Bryan Robert Adams
9/4/1941 - 6/30/2017

Bryan Adams: A life well lived

Bryan Adams died comfortably surrounded by family on June 30, 2017. We celebrate his life with the vibrancy he exuded. To capture him in a few words would be futile. To chronicle his life in a linear fashion would be too traditional. To list his loved ones would be exhausting. He was that big. A life by numbers: He was born in 1941 to a family of educators. He spent most of his childhood in South Texas where he would return as an adult. He married his first wife, Donna, in Wyoming and had 4 children, Bryan Mark, Mickye, Cheri and Sasha. He married his second wife, Vicky, in Texas. The women of his life, Vicky and Donna, daughters Cheri, Mickye and Sasha, and his sister Barbara were with him in love and support throughout his storied life. He passed away quickly of pneumonia at the age of 75. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren and generations of students. Bryan lived a life of infectious curiosity. Once he got that look, from the time of his childhood to the last days of his life, he was off into a vortex that lifted us from the cellular to the celestial. He was the consummate Renaissance Man, able to take on any challenge with intelligence and insight. He was a biology teacher for most of his life, mainly at PSJA High School in the Rio Grand Valley, then at Brazoswood High School. He evolved into the Director of The Brazosport Nature Center & Planetarium. There he piloted us on a journey that launched us through galaxies and spiraled down into genes. He transformed adults and small children as he had only inspired high schoolers before. A few years later he was ready to retire . Within weeks he walked into the wildlife refuge, recreating himself as the Environmental Education Specialist for The Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. Once again, his passion for biology and natural history met his world class talents in teaching. He brought the world around us to life. In fact, the Fish and Wildlife Service nominated him the National Rachel Carson award for his contributions to science and education. Following that, he embraced his next challenge, working to save the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle. In the two seasons he devoted to this cause and with the work of the whole team, the number of nests recovered increased from 209 to an all-time high of 350 and counting! Bryan could transform the mundane into the marvelous. He could envelop any person he met into his sparkling world. It was as if we walked around with our eyes and minds shrouded, and Bryan swept those shrouds aside, revealing a natural world more alive and miraculous than we knew existed, right there in front of us all along. He completed our world with the focus, color and perspective he taught and lived. That would be enough for most people. Yet, there was another characteristic at his core. The man was hilarious. His humor ranged from witty to raucous. His puns would make you groan. His practical jokes left us aching with laughter. His smile warmed all whom it graced. Scientist, Teacher, Mentor, Hero, Friend, Father, Barnacle Man, Goofball, Husband. The world is a shade paler without him. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to The Bryan Adams Memorial Educational Display. Donations can be made via GoFundMe or directly to TDECU.

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