Obituaries

Bradley Gerard Mullen, M.D. passed away peacefully on March 15, 2026, in Naples, Florida, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his wife, Lori, and loving family and friends at his bedside.

Brad was born on October 18, 1960, in Covington, Kentucky, to the late Ron Neltner and his surviving mother, Carol (Schmidt) (Neltner) Mullen. He was later adopted by David Mullen.

He was a proud graduate of Covington Latin School and Thomas More College. He went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Louisville, where his intelligence and work ethic stood out early and rumor has it his organic chemistry notebook became something of a legend at Thomas More, passed down among students for years. He completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Cincinnati, dedicating years to intensive training in one of medicine’s most demanding specialties. Brad remained in Cincinnati as a practicing neurosurgeon, where he built a strong reputation for his skill, precision, and commitment to patient care. He later joined Mayfield Brain & Spine, where he was a highly respected and valued neurosurgeon for 15 years.

He was deeply loved and respected not only by his patients, but also by the nurses and staff he worked alongside. Known for his humility and ‘team-first’ mentality, Brad was never above any task. He was even known to help clean and prepare the operating room between cases to keep things moving thus supporting his team. He never required nurses or colleagues to call him Dr. Mullen; he preferred to be called Brad. He simply wanted to be treated as part of the team, earning respect through his actions and kindness rather than a title. Throughout his career, he was known not only for his intelligence and surgical expertise, but also for the compassion and reassurance he provided to his patients and their families.

Brad married Lori (Baldauf) in 1997. Together, they built a life filled with love, travel, and cherished memories alongside their children, family, and friends.

He is survived by his three children; Brennan, Andrew, and Macaira, as well as his seven siblings; Debbie Small (Greg), Ron Mullen (Rosemary), Maryanne Schultz (Marvin), Mike Mullen (Yvonne), Kathy Mullen, David Mullen (Nancy), and Julie Bruns (Doug).

Brad was truly the life of the party. He formed deep and lasting friendships, and everyone who knew him felt fortunate to be part of his close-knit circle. Brad’s sense of humor was unmatched. He had a deep love for travel, exploring more than 30 countries throughout his life. He was always planning his next trip and looked forward to every new adventure, especially those shared with his family and friends.

His exceptionally intelligent mind was reflected in his many passions, including a love of art, a deep appreciation for history, and a talent for gardening and landscaping, where he took great pride in creating beautiful outdoor spaces. He also had a passion for cooking and further pursued this interest by earning a culinary degree, something he took great pleasure in sharing with family and friends.

The family would like to thank those who provided special care to Brad. First and foremost, his wife; Lori, Juan and Maria Valdez, and the amazing staff at Naples Comprehensive Health.

Visitation will be held, March 28th, at St. Agnes Catholic Church from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00p.m., with a Funeral Mass to follow at noon. St. Agnes Catholic Church is located at 1680 Dixie Highway, Fort Wright, Kentucky. Immediately following the funeral service, all are welcome to join the family for a celebration of Brad’s life at Grandview Tavern & Grille, 2220 Grandview Drive, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky until 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Covington Latin School for the Robert Bolan Memorial Scholarship.