Dr. Harold Russell Bryant
Dr. Bryant is survived by 2 daughters, Judy and her husband Dr. Robert Johnson of Charlottetown, PEI and Sharon and her husband Ken Rooke of Qualicum Beach, BC, 6 grandchildren; Bryan Rooke, and his wife Jennifer, Barry Rooke and his wife Vicki, Gavin Rooke and his wife Brenda, Susan Whitaker and her husband Bill, Jody Gorman and her husband Don, Andrew Johnson and his wife Kelly;5 great grandchildren; Charles, Jaylem, Maya, Bradley and Quinton; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Dr. Bryant graduated from Sussex High School in 1931 and during his school career maintained an honours standing each year and won the New Brunswick Chapter of the IODE scholarship. He graduated from Dalhousie University in 1939 and spent a year as an intern in Saint John. Shortly after graduation, he married Greta McAdoo of Norton. A doctor was needed on Grand Manan, so the Bryants arrived there on their wedding night to begin married life. On arriving at the wharf, the doctor was taken to his first medical emergency on the island. After six years of practice, he left for Chicago to continue his medical education. The family's next stop was Sussex. Only hours after the opening of the Kings County Memorial Hospital, Dr. Bryant delivered the first baby born there. In 1965, Dr. Bryant ran for mayor and won by acclamation. During the next few years, as either the mayor or a project organizer, he attended the grand openings of the Anglican Church Homes, Bethany Bible College, Bank of Montreal and Canada Packers. Dr. Bryant received the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee medal Centennial award in 1967. As Capt. Bryant, a member of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, he received a Canadian Forces decoration in 1968. In 1972 he was appointed to and later chaired the Central Trust Company advisory board. He served on the School Board and was a former vice president of the Sussex and District St. John Ambulance Association. In 1978, he was chosen as Sussex's first citizen of the year, by the Sussex and District Chamber of Commerce.
His efforts helped in establishing the Kiwanis Nursing Home which opened in 1979. In October 1986 he was admitted to the Order of St. John at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa with Governor General Jeanne Sauvé officiating. In 1988, he served as the honorary chairman of the fundraising efforts for the emergency department expansion of the Sussex Health Centre. He was honoured by the town in May 1989 as he celebrated 50 years in medicine. The organizing committee established the Dr. H.R. Bryant Scholarship for a student entering the health field.
Dr. Bryant was a member and past President of the Sussex Kiwanis Club and Sussex Golf and Curling Club, a past member of the Golden "K", a past member of the Sussex Shrine Club and a former member and Worthy Grand Master of the Zion Lodge #21 F&AM. He sat on the Board of Directors for the Sussex Health Centre and the Kiwanis Nursing Home. Dr. Bryant was founding board member and attending Physician of the Kiwanis Nursing Home from 1975 until his retirement 1996.
All Dr. Russell Bryant ever wanted to do was practice medicine in Sussex. “It was my only ambition,” he was quoted saying, just before he moved to Charlottetown PEI. For half a century, Bryant lived that dream. Now the 92- year-old doctor, who treated soldiers in the army, delivered a baby in a wagon and saw the implementation of Medicare, has passed away. “Sussex was his home,” he once told the Kings County Record. “The other places - I was just passing through.” Fifty years ago, rural medicine in Kings County wasn't an easy dream to live for Dr. Bryant. “They'd come in the middle of the night,” he said of his patients. “I always had evening office hours. My work was on demand. That meant anytime.” His daughters grew up seeing a daily parade of patients in their home. Even Sunday drives meant doing house calls in the country.
Before Medicare, payment wasn't always in cash, it was often in the form of farm produce and sometimes there was no payment at all. But, that seemed to be the last thing on his mind. “I never worried about that,” he would say, with a dismissive wave of his hand. Dr. Bryant remembered using a sled during winter to reach sick patients and deliver babies. He's delivered more than 3,000 babies in Kings County and Grand Manan Island. Despite the busy practice, Bryant felt his community was as important as the patients in it.
Dr. Russ Bryant will be far from forgotten by friends, patients and colleagues. His legacy in this community will live on in the hearts and thoughts of the many people he touched with his healing hand and generous heart.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506) 433-1176, where visitation will be held on Saturday evening from 7-9 pm and on Sunday from 2-5 and 7-9pm. Zion Lodge #21 F&AM will hold a tribute at the Funeral Home on Sunday Evening at 6:45pm.
A celebration of Dr. Bryant's life is being held from Trinity Anglican Church on Monday August 1st, 2005 at 11:00 am with Rev. David Barrett officiating, followed by a time of fellowship with the family in the Church Hall. The internment will take place at Kirk Hill Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, donations made to the Dr. H.R. Bryant Scholarship Fund, the Sussex Health Centre Dialysis Fund or to the memorial of the donor's choice would be appreciated by the family.