Joseph Stanley Bryant Obituary (1931 - 2011)

Brunswick-Joseph Stanley Bryant, age 80 passed away in Brunswick, ME, on September 18, 2011. Born in Buckfield, ME, on March 23, 1931, he was a graduate of Paris High School in South Paris, where he was a letterman in three sports. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in English at Colby College, graduating in the class of 1953. He began his career in secondary education as an English teacher at Caribou High School before being drafted by the Navy in 1956. After a tour of duty with the Pacific Fleet, during which he visited Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia, he returned to teaching before doing graduate study to become a guidance counselor. He was dedicated to helping young people plan their futures, first in South Berwick and then for 16 years at Brunswick High School, where he was the head of the guidance department, before finishing his career by serving as principal at the school. After retiring from education he worked for many years at LL Bean. His college education was enabled by generous financial help from people in his home town, which motivated him to work for many years with the Brunswick Area Student Aid Fund; a scholarship was established in his name in recognition of his efforts. Joe married his high school sweetheart, Evelyn, and they remained very much in love for the 58 years of their marriage. Another love was golf, and he was a long-time member of the Brunswick Golf Club. Joe was outgoing and really enjoyed talking with people -- friends and complete strangers alike -- and is remembered by many for his smile and his sense of humor He delighted in music; he was a self-taught piano and organ player, renowned in his large family for organizing jam sessions and sing-a-longs. He also loved being in front of an audience: at every school he worked in he put together and performed in faculty variety shows. He leaves behind his wife, Evelyn (Niskanen) Bryant; his son Jerry and partner Fran Goodwin of Amherst, MA; his son Eric and wife Shari Broder of Freeport; granddaughters Emily, Chelsea, Eliza and Andrea Bryant and step-grandchildren Hannah and Taylor Goodwin. Joe is also survived by his brothers Richard and William Bryant and their spouses; and many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, James Wilson Bryant and Florence (Childs) Bryant; his brothers James, Sidney, John and Rodney; and his sister Helen. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 22, at 2:00PM, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Brunswick. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Brunswick Area Student Aid Fund c/o J. Otey Smith, Treasurer, 121 Tondreau Point Road, Harpswell, ME 04079 or Parkview Adventist Medical Center, 329 Maine Street, Brunswick, ME 04011. Arrangements were by Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick, where memorial condolences may be expressed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com