Abraham Bassford Obituary

Bassford IV, Abraham (Brahm)

Brahm was born on October 16, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY to Abraham Bassford III and Flora Elizabeth Dexter. He died on December 17, 2025 at age 89 of congestive heart failure in Chicago, IL. His sister, Jill Bassford Hanson, pre-deceased Brahm, as did his life partner, Danae Dzohara Adames.

Brahm's life was one of activism and service. A debater at Stuyvesant High School in New York City, arrested as a freedom rider in Jackson, Mississippi in 1961 (while studying philosophy and religion at Wagner College for his undergraduate degree), Brahm was active with the Student Peace Union throughout the 1960's, a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, and later served as the national secretary of the Socialist Party. Faithful throughout his life, Brahm did graduate work at both New York Theological Seminary and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL; and in Chicago also earned an accounting degree from Truman College and a legal assistant's certificate from Roosevelt University. In addition to serving the national Socialist Party, Brahm's employment history included social service casework in both New York and Evanston, delivering mail, supervising a college typing lab, and working as a church custodian. Brahm also volunteered in church choirs and led a weekly prayer group. He frequently served as a Cook County election judge, was active in the Jane Addams Senior Caucus, and was a regular in the Saturday evening meetings of Chicago's College of Complexes.

That spirit of service continued even during Brahm's final years when poor health made him reside in a nursing home. He led a weekly Bible study in the community room there and took special care of other nursing home residents who were lonely or neglected. Relatives of those he looked after expressed their gratitude to Brahm. One woman, after the death of her husband at the nursing home, continued to visit Brahm and helped care for him throughout the rest of his life, in thanks for the care Brahm gave to her late husband. Brahm also is mourned by representatives of two Chicago churches where he was active for many years: The United Church of Rogers Park (UCRP), and The Church of the Ascension. A memorial service is planned at UCRP on Sunday, February 22nd, 11:30 AM, 1545 W. Morse Ave., Chicago 60626 ([email protected]).

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