John was a crusty fella, but a loyal friend and never a more knowledgeable sailor has ever sailed the seas. John would spend as much time as you wanted to teach you some sailing skill, or a guitar chord or progression. He was pure "function" as opposed to cosmetics. John had no room on his boat, S/V Adhara, for such creature comforts as pressure water, refrigeration, or especially varnish. His boat was a pure cruising boat and cruise he did. He left Pascagoula 14 years ago for the eastern horizon and never looked back. He could fix anything and knew more about weather, tides, wind, and currents than anybody I ever knew. He was a sailors sailor. Although John has often cussed me for letting the mainsail luff when I was close reaching and too close to the wind, or when I put a coat of varnish on my topsides, or when my little fluffy dog barked at him, I always considered him a friend. - Craig Leasure
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I wondered why I hadn't heard anything from John lately. I am very, very sorry for your loss, and mine too. So very young. The world was a better place because of him. I have written many letters to him over the last 10 years. I forwarded your letter on to some other boaters who knew John.
We first met John in the Dominican Republic in l999. We spent 7 months with him, listening to him play on Friday nights, having him on our boat for dinners and riding around Hispaniola in a van. He and I became good friends. We all left the D.R. around the same and so we were together in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. He really liked the US Virgin Islands.
I realize you may not have time to answer my letter, but where did he have the cancer? Did he have any idea there was something wrong with him? He was always the picture of health. And he was so very health conscious too. He wouldn't even use bathroom on his boat just to keep it clean.
Thank you again for your letter and I know how much you'll miss your brother. My brother passed a year and a half ago so I know how it feels. I will miss JohnB. - Sue Haveman, Pompano Beac
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Dear Jean- I'm really sorry to hear about John. If you hadn't been so resourceful in perusing a lot of John's friends, we never would have known. John was a friend of mine that I had met through our now deceased friend Doris Jadan of St. John. John would come visit us at the Ivan Jadan Museum on St. John and share his stories that he wrote with us. What great adventures that man had! I feel very blessed to have known him. Always friendly and always glad to see us and always a great story. The man's boat was better stocked than most boat stores and he could fix anything! I forwarded this e-mail to others from St. John that I didn't see on the "to" list. I'm sure the coconut telegraph will help get the word out... -Eric Platt
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We met John when we were anchored behind his boat off of the island of Caricou...off of Grenada in 2001. We are from Gulfport and live in Ocean Springs.and St. Thomas and were shocked to find a fellow Mississippian in the anchorage. We invited him over for cajurn crawfish jambalaya and spent many evenings sharing boating stories, Mississippi memories and enjoying good music. He told us of his conversion to vegetarian...and really kept us in stitches. It is amazing how life on the sea opens up so many horizons...new friends and adventures. We are on board our boat in Aruba enjoying carnival...sorry we will miss the celebration memorial at Hucks. Joedna & Randy Fagan, MV Jo Mamal
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Hi Jean and all John's friends, Can't help but be moved to hear that Johnny B, as I knew him, is onward to a new place. Or that he went through so much pain and somehow we didnt' know to send on our loving energies to ease it somehow. My name is Donna Lange. I was a lost soul, journeying on faith in the islands, looking for truth, basking in the sunshine and blessed by the musicians and sailors there that help me up, sang with me, encouraged me as I sailed on to find truth, one of those sweet people being John. I would dare say that John never hesitated to flirt and let me know that he could barely pass up a mid aged solo sailing lady, more over one that played the guitar and harmonica, wrote her own songs, and even did her own work on her boat. He loved to sing and he loved to sail. Hail to John!!!

I completed a solo circumnavigation in may of 2007. When I arrived at lat 18, in STT from Cape Horn, there was a warmest of welcomes for me and John came by dinghy, as he did, all the way from St John to hug me and welcome me home safe and sound. We shared many stages, many harbors, and a few of his writings as he gave way to satire and humor letting us all know the underlying truths he was passing on. Interestingly, my boyfriend now, is a 'recovering' lawyer who also has a gift for truth amidst the polished skills of writing given him in preparation for the law practice. I have a couple of photos of John I will hunt down and pass on. Biggest Hugs to you and your family. Last I had heard, John was playing at Jost Van Dyke for Foxy. Hard to imagine that in such a short time, things change so , but that was the reality that sent me sailing. Life is to be lived now, to the fullest. I have written a many songs that come alive even more thinking of John.

biggest hugs and loves to you all, - Donna Lange
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I'll miss you, John, on Horn Island with the Memphis artists. You identifying the flora and fauna and playing guitar in the evenings. And talking us through the bad storms in the main tent, when lightning was everywhere. -Bill Nelson

