Dear Family & Friends.
I have been encouraging Beth's friends to share about her. Writing your thoughts, moments you remember with her, anything you would like to share with Mike and the boys, please post here or send to me by email. I'm compiling ALL of your comments and emails for the family.
Susan
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Dear Bryan Family,
ReplyDeleteSuch sadness...our hearts are hurting for you, Mike, Andrew, Stephen and William. Your mom was loved and admired.
So many things made us smile about our dear friend and neighbor:
~Coach Bryan who jumped up and down like a spring with unbridled enthusiasm for our two summer swimmers as well as each and every Orange Hunt Shark!
~Bunco Bethie who came to party but turned into a pumpkin at precisely 10pm!
~The Maine Beauty who gushed about idllyic summer getaways with her boys in Maine and her annual pilgrimage to LL Bean!
~The Caring Neighbor who always had a smile and time to hear someone's worries, concerns or silly stories!
~Half of the Dynamic Duo of sometimes unlikely BFF's, Beth and Nancy!
~Caring teacher's aide at Keene Mill Elementary!
~Beth's quiet but strong faith and spirituality.
We'll miss her.
Love, the Landau family
Dear Bryan Family,
ReplyDeleteI feel so lucky to have received an email from Beth on April 3rd that I will one day share with you. It was just like your mom to be able to add both humor and love into each and every email she sent me...even the last one I received when she was sick I was able to laugh. What a brave lady she was...
About four years ago this month Beth and I did a biathalon together to raise money for the Brain Tumor Foundation. This has hit my heart more then I can express. Beth and my brother swam side by side during this event, I actually think she beat him. I remember Beth's mom and dad coming to support us and I thought wow what dedicated parents she has.
I will never forget the many years we spent coaching winter swim together. I know each Saturday/Sunday when we showed up to coach I truly looked forward to that time with her. She made coaching a lot of fun.
I was also blessed to be team rep. with her for 2 years. Even when times were stressful it never got to your mom.
I will miss her emails, her smiles, her updates on her boys, but I know she will be our inspiration and hope to find a cure for this awful illness.
With My Greatest Sympathy,
Jane Cunningham
To Beth's family:
ReplyDeleteI send this note with my deepest sympathy to you all and with total admiration for Beth. She was a woman who lit up each place she entered. She was an authority, a teacher, a lady, a champ, a gracious winner, a friend, a beautiful person who will be so missed. She was one whose team it was always good to be on, because she was a fearless competitor and the kindest caring friend. She was the first to offer help and make any task fun with her joy and smiles.
All these things come to mind when I think of Beth, but the picture that will remain in my heart is observing Beth as she watched her boys swim. She was so intent on each stroke and breath, so focused and so appropriately loving and proud. That's the way she loved and lived. She loved so joyfully, was loved by us all, and will be missed so much.
My deepest sympathy,
Karen Ehrhard
To Beth's Family,
ReplyDeleteI was very saddened to hear of your loss. Beth was such a wonderful person.
I had the joy of sharing a swimming lane with Beth for several years when she swam on the CUBU Masters team. Beth and I were both breaststrokers and I have spend many years trying to figure out how something so tiny could be so powerful! I know I never came close to the power kick she had.
I missed her greatly when she stopped swimming to be at home more but we wold always run into each other every few months at the pool and catch up like no time had passed.
Please know that Beth was loved by many and there are lots of us that are better off for having had her in our lives.
My deepest sympathies for you and your families,
Laurelyn Rawson
To Beth's Family,
ReplyDeleteWe all were so lucky to have Beth in our lives, if even for a micro-second. Like Laurelyn, I swam with Beth when she was at CUBU for many years. I would get to say "Hi" before workouts, share a few "kid" stories, and then not see her until the next time. That was it. But she was one of the team who kept me coming back to practice on those cold-I-don't-want-to-go-outside-again-after-work winter evenings, because she bubbled in a ray of light every micro-second she was around. I envy you all for the time you had with her, but feel so saddened by how devastated you must feel if I feel so saddened by remembering the little time spent there on deck at Burke.
I do remember swimming meets with Beth. She cheered for me, even though I was officially a DC Masters and not a CUBU Masters member. She cheered for everyone, but you always knew she was cheering just for you. Somehow I know she is cheering for all of us, now, when it is so hard to reconcile her loss.
My deepest sympathies to family and friends. You are all in my prayers.
Fred Zamon
Beth had to be the cutest Chi Omega Gettysburg College ever saw, whether dressed as a cornstalk or singing "Ain't no mountain high enough," she always had a smile, a warm heart and a great sense of humor. Beth and I shared an apartment after college in Annandale, our first attempt at the real world, which makes me laugh when I think back on it. Mike, you swept Beth off her feet. Andrew, Stephen and William, you are her life's treasure. It was a thrill to see Beth last Spring at a swim meet after so many years...she was so proud of you all. Beth will always be with us, cheering each of us on, and reminding us how precious life is.
ReplyDeleteMy deepest sympathy to all of Beth's dear family and friends. She certainly made her mark in all of our hearts.
