John William Bryan

Born February 13, 1946 in Normal, IL to Edward John Bryan and Margaret Brown Bryan (Wasson), John arrived in the middle of an historic Midwest blizzard. His Mom barely made it to the hospital in time, thus establishing John's penchant for grand entrances.

John graduated from Normal Community High School and went on to earn a BS degree in journalism from Eureka College, where he minored in theatre. His career in journalism allowed him to feed his family; the performance minor allowed him to feed his soul. He earned an MS degree in journalism and computer science from Northern Illinois University in 1970.

John worked at the Daily Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL), the Rockford Morning Star and the Cincinnati Enquirer before being lured to California in 1994 by the Los Angeles Times to help with computerized newspaper production, a new field at the time.

John married Donna Jean Goff, the love of his life, in Rockford, IL, in 1972. The couple adopted a daughter, Andrea Kristin, in 1981. When Andie was diagnosed with Smith-Magenis Syndrome, a developmental condition, the couple dedicated themselves to helping their daughter not only reach, but exceed behavioral and academic milestones. It is that love and devotion that allows her to thrive in a group home today.

John was a loving, kind, big-hearted fellow with an incomparable sense of humor. For many years he wrote an entertaining and hilarious Christmas letter, likely the only such missive family members and friends eagerly anticipated each holiday season.

John was also a highly accomplished banjo and guitar player, and had a knack for molding talented musicians into entertainers. In college, he founded the Hydraulic Banana Singers, a folk music group whose performances were punctuated with large doses of humor.

After his retirement, he concentrated on his favorite musical genre and formed Murphy’s Flaw, a bluegrass band featuring lightning-quick instrumental solos and tight vocal harmonies. The group performed regularly in the Los Angeles area. John made lifelong friends through his music and no doubt, those friendships sustained him in his final months of life.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his brother, Bruce Bryan of Corinth, ME. He is survived by his daughter, Andie, and his sister, Mary (Molly) Bryan of Kentwood, MI. He is also survived by three sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law, one niece, three nephews and several great nieces and nephews.

John’s family is extremely grateful to those friends who supported and sustained John as he struggled with health issues the past several years. Gratitude is also extended to the Pfaffinger Foundation for its ongoing support and to the board and care facility in Granada Hills, CA, where John spent his final three months.

A memorial program and musical tribute celebrating John’s life will be scheduled at a later date. In the meantime, for those wishing to make a charitable donation in John’s memory, please consider the Pfaffinger Foundation (pfoundation.org), whose resources assist current and former employees of the Los Angeles Times; the Smith-Magenis Research Foundation (smsresearchfoundation.org); or the Tierra Del Sol Foundation (tierradelsol.org) which provided resources for John’s daughter for many years.