Thank you for all our years with Ellie, your inspiration and willingness to instruct. I'm sorry you're gone so soon. -Love, Karen
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Memory, such a painfull power somtime in life. I don't writte a perfect American language, but enought to tell you Jeanine how I could appreciate John metting him the firs time for his dermatologic problem. I could plan the best for him explaining what he had to do after: maximum caution. John has been a very charming man, and even if time separated us in number of people visiting me from many countrys, when I read your e mail, it look like a spam for meon the first time. But this story inside was not like that.
It was a spacial story for me and imediatly I thought about one man: John!
Yes he has been for me an absoloutly charming and honest "personne", some of those people you meet in your life, and you know you are wrong not to take time to take time. As John remember us when he said something like" take the best and do the best at the present moment, enjoy it the best way you can, with respect for you and others.
We have a star in the sky, one more, one very lighting with love for you, his family and his friends. Best regards. - Delord Eric
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I was greatly sadden to hear of John’s passing. I have known John for some 30 years. We shared docks next to each other at the Inner Harbor in Pascagoula for many years. We also shared the same interest in the islands, a great night sail, long weekends on the boat and even the love of the same women in past relationships. John taught me a great deal of sailing techniques, wood working and how to actually live off the land (islands) in many ways. With only a 12 pack of beer, 2 lemons, 2 limes, celery and a few spices, we set sail on Friday evening for a night sail. We set a line, caught a few Spanish as we sailed toward the islands and begin to cut and marinate them in the limes, lemons & spices. On arriving at the island Pettis Bois, John and I went ashore with a bucket, brill net, stainless mess screen and matches. As I started a fire, John went to the local pond. He return with Oysters & shrimp. We steamed and grill the catch and with a few beers had one hell of a meal. This was one of many stories I could tell that took place over the 30 years of friendship. If you are aware of the layout of the house John had in downtown area of Pascagoula, you may remember the 12 panel window door that was inlaid into the floor and or ceiling of his bedroom floor & kitchen ceiling. After much discussion on the structural layout I helped him install this quite different, but very functional piece of art work into the floor. He always said you should not be scared of walking on it, you installed it, “do you question your own work”? We did lay 2 sheets of lexsan over it but it always seemed some what weird to me to put this “door in the floor”. John worked with me on putting together the Bragger Right Regatta, starting in 1990. He was always at least one of the musical guess and many times the only one. You could always count on John to provide a tune.

On December 13, 1996, I had the honor to help John load his boat with the final goods we had packed the night before. At 0930H I pushed “Adhara” from her slip, gave John a thumbs up and salute and off on his adventure “South” he went. I drove to the point, parked my truck and walked to the end of the Getty. There with brisk wind out of the east – southeast, I took out my boson whistle and piped Adhara and Captain John off. As I finished with the sounding “Adhara Departing”, John turned, gave a big way and harded up on the wind and off he went, into the morning breeze. That was the last time I saw John F. Bryan IV. We did talk on the phone a few times over the next 4 months. I soon too depart Pascagoula not long after that, moving to the Indian Ocean and John & I continued to communicate through fax. After about the next 18 months we lost touch of each other. But on thing remains even after the physical contact or the verbal contact has long gone, the lessons that John taught and the friendship still remain.

Barry D. Tallant (Brother of the Sea), Ringwood, NJ
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Hi Jean, My deepest condolences to you for the loss of your brother. He often talked about you to us as he loved his sis. We are shocked that he had that diagnosis, but I remember that a few years ago he did have some skin cancer problems.
We will always remember the fun we had spending hurricane season in Luperon with John. He used to entertain us with his music at the "Yacht" club in the evenings. He also was a great help to me when My husband had a stroke, John did a lot of repair work on the boat that he was unable to do.
We saw him on and off in different harbors around the Carribean, the last just a few months ago here in St. Croix. Thank you for letting us know, Marilyn Cook and Duane Bontekoe

