C. Bryant Brink age 71 of Stowe, Vermont, husband to Trine (Lütken) and father to Elisabeth Jennings of Naperville, Illinois, was released from Alzheimer’s hold on Saturday December 30th, 2017.
The eldest son of the late Edward Loren Brink and Anna Catherine (Stemmerman), Bryant was born and grew up in Philadelphia. The family spent their summers in Canada on Ramsden Island in the St. Lawrence River which became the nexus for his passion with nature, cross country skiing, fishing, hiking and especially canoeing with annual spring trips to the Cadadian bush. Bryant attended Germantown Academy and the University of Pennsylvania where he earned an undergraduate degree in English and was a member of the rowing team and the Naval ROTC. During his Penn years Bryant often came to Stowe with friends staying at the Sans Souci. It was during those trips that he came to love Vermont and, in particular, Stowe. Upon graduating he spent several years as an Ensign in the Navy before returning to Stowe.
In true “ski bum” fashion, his early Stowe years were spent as a singing waiter at Sister Kate’s, a bartender at the Rusty Nail and Trapp’s, pounding nails for Curtis and Bedell and building The Cabin at Trapps. It was during this period that Bryant met Trine from Oslo, Norway, who was a waitress at Ten Acres. After their marriage, he ventured into the retail world with his brother Michael and opened Michael Bryant’s, a men’s upscale clothing store, before returning to Philadelphia in 1975 and receiving his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
The family returned to their beloved Stowe and Bryant spent over twenty years in the investment and finance divisions of The National Life Insurance Company. As he moved toward retirement, civic duties were a focus spending two years as Stowe’s zoning director and eleven years as a pro bono member of the Board of Adjustments.
Bryant’s most notable personal accomplishments include, a 2nd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, a member of Mensa, a Deacon at the Stowe Community Church and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. His hobbies included cartooning, reading up on Native American tribes of the North East and being a member of the Lake Mansfield Trout Club and the Waterbury Fish and Game Club.
Bryant leaves his wife of 46 years, Trine (Lütken), daughter Elisabeth Jennings, son-in-law and good friend Kenneth Jennings, beloved grandchildren, Calvin, Drew and Lauren. He also leaves behind a sister Lois Ann and her husband Jake Gaffigan of Denver, brother Michael and wife Nancy of Waterbury Center, brother-in-law Nils Christian Lütken and wife Cate of Oslo Norway and several nieces and nephews.
Faith Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. A service will be held at a later time and will be announced. Online condolences may be made by visiting faithfh.net.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to The American Alzheimer’s Association. (https://act.alz.org)