YOUR AD HERE »

Vail Daily obituary: Dr. William Edward Bryan, 1936-2016

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Dr. William Edward Bryan after a brief illness. Dr. Bryan is survived by his loving family and friends: wife of 25 years, Donna Rotella Bryan; his sister Peg (Lou) Flinchbaugh; children William J. Bryan (Carla Goe), Robert K. (Elyse) Bryan, Erin M. Bryan Slimbock, Timothy E. Bryan (Kara Hetz), Christopher A. (Elizabeth) Bryan, Jonathan J. Rotella (Alysa Van Asten) Jordan R. Singer; and his grandchildren Ross Bryan, Justin Bryan, Jakob Slimbock, and Oliviana Josephine Rotella. He is also survived by his dear nephew Ronald (Jean) Rockafellow and brother in-laws Emil Flinchbaugh and James F. Rotella, as well as numerous special nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, William John and Emma Josephine Bryan, and seven sisters, Mabel, Betty, Ruth, Jo, Gerry, Mary and Pat.

After graduating from Duquesne University (B.S.) and University of Pittsburgh (M.S. secondary education), Dr. Bryan signed up for the U.S. Air Force. He was a captain in the Nuclear Air Defense Command Unit from 1960 to 1964, a unit that was in charge of airborne electronics for missile systems.

After his military service he attended Wayne State University in Detroit, graduating with his Doctorate of Education. Dr. Bryan began his career serving as chairman of the Education Department at Mercyhurst College until 1970. He continued his career as deputy superintendent of Somerset County Vocational Schools in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

His dedication to a better educational system led Dr. Bryan to become president of Salem Community College in Penns Grove, New Jersey. There he served as the president of what at first was an unaccredited college of 100 students in 1977. Under Dr. Bryan’s direction and dedication it gained full accreditation and totaled 1,500 students by 1982. During those same five years, Dr. Bryan held the role of associate dean for management services for the New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Bryan served as vice president of strategic planning and marketing for Kennedy Health System in Voorhees, New Jersey, from 1983 to 1997. Kennedy Health System boasted a 607-bed, $1.25 billion hospital system serving more than 400,000 people. After 1997, Dr. Bryan spent the next eight years as the vice president of business development for Innova Health and Rehab, LLC in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. There he managed and directed all areas of organizational development and strategic planning.

Support Local Journalism

After working as a consultant for several hospital systems and colleges throughout the United States, Dr. Bryan began his own firm, Bryan Consulting Services Inc., in 1989. Dr. Bryan played a crucial role in establishing the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest), Western University of Health and Sciences in Pomona, California. Up until his passing, he served as the senior executive project consultant. His innovative thinking and excellence earned him an award of the Letters of Humane Doctorate.

Private services will be held for Dr. Bryan at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Dr. William E. Bryan Scholarship Fund to the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest, 200 Mullins Drive Lebanon, OR 97355, 541-259-0200.


Support Local Journalism