June Rice Brasgalla

June Rice Brasgalla, 89, of Sarasota, Florida left her earthly life in peace and music on March 18, 2024 surrounded by loved ones holding her hands as she smiled to her favorite song, “Edelweiss”, from “The Sound of Music”.

Throughout her entire life, music enchanted her. She was blessed with a lovely contralto voice and began singing lessons at a young age and continued throughout her adulthood. She performed in church choirs and choral groups. As the years passed and her voice dimmed, her grandsons were her non-judgmental audience, always requesting she sing their favorite lullabies.

June was born April 22, 1934, to loving parents Thomas and Christine (affectionately known as Teena) joining her older sister Jane in their Beckley, West Virginia, home. June enjoyed the rarest of childhood’s, warm relationships with neighbors, friends and her close-knit family amidst beautiful flora for her play “creations”. It was a time of safety for the young “Shirley Temple” lookalike, who, early on, wanted to see and do so many things. She’d even hitch a ride with a traveling salesman to ride over the mountain to see her beloved grandparents!

June always did well educationally through high school, but truly flourished at St. Petersburg Junior College, coming into her own as a brilliant thinker and vivacious young woman. Friends made during these wonderful two years, plus those with her since high school, remained close throughout her life.

After transferring to the University of Florida, she met Emil Richard Brasgalla (Dick) a Navy vet and fell passionately in love with him. After graduating with her teaching degree, they married on June 12, 1954. Their 39 year marriage was filled with new places to live and for her to teach - California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York - as Dick finished his degree and then went to work for Westinghouse. Add to that the joy of three sons growing up in the young family becoming campers, canoers, and musicians. She continued to teach in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and her gifts as an outstanding educator culminated in her being chosen as a Broward County Teacher of the Year!

June was also a decades long member of MENSA, the longest and oldest high I.Q. society in the world. Here, her innate graciousness and thirst for variety would find her on a treasure hunt, playing cards, at multiple board games or simply chatting with old friends or engaging new ones. And her whip smart humor would occasionally flash to create gales of laughter.

In retirement, June was a very active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church, welcoming new members and teaching writing classes. She was an avid reader and prolific writer, having published several books and short stories over the years.

She enjoyed swimming, water aerobics, and riding her recumbent bike around The Meadows, where she lived for over 20 years. In recent years she lived in Sunnyside Village, enjoying a very social and relaxed lifestyle meeting many new friends there.

But, the greatest joy in June’s life was the time spent with her family, especially her 3 sons and 4 grandchildren.

June will be missed, yet thought of always with love and gratitude for sharing her unwavering spirit and grace with all who knew her.

Preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Teena Rice; her husband, Emil Richard Brasgalla; and her siblings, Jane Rice and Robert Rice, June is survived by her children, Stephen (Sharon) Brasgalla, David (Maria) Brasgalla and John (Rose) Brasgalla; her sister, Gloria (Jean) Salway; and her grandchildren, Elizabeth, Samuel, Noah, Jacob and Jacob Brasgalla.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota at

3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, Florida on April 22, 2024 at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in her name to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota