Mary Ann Bryant

04/10/1951 - 10/20/2015

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Obituary For Mary Ann Bryant

Born on April 10th, 1951 in Berkeley, California, and entered into rest on October 20th, 2015 in Stanford, California at the age of 64.

Mary Ann grew up in San Lorenzo, where she first met her husband-to-be, Jeff at Arroyo High School. Mary Ann was always interested in sports, and taught swimming at the local pools in the summer. She also was voted most athletic in High School. She was accepted to the University of California - Berkeley, where she majored in Physical Education, and also got a teaching credential. After college Mary Ann taught PE for five years in Union City, then had two kids, Jeannette and Erik. After the kids were established in school, she started substitute teaching at the kids Elementary School. Mary Ann joined Beta Sigma Phi International sorority in Nov. 1987 was a member of Epsilon Phi Master of Fremont. When son Erik reached his senior year of high school, there was no tennis coach, and Irvington High School was not going to be able to play tennis that year. So, Mary Ann stepped up and said "I will coach", and over the next 12 years she and Erik built the team into the point where they won the League Championship. Plus her teams had some of the best GPA's for all sports. While her kids were going to school the family camped at Burney Falls State Park, and Lair of the Bear Family Camp. There are now 4 generations of her family that have attended the Lair. In retirement Mary Ann wanted to travel. So she and Jeff started travel to Hawaii. They both went on a big tour to China, where they saw the Great Wall, and Terra Cotta Warriors, and more importantly Eric and Marina's Chinese wedding ceremony and feast. She had traveled to Europe several times, including for five weeks in 1992 to the Summer Olympics.

She also wanted to do a bike ride, and did the Chico Metric Century, some 65 miles two years ago. However, about this time, she started to become out of breath, and in a few months found out she had Aplastic Anemia. Two ATG treatments later, it still wasn't cured. So, she sought out a Bone Marrow Transplant. She ended up with seven perfect matches, an unusually high number when the average person has just 50% chance of a match. A brave young Polish medical student was the best match, and he offered his match. So a transplant was done and seemed to be working. However, Mary Ann caught a fungus in her lung, and although she and anti-fungal drugs shrunk the fungus, so many other complications related to the problem got in the way from her Bone Marrow Transplant recovery. But most of all, she wanted to spend time with her cherished grandkids: Patrick, Alice and Marcus. She just loved them so much, reading to them, talking to them, and teaching them. One of her favorite things to do was to swim in her swimming pool with them, she was already teaching them to swim and to enjoy the water! Mary Ann is survived by her husband Jeff, daughter Jeannette (James), son Erik (Marina), and three grandchildren: Patrick, Alice, and Marcus. She is also survived by her sister Eileen (Ken) and brother Rob (Beth).

A Celebration of Life will be held for Mary Ann on Sunday, November 1st, 3pm at Fremont Memorial Chapel, 3723 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536. If you can, wear blue and gold for Cal, or red, Mary Ann's favorite color. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Mary Ann's favorite charity, Heifer International. https://fundraise.heifer.org/MaryAnnBryant

Services

1 Nov

Celebration of Life

03:00 PM

Fremont Memorial Chapel 3723 Peralta Boulevard Fremont, CA 94536 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

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Condolences

  • 10/01/2021

    Mary Ann wwas one of a kind. Full smiles, laughter, happines she shared with everyone. She will sorely missed by all but none more so than her soriety sister's. Her sisters in Delta Xi Mater, Debby Fry, Colleen Scott, Jan Diamond, Betty Ritter, Bonnie Hoszpodar, Jan Girmont, Trudy Combs & Judy Fountain. Your loved & will be sorely missed.

  • 10/01/2021

    MaryAnn shared a birthday with my husband so I always remembered to wish her a happy birthday and she always remembered to wish him a happy birthday. She was a wonderful, happy person and a shining example of strength and dignity. My friend; my hero.

  • 10/01/2021

    Oops, sorry I meant to type Mary Ann and don't see how to fix it. (Anna is my daughter's name)

  • 10/01/2021

    So sorry for your loss. Mary Ann was such a sweet person. Colaci & Montano Family

  • 10/01/2021

    "They lived and laughed and loved and left… And the world will never be the same.” -James Joyce This quote meant a lot to me when my husband passed away and I think it's really true of Mary Anna, who even in her toughest battle was bringing smiles to others. What a memory to cherish. Her love lives on.

  • 10/01/2021

    Mrs. Bryant was my favorite substitute teach all through elementary school. She was the teacher everyone hoped to get on a teacher work day, and we always managed to learn something new no matter how many times we'd had her in our class. My personal favorite lesson of hers always involved this dialogue: "Mrs. Bryant, can I go to the bathroom?" "I don't know, can you?" It was always funny watching new students figure out what she was asking them to say. Love you, Mrs. Bryant. You're smile could brighten any rainy day recess.

  • 10/01/2021

    2 files added to the album Memories Album

  • 10/01/2021

    Lit a candle in memory of Mary Ann Bryant

  • 10/01/2021

    Our family spent many happy hours with Mary Ann at the Lair of the Bear visiting, laughing, telling stories and enjoying the cult of the Lair. She was the ultimate Cal fan. Her optimism was infectious and her laugh brightened up everyone's day. She was a voracious reader and read with enthusiasm. I admire her spirit and know that everyone will keep a piece of that idomitable spirit their hearts from knowing Mary Ann. We will miss her! Ann Millican

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