Bryan Winslow Day

Bryan Winslow Day, age 60, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away peacefully at his home on January 7th, 2026. He was born on July 16th, 1965, at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, near the family’s home in Hartsdale, NY. Bryan was the third and youngest child of Timothy T. and Janet L. (Vaill) Day.

Bryan grew up in Connecticut, primarily in Weston. An active kid with a competitive spirit and a great sense of humor, he enjoyed playing baseball, skiing, and spending time with his maternal grandparents. Bryan graduated from Hamden Hall Country Day School in 1983 and then attended Boston University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a minor in Business in 1988.

Bryan was a gifted chef whose passion for food shaped both his career and the way he cared for the people in his life. His path to becoming “Chef Bryan” was not linear. As a child, there were years when his tastes were famously limited, baloney and waffles being key staples. As he grew older, his curiosity for food deepened. He began to experiment with cooking in his teens and early twenties, including a stint as a cook at the historic Union Oyster House in Boston.

After moving to Phoenix in 1990, Bryan worked in sales before choosing to follow his calling and pursue a career in the culinary arts. He was a member of the first graduating class of the Arizona Culinary Institute in 2003 and went on to serve as Executive Sous Chef at Roy’s Hawaiian Asian fusion restaurant in Phoenix for five years. Over the course of his career, Bryan also provided menu consulting and worked as a personal chef for clients facing serious illness, providing comfort and care through his cooking.

In 2003, Bryan founded Scottsdale Supper Club, an in-home private dining and exhibition cooking experience where he designed custom, multi-course menus and handled every detail – transforming clients’ homes into gourmet restaurants for the evening and returning them to their original state at the end of the night. Bryan possessed an exceptional palate for food and wine that served him well throughout his culinary career. His creative meals and thoughtful presentation left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to share his table. To Chef Bryan, food was love, and his cooking reflected the pride he took in his craft, his creativity, and his desire to bring joy to those around him.

Bryan loved being a father; it was one of the roles he cherished most in his life. He married Heidi Nicole (Kapfer) Day on October 16, 1999, and the couple made their home in Phoenix. They were married for 18 years and had three children together: Samantha Paige Day Stuntz (May 19, 1997), Harrison Benjamin Day (May 28, 2000), and Winston Morgan Day (February 6, 2003).

Bryan was a fun dad who played an active role in his children’s parties. Beloved traditions included full-house hide-and-seek tag and letting the kids raid his vast array of condiments and spices to create the worst “concoctions” they could imagine–each of which Bryan never failed to try. Summers were spent tending the yard and pool, hosting and grilling at big pool parties that became a staple of family life. “Coach Bryan” was an excellent teacher who led his daughter’s middle school softball team to win several championships.

Through daily life, Bryan expressed his love through cooking—treating his children to new gourmet foods (even when they didn’t always appreciate them), favorites like Taco Tuesday, and making Friday night dinners out a core family tradition. He took pride in doing the family grocery shopping and stayed up overnight to smoke turkeys for Thanksgiving feasts.

Bryan's expertise extended beyond the kitchen; he was a true sports aficionado. He was a lifelong, dedicated fan of both the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Steelers—perhaps one of their biggest ever fans. He was not only an ardent fan—he had an impressive understanding of many sports, particularly football and baseball. He could recount decades of team history and performance with astonishing detail. His love of competition carried into his years of playing fantasy sports, where he proudly filled a wall with banners from his winning seasons. Bryan's skills in sports analysis and fantasy leagues were not just impressive; they were a testament to his passion and dedication. He shared this love with family, watching and talking about games together, competing against and supporting family members through fantasy sports, and hosting lively Super Bowl parties.

Bryan was one of a kind—charismatic and quick-witted. He will be missed by those closest to him for making people smile and bringing joy to everyday moments with his infectious, dry humor. He was a fan of entertainment and enjoyed golf, tennis, boxing, and video games. He was a lover of bands such as Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Rush, and Journey, and had an extensive movie collection. An animal lover, he adored his cats and dogs, and even the pet pig, Bar-S. Bryan was compassionate and a loyal friend. His determination in the face of illness and his devotion to the passions that defined his life were an inspiration to many.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John L. and Marion E. (Grierson) Vaill (Waterbury, CT); David M. and Janice (Fowler) Day (Brooklyn, NY); and his beloved dog, Maggie, along with other cherished family pets.

He is survived by his children, Samantha Day Stuntz (New York, NY), Harrison Day (Tucson, AZ), and Winston Day (New York, NY); his mother, Janet L. (Vaill) Day (Southbury, CT); his father and stepmother, Timothy T. and Sandra Day (Phoenix, AZ); his siblings, Leslie Day Pellillo (Phoenix, AZ) and Tim T. Day Jr. (Scottsdale, AZ); and his half-brother, Eric (William) Gleason (Villa Park, CA). He is also also survived by his brother- and sisters-in-law, Joseph Pellillo, Naia Day, and Michelle Gleason; his son-in-law, Ryan Stephen Stuntz, and future daughter-in-law, Heidi Rose Saxton; his nieces, Sophia and Lily Pellillo, and Chenay Gladstone, and his nephews, Taylor and Sammy Gleason; and extended family members, friends, and his two cats, Romeo and Cleo. He is also remembered by his best friend, Rose Cordova (Phoenix, AZ), and her children, Ashley, Joe, and Hugo Cordova, whose presence and care meant so much to him.

The Interment Ceremony will be held on the morning of January 31st, 2026, at the Day Family plot at the Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, followed by an open house Celebration of Life from 5 pm to 8 pm at the clubhouse at Bryan’s home.

Flowers and memorials may be left at or sent to Bryan’s home, 8 Biltmore Estates Drive #214, Phoenix, AZ 85016, or the Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, 400 S Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206.

Arrangements were entrusted to the care of the Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care.