Tributes

Rosemary Egan Bridgeman age 88, died Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at Tidelands Community Hospice House. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, to the late Peter and Helen Egan, Rosemary was the eldest of six children. She describes her family as being "poor as church mice". Having skipped first and third grades, she graduated from high school at the age of fifteen with a full scholarship to Duquesne University and worked at AT&T. Along came WWII and her dream was to join one of the women's services. As telephone companies were considered crucial for the war effort, none of the women's service branches would accept her. She worked in the business office during the war years. She married the love of her life James Bridgeman and they carried on the tradition of large families and had seven children. When the four oldest children were in college, Rosemary decided it was time to go back to college and earn a degree. She found she had a special ability of speaking with people addicted to alcohol. She enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh to do her studies. She became the Director of Ala-Call, the New Jersey 24 Hour Hot Line for Alcoholics. She and James joined Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). They formed a small PFLAG in their community in New Jersey. Through these and many other community involvements Rosemary touched and changed many lives. For 18 years they had vacationed along the Grand Strand. After James's death Rosemary moved to Pawleys Island and later to The Lakes at Litchfield where she enjoyed playing bridge and Mahjongg (oriental style). She was preceded in death by her husband, James Gregory Bridgeman; a brother and two sisters. Survivors include her five sons, Jim (Dorothy) of Quaker Hill, CT, Chris (Cindy) of DeBordieu SC, Ken of San Francisco, CA, Brian (Sherie) of Zelienople, PA and Pete (Kathy) of Vienna, VA; two daughters, Juli Ricksecker of San Diego, CA and Mary (Jim) Beach of Marlton, NJ; thirteen grandchildren, Dan, Nathan, Hannah, Andrew, Brian, Jeff, Dom, Ian, Tavis, Jonathon, Jared, Justin and Ashley; eleven great-grandchildren and two brothers, Pete Egan of Phoenix, AZ and Mike Egan of Binghamton, NY. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, September 8, 2012 at Grace Church 14323 Ocean Hwy. Pawleys Island, SC 29585 "next to Applewoods" with Reverend Stuart Boehmig officiating. Interment will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Sign an online guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com/obituaries Memorial donations may be made to Tidelands Community Hospice House, 2591 N. Fraser St. Georgetown, SC 29440. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Tributes

Rosemary Bridgeman

May 20, 1924 - September 4, 2012