age of 61.  Mike was born September 27,1963 to William and Marcia (Blondell) Bridgham in Norwood, Massachusetts, the elder of two sons.

Mike spent most of his childhood years growing up in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.  In 1979, he, along with his brother Chris and mother, moved to Bowie, Maryland.  Mike attended Bowie High School, where he met the love of his life Allyson.  Mike attended Prince George’s Community College for 2 years prior to obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance at Frostburg State University and later a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Mansfield University.

On August 8, 1987, Mike married Allyson (Kessler) Bridgham in Maryland. Their early married life was spent in the Washington D.C. area while Mike began a career in the insurance industry and they started their family. In 1990, they welcomed their first daughter Lindsey and in 1995, their daughter Kelly.  Later that year, they moved to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to start their lives as a family of four. Shortly thereafter, Mike, Allyson, Lindsey, and Kelly moved to Troy, PA in 1998 where they have resided for the past 27 years.

In 2007, Mike transitioned to the financial services industry where he began his career as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, and then in 2017 became a Senior Investment Portfolio Analyst with Pick Fought Wealth Advisors of Raymond James in Williamsport, PA.

Mike’s love for his family was evident to everyone he encountered. His greatest source of pride in life was his wife and children and all that they have accomplished as a family. His love for family grew even more through the marriage of both of his daughters and with the births of his two beloved grandsons, Griffin and Owen.

Mike was a man who not only loved his family and friends, but also his community and everyone within it.  This was exemplified through his participation in and commitment to the Troy Lions Club.   Over the past 29 years, Mike held numerous board positions and notably was the only Lion to serve as President 3 times.  He was also the Zone Chair of the PA Lions District 14G level (north-central PA) and scholarship committee member, and part of the team that founded the Troy Lions Club Foundation.  In November 2024, the Lions Club honored Mike with the prestigious Melvin Jones award, the highest honor Lions Club International can bestow upon a member recognizing outstanding community service.  Mike also served on the board of the Western Bradford Development Corporation, board of directors for Martha Lloyd Community Services, and was Vice Chair of the Board for North Central Sight Services, Inc. Additionally, he was elected to 2 consecutive 4-year terms to Troy’s Borough Council and was a member of the Troy Chamber of Commerce where he was elected the 2021 Person of the Year.

Mike’s passion for the outdoors, especially hunting, was evident to all who knew him. Mike became a member of the Armenia Debating Society in November of 2000, and there was nothing more that Mike liked to do with his free time than spend as much time as he could on the mountain. Through the Armenia Debating Society, he built life-long friendships with the other camp members and considered them a part of his family.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother, Marcia (Blondell) Bridgham; in-laws George and Janet Kessler; grandparents William T. Bridgham, Sr., and Adele (Duschesneau) Bridgham, Martin and Marjorie (Swift) Blondell; aunts, Karen Blondell and Michelle (Bridgham) Cutter.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Allyson Bridgham; daughters Lindsey (Sam) Kurland of New Canaan, CT, Drs. Kelly Bridgham (Jordan “Dani” Tutnauer) of Philadelphia, PA; grandsons Griffin and Owen Kurland; father Retired Colonel William (Julie) Bridgham of Ashburn, VA; brother Chris (Jen) Bridgham of Davidsonville, MD; sister-in-law Kara (Jeff) McCoy of Annapolis, MD; brothers-in-law Randy Kessler of Laurel, MD and Rob (Lynn) Kessler of Pittsfield, MA; uncle Jon Blondell  and cousin Eric Blondell of Scituate, MA; nephews and nieces Riley and William Bridgham, Kyle and Connor McCoy, Luke (Becky) and Weston (Emily) Kessler, and so many close friends that he considered family to him.

Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on Friday, January 24, 2025, at the Troy Sale Barn, 50 Ballard Street, Troy, PA.  Doors will open at 1:00 pm with the ceremony beginning at 2:00 pm followed by a reception.  In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Martha Lloyd Community Services, 66 Lloyd Lane, Troy, PA 16947; North Central Sight Services, Inc., 2121 Reach Road, Williamsport, PA 17701; or the Community Foundation for the Twin Tiers, 104 W. Lockhart Street, Sayre, PA 18840 (twintierscf.org, designated to the Troy Lions Club “Huck Fund” Scholarship).