Bryan Buffett
September 29, 1947 – September 25, 2025
On the evening of September 25th, 2025, Bryan eased into the saddle of his beloved Harley ‘decker’, “Parnassus”, punched the engine to life, twisted the throttle, and rumbled off down the highway, lookin for adventure and whatever would come his way.
Waving goodbye were his wife, Barb (nee Pieczynski), his daughters Melanie (Ian) and Marnie (Alana) and grandchildren Claire, Joshua, Georgia, Franny (Francesca) and Aaron. Sisters Sherry, and Sandy, and numerous nephews and nieces, missed the departure, but send bon-voyage wishes.
Bryan looks forward to meeting up with his father Clifford, mother Marie, and sister Dawn-Marie, as well as numerous close friends who made this trip before him. Jim Swartz will be riding passenger on this trip, and Dixie Robinson will be joining them on her bike.
Bryan’s major disappointment in taking this trip is that he will miss the upcoming moose season. Moose, deer, and grouse hunting were his passion, as was long-distance motorcycle touring. Fishing, shooting, book collecting (in the fields of moose and grouse hunting especially, as well as the works of Kinky Friedman and Walter Mosley) were his past-times when he couldn’t be out in the bush chasing around after critters. Listening to music, especially the Blues, was central to Bryan’s life; one of the high points of the year was gathering together family, and friends (esp. great friend Jim Swartz) for the three-day Thunder Bay Blues Festival during the period that festival was in fact a Blues festival.
When Bryan was younger, and more creative, he pursued the poetry muse, publishing two books of poetry of his own material. In addition, Bryan was a founding member, with Wayne Brown, Michael Latter, and Dave Paul, of the now-defunct Dryden Writers’ Group, and participated in the production of the Group’s anthology of immortal poetry, Paper Stones.
When hunting season was closed, Bryan kept the hunt alive by teaching Firearm Safety and Hunter Education courses. Bryan instructed these courses, as a fund-raiser for the Dryden Rifle & Pistol Club, for over 45 years. During every course, Bryan tried to project his enthusiasm for the sport, and his commitment to ethical hunting to the hundreds and hundreds of students he had the honour to teach.
During his years in Dryden, Bryan belonged to, supported, or otherwise participated in many clubs and organizations: Dryden Museum; Dryden Entertainment Series, Theatre 17, Royal Canadian Legion Br. 63, Dryden Film Society, and the Dryden Rifle & Pistol Club.
When Bryan met Barb, he discovered that her family, on her father’s side, suffered from an eye disease causing blindness, Retinitis Pigmentosa. For decades afterwards, Bryan was a passionate supporter of the fund-raising foundation, Ride For Sight. Bryan raised thousands of dollars in support of retinal research, and ‘biked thousands of miles to attend these fund-raising rallies. It was at these charity rides that Bryan forged many strong and lasting friendships.
Bryan was the first-born and only male child of Cliff and Marie Buffett. Brought into the world in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario on September 29th, 1947, Bryan accompanied his parents as they moved variously to Thunder Bay, Dryden, and North Bay chasing employment opportunities.
Bryan received the majority of his elementary schooling at Vincent Massey Public School (North Bay), and his high-school education at Chippewa Secondary (North Bay). Upon graduation from Grade 13, and faced with a future of either digging ditches or toiling behind a bank wicket, Bryan opted for a B.A. from the University of Windsor (it was the furthest south Bryan could get in Canada), followed by a Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Western Ontario. It was at the University of Windsor that Bryan met and courted Barb, and it was at the end of his first year at Western that he and Barb were married. Shortly after graduation Bryan was offered the position of Chief Librarian, Dryden Public Library – an offer Bryan jumped at, for it brought him back to the community and life-style (fishing and hunting) that he so loved. The fact that Dryden was his mother’s home-town, and still home to his grandmother Myrtle Heard only made the move to Dryden all that more attractive.
As Bryan left on his final tour, he told his family: “Don’t send me no flowers”. Should you wish to make a donation in Bryan’s memory, then please make your donation to the Canadian Memory Project through the Royal Canadian Legion Dryden Branch 63, 34 Queen Street, Dryden, ON P8N 1A3 or the Dryden Museum, 15 Van Horne Ave, Dryden, ON P8N 2A5 or through Aurora Funeral Services, 304 Kennedy Road, Dryden, ON.
There will be no viewing, as cremation has already taken place. A Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, October 17, 2025 at 2:00p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Dryden Branch 63. Interment will follow at a later date.
Bryan’s family would like to invite friends to share a memory if they feel comfortable. Please contact Melanie Buffett a week prior to the service at melanie.buffett@outlook.com
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.aurorafuneralservices.ca
Arrangements entrusted to Aurora Funeral Services, 304 Kennedy Road, Dryden, ON P8N 2X4
