1950
Michael
2010
Michael Bryan
November 24, 1950 — December 17, 2010
Michael J. Bryan, of the Rosemount area, died unexpectedly early Friday morning, December 17, 2010, at Southern Ohio Medical Center, Portsmouth. Born November 24 1950 in Portsmouth, he was the son of Howard J. Bryan and Muriel Winifred Hines Bryan. He is survived by his mother, Winnie Bryan, of Hillview Retirement Center, a sister, Nancy E. Aiken of Guysville, a sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Michael Detwiler of Columbus, two nieces, Jessica Aiken of Chicago, IL and Marianne J. Aiken of Lancaster, and his former wife, Kay Ellen Gilmer.
Mike was a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in journalism. He joined his father in business serving as vice-president of Big Value Discount, Inc. with Big Value Discount, the Village Shop in New Boston, and Bryan’s on Gallia St. in Portsmouth. He was also the manager of Bryan’s, and after his father’s death in 1986, he assumed the presidency of Big Value Discount, Inc. After the stores were closed in the 1990s, he became a financial advisor for American Express. Currently he and his sister and brother-in-law operate Sunrise Vending at Shawnee State University.
As a community activist, he founded the Portsmouth Area Peace Coalition and Appalachia First. He had served as president of the Scioto County Habitat for Humanity and as a volunteer for Loaves & Fishes. He ran for Ohio State Representative in 2004 as an independent.
He was an accomplished author, musician and composer. Mike’s articles appeared in the Portsmouth Daily Times, the Portsmouth Free Press, and on the World Socialist Website and commondreams.org, where his “Dear Mr. President” piece was picked up nationally and republished in papers across the country and was mentioned on national radio. From the 1960s through the 1980s, he was a member of several bands: Something New, Canterfield Canoe, Child, Highway, and the Retros. He wrote music for them all and continued composing and playing as a regular at “Third Thursday Open Mic Nights” in Portsmouth.
A remembrance and celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Brant Funeral Home in Portsmouth. The family will receive friends at Brant’s in Portsmouth from noon to 2:00pm on Thursday. Burial will be in Beaver Union Cemetery in Beaver. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Mike was a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in journalism. He joined his father in business serving as vice-president of Big Value Discount, Inc. with Big Value Discount, the Village Shop in New Boston, and Bryan’s on Gallia St. in Portsmouth. He was also the manager of Bryan’s, and after his father’s death in 1986, he assumed the presidency of Big Value Discount, Inc. After the stores were closed in the 1990s, he became a financial advisor for American Express. Currently he and his sister and brother-in-law operate Sunrise Vending at Shawnee State University.
As a community activist, he founded the Portsmouth Area Peace Coalition and Appalachia First. He had served as president of the Scioto County Habitat for Humanity and as a volunteer for Loaves & Fishes. He ran for Ohio State Representative in 2004 as an independent.
He was an accomplished author, musician and composer. Mike’s articles appeared in the Portsmouth Daily Times, the Portsmouth Free Press, and on the World Socialist Website and commondreams.org, where his “Dear Mr. President” piece was picked up nationally and republished in papers across the country and was mentioned on national radio. From the 1960s through the 1980s, he was a member of several bands: Something New, Canterfield Canoe, Child, Highway, and the Retros. He wrote music for them all and continued composing and playing as a regular at “Third Thursday Open Mic Nights” in Portsmouth.
A remembrance and celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Brant Funeral Home in Portsmouth. The family will receive friends at Brant’s in Portsmouth from noon to 2:00pm on Thursday. Burial will be in Beaver Union Cemetery in Beaver. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
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