Obituary of Dale E. Bryant

Dale E. Bryant died peacefully on March 11, 2025 at home from natural causes. Dale was born in Elmira, NY on January 6, 1943 where he spent his entire 82 years. He went to Carrs Corners one room schoolhouse and graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School in 1960. He then attended SUNY Oswego as an Industrial Arts Education major. Dale met his future wife, Nancy, at a snowball fight while at college. They were married August 22, 1964 at the Silver Bay Chapel on Lake George. Together they built a home in Elmira on the property located next to the house Dale grew up in. They were married for 55 years, raised three children, and have eight grandchildren. Dale started his career as an Industrial Arts teacher at Broadway Middle School in the Elmira City School District. He moved into the guidance department after completing a Master’s degree at Alfred University.  He worked the majority of his 34 years in the district at Southside High School where he retired in 1998.  Dale remained long-standing friends with many of his co-workers, a testament to his loyalty and outgoing nature. Dale was instrumental in the lives of thousands of students at Southside, with many former students becoming friends later in his life. Throughout his career, Dale mentored many guidance interns in the Elmira district as well as in the surrounding area. While working and raising his three children, Dale, along with his family, spent his spring and summers helping to run the Bryant Vegetable Farm started by his grandparents. Dale loved the outdoors. From a very young age he was hunting and fishing with his dad and grandfather and in later years with his son. Dale was able to shoot his final deer alongside his son in the fall of 2024, with his grandfather’s rifle. They owned many beagles over the years for running rabbits and other hounds for hunting fox. Dale and his son, Matt, co-owned a fishing boat called Skippin’ School, where they spent many years trout fishing on the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario with friends. Dale was a homebody and one of his favorite outdoor activities was mowing his multi-acre lawn. It was his pride and joy that he has passed on to his daughter Jen, and more recently his grandson Eli. Dale had a love for collecting things that interested him. He spent many days attending estate sales and local flea markets. In retirement and even before, Dale was an avid volunteer in the community. He was instrumental in securing, restoring, and installing many of the attractions at Eldridge Park. Dale was part of the crew that helped organize the location and structure that housed the original popcorn truck in downtown Elmira. He loved to work the truck in the summers at Wisner Market, where he enjoyed conversing with old and new friends in the community. He was the President of the Farmer’s Museum located at the Chemung County Fairgrounds where his family’s vegetable stand is a cornerstone exhibit. Dale was active on the Board of the Friends of the Woodlawn Cemetery and played a crucial role in the re-establishment of signage throughout the grounds, as well as at the main entrance. Since Dale had worked at his dad’s Mobil gas stations starting at an early age, he developed an affinity for cars, particularly antique ones, owning many over the years. His favorites were a fully original 1949 Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air convertible. He and his wife Nancy belonged to the Finger Lakes Region Vintage Chevrolet Club of America and spent many years travelling with friends on antique car tours. They traveled to 44 different states, 22 of those in vintage Chevrolets. Dale’s family was his pride and joy. He was happy to have all three of his children live on the same road as he and Nancy, making it possible to have family dinners on a regular basis and be a meaningful part of their everyday lives. He treasured his grandchildren and spent time attending many of their activities as well as involving them in his volunteer work and various hobbies. Dale was a pillar of the community, a true gentleman, one of a kind. He had a heart of gold, always sharing life lessons and words of wisdom, just an extraordinary individual. He was one of the great ones, leaving an indelible mark on many with his unwavering support and guidance. He was patient, generous with his time, and well respected by all. He was a wealth of knowledge, a great story teller, and always full of laughter and kindness. He made sure to instill all of these values in his children and grandchildren to ensure his legacy of a life well lived. Dale is the son of the late Charles R. and Rhea Barrett Bryant. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 55 years, Nancy Griffin Bryant in 2020. In addition, he was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Gary O. Reynolds. He is survived by his son, Matthew C. Bryant, his daughters Carol Bryant Cady (Michael) and Jennifer T. Bryant with grandchildren Sarah Bryant, Brittany Baker, Logan Baker (Jacquelyn Lafond), Laura Bryant (Zoe Barrington), Emily Baker, Mattie Bryant, Luke Cady, and Eli Cady; sister Marcia Bryant Reynolds, sister-in-law Carol Griffin Ballou, as well as many nieces and nephews. We would like to thank the Lights Morning Coffee Crew for many years of friendship. You were all his lifeline and we know he will be sorely missed. Private burial services were held on March 14, 2025 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, NY. A Celebration of Life will be held at Eldridge Park on May 31, 2025 from 12-4pm. Those wishing may remember Dale through memorials to The Eldridge Park Preservation Society (www.eldridgepark.org), The Popcorn Truck Preservation Society, The Chemung County Farmer’s Museum or The Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery (www.friendsofwoodlawnelmira.org).