A generous and creative arts lover and supporter much loved in the community
“Dalene will be remembered for her gracious spirit, intellectual curiosity, and unwavering belief in the power of the arts to enrich lives and build community.”
Hunter DuBois, Dalene Bradford’s son, wrote those words shortly after she passed away on Feb. 10, 2026. The obituary added that Dalene “led with kindness, served with purpose, and lived with appreciation for beauty in all its forms” at non-profits like The Learning Exchange and Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.
DuBois also noted that his mother loved to bake and decorate cookies. It’s apparent in a short video from the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts — where Dalene helped train a small army of volunteers. And where a celebration of her life and legacy drew more than 300 friends, family, artists and arts administrators in April.
Paul Shofer, the Center’s president and CEO, pointed to the impact his “good friend and colleague” made on “millions of patrons who have been, and will be greeted by smiling volunteers in blue vests for generations to come.”
Joan Israelite, another of her colleagues at the Kauffman Center, emphatically agreed. “She was simply the most capable person I’ve known. For my 80th birthday I wanted to go to New York. And as I thought who I would like to go with — it was Dalene. She was the perfect companion who knew where to stay, what to eat and what shows to see.”
Heather Lowenstein, artistic director of Stone Lion Puppet Theatre, met Dalene through the KCPA’s Future Stages program. She’d hoped to entice her into joining Stone Lion’s board but ended up gaining something delightfully different:
a dedicated sewing partner.
“She would come in when she had time in the afternoons and talk and stitch away. She worked on all the giant puppets we did for several years. I think the monarch (butterfly) was one she was the most proud of. It’s really gorgeous, and it’s all hand-stitched.”
The annual Fringe Festival has been a longtime recipient of Dalene’s support. Audrey Crabtree, executive director of KC Fringe, recalls that when she was hired in 2022, “Dalene took me on the circuit to meet everybody. She was really a great connector.” A connector whose love of live theater went well beyond making calls and taking meetings. “She was what we call a runner,” Crabtree explained. “She would come into the office and say, ‘what do you guys need today?’ “She loved being on the ground and being with artists. She just had a very artistic soul.”
Dalene’s family tree brimmed with creativity. Her sister, Marjean Brooks, is an author. And her brother, Doug DuBois, was a staple of the folk and bluegrass scene around Lawrence, Kansas. After his death in 2021, Dalene, Marjean and their brother Dwight made a significant gift to FidPick, AKA the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships.
According to Max Paley, FidPick’s executive director, the funding bump “made a huge impact” that’s helped the organization bring in “way bigger acts.” But Dalene didn’t just mail in the checks. She came to shows and even made the rounds with Paley at the Folk Alliance International Conference — where hallway jams and hotel room showcases run all night.
“Dalene would stay up with me until 3 or 4 or 5 in the morning,” he said. “She just loved hearing the music and meeting new people. I’m not even sure if she knew what she was getting herself into, but she was always game to try something new.”
Dalene was also an enthusiastic board member of the Arts Engagement Foundation, which publishes KC Studio. Guy Townsend, president of Townsend Communications and publisher of KC Studio, expressed gratitude for her unwavering support of this magazine and its coverage of the arts.
“Dalene had a remarkable ability to see both the big picture and the next right step. She always seemed to know who we should talk to, what opportunity we should pursue, or what challenge we needed to think about differently. Her advice was thoughtful, perceptive and almost always exactly what the moment required.”