Martha Merz
Dear Mike, Andrew, Stephen and William,
ReplyDeleteWe have no words that can make the pain go away but we do have some wonderful sweet memories to help us through this time from all of years of scouting events, to being room moms for yall and school parties to just goofing around with yall. Beth is truly one of those rare treasures. One who is Mom and dear friend to everyone she meets and who inspires us all to be a bit more loving, a bit more cheerful, and a bit more daring in expressing how we feel about others. I'll always hear her infectious laugh and that wonderful sweet "hello darlin!" We've been so blessed to stand with yall for all these years and please know we'll always be right beside you as we continue this journey. You're in our thoughts and prayers and most of all in our hearts during this time. We love you! Cathy, Stew, Wes and Eric Morrison
we are so grateful for knowing beth and her family for 8 years now and since the first time we knew her, we knew that she was a special person. she was always had a big smile everytime we see her. my children loved her just like so many others that she came contact with her. we will always remember how she cheered for my kids everytime we swam against orange hunt. she was so hyper when her kids is swimming and cheering the loudest, stomping her feet on the concrete deck and i kept imitating her on that regard. i will remember the good times when we are both on the pool deck and outside swimming.
ReplyDeleteits a sad time when you lose a dear friend but is even harder to see a dear friend suffers from this type illness.
Beth, you are always in our mind and in our hearts. you are now in a special place reserve only for special person like you.
Our deepest sympathy to all of Beth's family.
May the good lord bless your family with love and strength to get thru this tough times.
The Arzadon Family
Beth was always a book of information when it came to swimming. I also enjoyed many of our conversations about both of our 8th graders moving on to high school. When ever I would see her passing through the halls with the Kinders she always had a smile on her face and had a Kinder story to share. What a wonderful, friendly, and caring woman she was. I will truly miss her. I am so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteAlthough our paths did not cross as often these last few years, I remember Beth encouraging me when Kevin started Kindergarten with William and moved into Ms. Given's class the next few years. Being my first child to enter school she taught me the ropes and cheered me on when I was either frustrated or needed some motherly advice. I will remember Beth as someone who made a difference in my life. Always seeing her warmly touching my arm and saying "Hi sweetie!" with a big grin and gentle smile. With great sadness and deepest sympathies our hearts go out to all of the Bryan Family. We are so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, Tom, Kevin & Lauren Murphy
I knew Beth from her years in the classroom at Keene Mill. She was as everyone has described...fun loving, full of life, never without a smile on her face. I only knew the 'school side' of Beth but she made her mark on everyone on the staff. It was a joy to have known her. We all grieve with her husband and sons.
ReplyDeleteMike, Andrew, Stephen and William,
ReplyDeleteWhile we haven't been in the neighborhood for the last few years, the time apart has not weakened our love for your family and Beth. Kevin and I were just talking about her never-ending enthusiasm for the swim team, family and friends. As you know, she was one of those folks who could always perk up a room and made you feel better just being near her.
Our thoughts are with you all and we will miss Beth.
Our hearts are with you,
~Robin, Kevin, Spencer & Carter
Mike,Andrew,Stephen,and William,
ReplyDeleteI had the privilege to work with Beth at Keene Mill. Although you do not know me...I met you through cherished pictures that she shared with me. In one perfect picture, her smile draws you to the dock at the lake...with dog in view, on a sky blue gorgeous day. How happily she shared those captured moments...just as she shared the joyful best of herself with everyone at school.
Beth was an absolutely genuine, caring, sweet soul...able to put anyone at ease, and always one step ahead in helping others. Her own sense of purpose... evidence of her faith in goodness, life, and God, made her an expert communicator. Beth could calm a frustrated student, or a difficult situation...by smoothly communicating what was really needed...a twinkling eye, a charming smile, a "You can do it.", a touch that said, I love you.
In the short time I worked with Beth, her example raised the bar for me.
I see her now...pep-stepping along to the dock, in sky blue gorgeous days that have been waiting for her...and smiling over each and every step we all take toward meeting her there.
With heartfelt love and remembrance of Beth.
-Barbara Baker
Beth and I shared many pool side (Club, OH, HS) and school side (WSHS) chats. What I will always remember about our chats is the speed in which we talked and laughed. I had a true friend in Beth.....we didn't see each other everyday but when we did run into each other we could pick our conversation up right where we left off. Our conversations were always filled with laughter and strategies to help our kids through all of the normal high school trauma. And who can forget Beth and her swim parka on a cold day with shorts underneath! She always brought a smile to my face. I will miss my friend!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry I won't be at the funeral but my thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time. Take care of each other just as Beth would. She loved you all so much!
God Bless Beth, Mike, Andrew, Stephen and William
Take care,
Kim Krogh and Mary Ashley, Erick and Tony xxoo
Mike and Boys,
ReplyDeleteMy first memories of Beth are from Greg and Andrews kindergarten year. We were room moms together along with Leslie Carlin and Nancy Baldino. We had so much fun preparing for that show! Then came Bunco, and all that fun. Mike, Greg remembers you from cub scouts. Thanks for letting Beth's sunshine into our lives for the short time it did. She will be sorely missed.
Jackie, Samantha and Greg Bryant
I have the priviledge of being a childhood friend of Beth's mom, Carolyn Smith Hetley in Melrose, MA. There is no way I can express the pain I feel for my friend. AND..Rangeley is beautiful!!
ReplyDelete