Bryan Bird Eldredge

Bryan Bird Eldredge passed away at home on January 28, 2016. She was surrounded by her loving family, who, along with her many friends, will sorely miss her gentle soul and unwavering love, her intelligence and curiosity, her sharp wit and jovial humor, her compassion and fire for life, her uncanny connection with new acquaintances, both people and animals, and her unfettered embracing of this world and universe. She passed peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer.

Bryan was born February 15, 1946, the daughter of Robert H. and Alice M. Bird. She graduated from Rowland Hall and attended the University of Utah where she served as President of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority her senior year. Bryan was a member of the Scholastic Honor Society for three years and graduated with a BA in History and Minor in French. She also earned a Degre Superieur, Universite Bordeaux-Toulouse, France, and continued post-graduate studies in History at the University of Utah.

Bryan had many interests and talents. She began her career at the Salt Lake Legal Defenders Association and the University of Utah College of Law. After marrying the love of her life, David Eldredge, she focused on raising two wonderful children, Robert and Hannah. They were, and always will be, her pride and joy. She resumed her career at the David Eccles School of Business at the U. where she remained for nearly two decades until her retirement in 2015. Her responsibilities were varied but always related to providing services to the students. She was committed to opening the world to her students, and by all accounts they adored her, as she adored them. Bryan was an outstanding innovator as well as administrator, and while you would have never known it from her, she received numerous accolades and awards over the years. Among them were the Best of State for Education Administrator and the Philip and Miriam Perlman Award for outstanding student advising and counseling.

Throughout her life Bryan was active in the community, was a beloved friend to so many, and pursued her interests for the greater good. She greatly enjoyed her membership and camaraderie at the Town Club and served on the boards of numerous local social and cultural organizations including, among others, the founding board of Utah Children; Salt Lake Acting Company, where she served as President; Junior League; and most recently the Women’s Resource Center, HR Executive Roundtable, and Utah Diversity Connections. She’d also just begun serving as a mentor for the International Rescue Committee.

Bryan was the epitome of kindness and grace. She was unceasingly cheerful and always made time for others before herself. She was a voracious reader of all genres, but particularly favored history and mysteries. She loved hiking, especially in red-rock country, and adored annual visits to Torrey and Moab. She loved all animals, always stopping to speak to whatever creature she encountered. And she loved to travel, having had the good fortune to visit Japan, China, India, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Europe and Scandinavia. Her contagious warmth and the softness of her soul will be missed by all, while the sparkle in her eyes will continue to resonate within all whom her presence touched.

Bryan is survived by her husband of 39 years, David G. Eldredge; son, Robert Joshua Eldredge; daughter, Hannah Hampton Eldredge (Alexandria, VA); sister, Frances (Chris) Cronin, Abington, MA; sister, Peggy (Bill) Zachry, Washington Crossing, PA; sister, Barbara (Jeff) Canaday, Houston, TX; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Heartfelt thanks for the compassion and professionalism of all who cared for Bryan at Huntsman Cancer Center, the University of Utah Hospital and Brighton Hospice.

Services will be held Saturday, February 6 at 1:00 p.m. at The Cathedral Church of St. Mark, 231 East 100 South, followed immediately by a celebration at Town Club, 1081 East South Temple. Online condolences may be shared at www.evans-earlymortuary.com.