Obituary
Harvey Lister Bryning passed away on September 13, 2022, he entered this world on February 16, 1930, in the Mount Auburn Hospital on the banks of the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
His father, Dr. Otto Charles Bryning, had emigrated to this country from Germany and completed his medical training at Loyola University in Chicago in the early 1900s. He married Harvey’s mother Margaret Roudenbush in 1928. In September 1930, Harvey at the age of 7 months and the family embarked on the German transatlantic steamship “Deutschland” for a vacation to Germany, Italy and France.
In 1933, they drove out west on another vacation to Crater Lake, Yellowstone Park and Hollywood, California. Here Harvey enrolled in The Medlin Kiddies School where Shirley Temple also attended before achieving stardom. After attending 12 different schools in the Boston suburbs, he graduated from Gloucester High School in 1948. Later in 1948, he commenced an electrical engineering course at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. In 1951, he was accepted at the United States Merchant Marine Academy where he completed 2 years of a 4-year course in deck department of the US merchant marine. In 1953, he quit the academy to continue sailing in the US merchant marine as a seaman. In 1954, his maritime career is interrupted by a three-year stint in the Army.
He was stationed in France for 3 years and after was discharged in Boston and returned to France as a civilian and married Josette Paulette Danielle Daniau. He brought her to the USA where they lived and worked in Miami, Florida for three years. They later returned to France where in 1963 their daughter Judy was born. He worked in France as a ship chandler selling out of bond goods such as perfumes, whiskey and liquors on American ships. In 1965, General Charles DeGaulle Closed the American bases in France and Italy and American ships stopped calling in France. Not having ships to sell the good on he decided to return to sailing on American ships in capacity of able seaman. After many years he advanced to sea captain. His ships that he captained included the S.S. American Reservist, a 665 ft ship sailing to the far east.
In 1986, United states lines went bankrupt not being able to compete with the Chinese ships which had lower freight rates. His wife Faye whom he married in 1984 lived in and managed a condominium in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. In 1991, they moved to Alexandria, VA, where Harvey found employment as a civilian with the U.S. Coast Guard in their examination branch.
In 2005, Harvey retired at the age of 75 and returned with Faye to Edgewater, Florida. His wife, Faye, passed away in 2010. He leaves his daughter Judy who lives in France, stepdaughter Maurica Bixby, his step- son William Bogardus, three grandsons, Zackary Bixby, Arthur Claude and Derek Bogardus.
A memorial service will be on September 24, 2022, from 12-1 PM at Baldwin Brothers- 1 N Causeway, New Smyrna Beach, FL. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation in Harvey’s name to a charity of your choice.
The family has privately put together a zoom meeting that will be available for anyone who is not able to attend the service in person. Please find the link below:
Meeting ID: 250 494 2361
Passcode: 959588
Laurie
I was proud and happy to meet you.I will not forget you.
Albert
To my father
We had the chance to meet and spend happy times.
With all my love your daughter Judy
To my father
We had the chance to meet and spend happy times.
With all my love your daughter Judy
Love you
Harvey was so proud of Zack. He was a wonderful grandfather.
Rest in piece
Carmella and Uncle Harvey 2018 NSB
We’ll miss you Capt. Bryning.
Fair winds and following seas. We’ve got the watch.