John William Bryant, Jr , VRHS Class of 1956
Bryant, John William Jr. LATHAM John "Jack" William Bryant Jr. passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2013, after an extended illness. He was born in Troy, the son of Margaret O'Neil Bryant and John W. Bryant Sr. He was raised in Rensselaer and had resided in Latham for 45 years. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Assumption Church in Latham. He graduated from Holy Cross in 1960 with a bachelor's degree, earned a master's degree in special education from the College of St. Rose and had a post-graduate degree in educational administration from SUNY-Albany. He was named in the Who's Who of American Educators and Outstanding Americans. He taught sixth grade special education at Albany public schools at schools 24, 18 and Phillip Schuyler. Jack was an honorary life member of Rensselaer Council 267 K of C as well as a member of the National American Legion, APSTA, NYSUT, NEA, Army Reserves and the order of the Purple Knights of Holy Cross. He was also a member of the Holy Cross and St. Rose alumni associations and was a volunteer fireman in Rensselaer and volunteered with Special Summer Olympics. Jack loved his family and friends, enjoyed Saratoga Race Course and yearlong racing. He was an avid sports fan of the Dodgers, Redskins and Holy Cross athletics. Jack enjoyed dinner trips through Yankee Trails and bus trips to New York City as well as attending plays and watching old movies on Turner Classic Network. He is survived by Mary Davis Bryant, his wife of 46 years; sons, John (Yuan Quan) Bryant and their son John Li of Albany, and Kevin (Kate) and their son Kevin John and daughter Mary of Latham. Also surviving are his brother, Patrick (Lisa) Bryant; sister, Margaret "Peggy" (Denny) Puls; nephews, Pat, Niel and Chris and nieces, Amy, Kerry and Erin. He is also survived by many friends. Funeral from the W. J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Ave., Rensselaer on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet-Shaker Road Latham, where a Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be offered. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 from 3 to 8 p.m. Interment will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, Troy. The family would like to thank the staff and nurses at Albany Medical Vascular Unit, rehab unit at the Eddy Heritage House and St. Peter's visiting nurses and aides. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association , 2 Pine West Plaza, Washington Ave. Ext., Suite 204, Albany, NY 12205.