It is with sadness that the Bryson family shares the news that their husband, father, grandfather William (Bill) Harvey Bryson has passed, following nearly 80 years of deep engagement with the beauties, follies and tragedies of life. Husband of Barbara, father of Michael and Kenneth, father-in-law of Rosemary and Kate, Dadoo (grandfather) of Ronan, Jasmine, Owen and Naomi, Bill leaves behind an extended family of siblings and cousins and an extensive network of friends connected to Bill’s diverse range of interests, stretching back decades.

Bill spent his childhood in the Hamlet of Grafton, Ontario; attended high school in Cobourg; graduated from the Ryerson Institute of Technology’s School of Photography in 1958; before beginning his professional career at CKNX-TV in Wingham. In 1962, Bill’s sense of adventure took him to England, where he worked briefly as a bus conductor, before returning to his profession at The London Hospital as a medical photographer. Here he met the love of his life, an Ulster-born Essex girl working in x-ray whose own sense of adventure directed her to seek Canada. She needed a passport photograph, so visited the hospital photography department. In 1964 they married, soon returning to Toronto, purchasing a house and starting a family. Michael arrived in 1968, Ken in 1970.

Bill became the Chief Medical Photographer at the Hospital for Sick Children, where he supervised the department and oversaw projects such as leading the 5-photographer crew who documented the first successful separation of conjoined twins in 1971. A photograph by Bill landed on the front page of the Toronto Telegraph the next day.

Raised in the United Church of Canada, Bill followed Barbara to Danforth Mennonite Church in the late-1970s where he found himself at home in a pacifist and social justice tradition that aligned with his convictions. Bill continued his career as a medical photographer at the Toronto East General Hospital and the Toronto Western Hospital, where he worked in the ophthalmology department. In the early days of the AIDS epidemic, photographs of eyes were part of the disease’s early identification. Bill refused to implement the full face mask covering then recommended for interacting with AIDS patients, instead insisting on treating each individual with the personal respect they deserved. His deep empathy with those disadvantaged by any means was a hallmark of his life.

He was a leader in the creation of the St. Clair-O’Connor seniors residence in the early 1980s, and an activist and supporter of many causes. In retirement he never fatigued. He encouraged pastor Osiah Horst to write his memoirs and published the book under his own imprint, midKnight Publishers. He served as family and church historian, dedicating limitless hours of research.

After the arrival of the World Wide Web, he became webmaster of church and family websites. He was a Scout leader, a Home & School Chair, a Big Brother, a Sunday School teacher, a computer consultant to those without the funds to pay him, and a renovator par excellance of the family home for 48 years.

In retirement, he became a maker of excellent soup, fine wine, and scrumptious bread. Bill and Barbara enjoyed travel to all regions of Canada, including a notable trip to the Yukon. Bill and Barbara sold the family home in 2013, moving to a one-bedroom apartment in the Beaches, where they continued to live a life engaged with their community. In 2016, Bill opened a Little Lending Library at Danforth Mennonite Church and announced it would be his legacy. His family disagrees. His legacy is beyond words.

In 1988, Bill had a heart attack, followed by triple-bypass surgery. He expected about a decade more of life, but through medical treatment, good living and indomitable will he outlasted his coronary artery disease. His cause of death will state small cell carcinoma of the prostate. We acknowledge and thank his cardiologists and the palliative care team that oversaw his final peaceful days.

Bill will be laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery in Grafton, where he will join his parents, Harvey and Dorita, and his brothers, Jimmy and Bob. He was also predeceased by his brother John and is survived by his sister Jean and brothers Peter and David.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Danforth Mennonite Church.

A memorial will be held at Danforth Mennonite Church on March 11, 2017 at 11am.