Obituary : Brantz M. Bryan Jr.
Brantz Mayer Bryan Jr. of Falmouth and formerly of Boca Grande, Fla., a restaurateur and advertising executive, died Friday, Feb. 6, in Sarasota, Fla., at the age of 81. He was the husband of Wendy Wile Bryan to whom he had been married for 35 years. Mr. Bryan was born in Montclair, N.J., on Sept. 30, 1927, the son of Brantz M. and Marjorie Hanan Bryan.
He was educated at Millbrook School in Millbrook, N.Y., graduating in 1946. Mr. Bryan was a fourth generation Princetonian where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1952, majoring in politics and history. At Princeton, he was a member of the Tower Club.
Prior to Princeton, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a Sergeant during the occupation of Japan.
Mr. Bryan enjoyed a 54-year business career, the first 18 of which were spent as a management professional with major marketing and advertising agencies, both in New York and Hollywood, such as Doyle Dane Bernbach, Ted Bates, D'Arcy, and Erwin Wasey.
He was a vice president in charge of creating several of America's best known and loved ads for Alka-Seltzer, Gillette Super Stainless, Palmolive Rapid Shave, Colgate Dental Cream, and Friskies dog and cat foods.
In 1960, Mr. Bryan produced the New York stage show "Christopher's Wonders," featuring the illusion and magic of Milbourne Christopher.
He summered on Martha's Vineyard since 1928 and moved to Falmouth in 1970 where he and his wife created, co-owned and operated, for 36 years, the Regatta of Falmouth By The Sea, and the Regatta of Cotuit. Both the Bryans loved the art of fine food and hospitality. He was honored by the high critical acclaim each restaurant enjoyed both locally and nationally.
Besides his wife Wendy, he leaves a daughter Marjorie Gay Laliberte, and two grandchildren, Emily and Stephen Laliberte, all of Falmouth.
A memorial service will be held in late July.
Donations in his memory may be sent to The Bryan Research Fund, c/o Dr. Glen Bubley, C.L.S. 449, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215 or Dr. Martin Solomon's M.D. Residency Education Fund, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 116 Huntington Av., Boston, MA 02116.
For online guestbook, please visit ccgfuneralhome.com.
