Bryan A. Bittner

Born September 1, 1952 in Sao Paulo, Brazil to Otto A. Bittner and Edith (née Skall) Bittner, he moved to New York City at the age of four. Growing up on Staten Island, Bryan spent his childhood watching ships, ferries and tugboats working in the New York harbor, something that informed his life-long love of all things maritime.

After attending SUNY Maritime College, he worked on various tugboats in the harbor until he earned his Captain's license. Bryan continued working on ferries in and around Long Island, including the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry. He became one of the youngest captains of the Circle Line New York harbor sightseeing cruises while he continued his education at Columbia University, where he earned a B.A. in Economics in 1978. He then began a long career in bulk shipping, first with the Continental Grain Company, then the Ecuadorian Line, Marinakis Chartering, Inc., Fairfield Bulk Carriers Ltd. and Eagle Shipping, L.L.C.

Bryan is survived by two children, Mary Cecelia Bittner, her partner Louis Rutherford of London, UK, and Karl Roland Bittner of Centerville, and his former wife, Anne Marie (née Morin) Bittner of Brewster, MA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bryan's memory to the Dementia Society of America: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadonate

Visitations will be held at Doane Beal & Ames, 160 W Main St, Hyannis, MA, on February 20th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with a service to follow at 5:00 pm.