Paul Bryan

Paul Ivanhoe Bryan was born on January 5, 1972, in Kingston, Jamaica, to John Bryan, Sr and Gloria Bryan (née Sutherland). Paul attended school in Uniondale, New York, graduating from Uniondale High School. During his formative years, Paul studied various musical instruments, including violin and saxophone, participated in band and, in high school, was a member of the lacrosse team and the swim team. He attended and played lacrosse at Rutgers University in New Jersey. As a student, Paul worked variously as a lifeguard, a waiter and a bartender. After spending a few years living and working in Baltimore, Paul moved to Florida in 2000 where he met Yvonne Jefferson. He became a father in 2001 and, shortly thereafter, completed his undergraduate studies, earning a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from American InterContinental University. Paul was a fan of science fiction movies (in particular, Star Wars), and of the Beastie Boys and Busta Rhymes. In his free time Paul enjoyed playing poker with his friends in the South Florida Poker Tour where he was loved as a friend and respected as a competitor. We were blessed to have Paul with us for almost 50 years and we will miss him terribly. Paul maintained a serene and unbothered presence even as his health and his physical body deteriorated in recent years due to diabetes and end stage renal disease. He departed this physical world on December 29, 2021. Those who knew him can take comfort in the belief that he is now on a higher plane, where he is free at last from pain and medications, has reunited with his dad, and together they are enjoying the races and playing poker while consuming sugary beverages and salty snacks.

Paul was predeceased by his father, John Bryan Sr, and is survived by his daughter Leia Bryan, Leia's brother, Ian Jefferson, whom Paul considered family, his siblings, John Bryan Jr. and Donna Bryan, his mother, Gloria Bryan, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Paul, we miss you. The force and our love will be with you always.

We ask that all of Paul’s family and friends join us in celebrating and remembering him at a virtual memorial service on Sunday, January 16, 2022, at 4:00 pm ET.