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I'm Rick Ealy... and a definite friend of John's. I've sailed, laughed, listened, talked, and been 4 year long confidant, and admirer of John. My roots, are from Jackson, Mississippi.. and as we enjoyed roaming around the music places of St.Thomas, St.Croix and St.John... I always been proud to let everyone know, that John and I where both southern boys, who called Mississippi our home. We talked often of Pascagoula.. and the surrounding coastal areas... and of his connections, and family there.
I'm thankful that you took the initiative to search me out as one of John's friends, and make me aware of his passing. I knew of his cautions, to remain protected from the sun... and his past episodes with that type of cancer... but a person like John, just kept it all under his "green ball-cap".. that was his favorite one... He often called me.. his best audience.. and I made him a "gold" album copy of his songs, using a CD burner. He asked for my opinions, of his musical talents.. and used me as his "sounding board" on several tunes. I know.. that our local St.Thomas "watering hole"... Latitude 18.. and all our friends there, will be saddened, with the news of John's passing. He was such a part, of the Tuesday night... "Open Mic Night" there.
I recently moved from St.Thomas, where I was an Air Traffic Controller there for almost four years from 2005 thru 2008. John would visit me at work in the Control Tower on some evenings.. and enjoyed watching the traffic land and depart.. and ride back to the east end of St.Thomas with me.. back to his boat at the close of my shifts. He told me many stories of his sailing adventures... and taught me about anchoring in the various bottoms of the Caribbean. He stayed in touch with me.. since my departure from paradise.. and knew of my new home in Asheville, North Carolina since last August.
I have a return trip planned to sail again from my port in St.Thomas this April.. and of course... I had planned to contact John.. and be sure to let him know, that I'd be there once again.. at Latitude 18, and would encourage him to try to be there.. on stage... and play for me... and my crew.... and now.. a large portion of that stage.. will be just a wonderful memory of one of the best friends I've had in my life... and there will be a void.
Because of my work.. and the driving distance.. I don't imagine I'll be able to make the trip to John's home.. to visit with you.. as you lay John to rest, but I'll have you all in my thoughts and prayers, and I again.. thank you so much, for including me, sharing this news, and giving me opportunity to compliment my friends life, and tell you, of the small portion that he shared with me.
I've attached several photos of John, that I've taken from around the stage at Latitude... Please add them to any albums that you might care to include them in.. as I'll remember... John "St.John" Bryan. (See photo Page. -webm) I'll miss him.. as will we all... Rick Ealy
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Terribly sorry to hear that John is gone. I met John when he was working on our cottage in St. John. His good work and craftsmanship will mean even more to me now. We swapped some legal war stories and I thought I'd have a chance to hear him sing in St. Thomas next time I got down. I'll miss him, but I'll remember all the good advice (construction and otherwise) that he shared with me. Pat David
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My first Christmas after my husband passed was a very hard time for me. I did not know how I could get through it, then it came to me. Instead of the usual Holiday party I would have a party just for my girlfriends - "Merry Miss Miss". The main thing was to have John sing - and he did! All the "girls" came including Sis Frank and we had a wonderful time. John made it happen with lots of dance songs. He also sang for us at the "March Birthday Party" last year, I was going to track him down for this year. He sang at many places on St. John and we all loved to hear him. He will be very, very missed. Mary Ellis
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I just opened this up and am so moved! John blessed me with his voice and I always enjoyed seeing him and hearing his latest stories. He was a precious treasure to many of us. Viki Brown
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Thanks for the music. I live on my sailboat, Peregrine, in St Thomas and met John back in 2000. He was very kind to me and my old dog who died in 2001. He brought her a soft, absorbant towel for her bed. I still have it. I play the banjo and enjoyed jamming with John whenever he was in St Thomas. He made good music. Thanks, John , for being a part of my life. John Womack
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"One last email" from John; so very special that it comes "from him". He took me under his wing from the time I had my first sailboat in the Inner Harbor in the '80s, and taught me so much.
Although we were both lawyers, with me in Jackson, our time was spent sharing sailing and our mutual love of music and passing the guitar back and forth. He'd email me from the islands, where he'd sailed with my dreams of doing that too, not only filling me in on his adventures, but wanting to know what was up with me and my boat.
My Harbor mentor has now sailed to more distant shores, where there are always "fair winds and following seas", and where I hope to one day step aboard his new vessle and enjoy the eternal cruising adventure in the light of our Creator.
My most sincere condolances to those he has left far too soon, but I also rejoice in his new voyage in eternaty. I love you John, and thank you for all the ways you have enriched my life and so many others you touched in your journey on this earth and its waters. Thank you for the counsel, the so many times you helped my with problems on my boat, and the times, meals at Scrantons and on our boats, and music we shared. I am your student and brother of the sea forever.
God Bless You John St. John! - Joe Kerley
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John spent a few years at Cafe Roma fixing every odd thing that would break I know he loved me in this way...when he first came to St John. He loved to help people but I know he was tired same as I at the end, tired of giving too much and not taking good care of himself. At this point we had little for one another and that was sad.
I remember being really tired so many things broken I could not fix and I ask for someone to help me.... Then John showed up, he was an angel and a blessing for me, he wanted to barter dinners for repairs. He was new to St John, and ingenious when it came to fixing something and maybe in a way no one else would have but that was what my little space needed.
I will choose to remember the times when I needed a nook in the old kitchen of Roma to do something it had never done.... I could propose that idea to John and he would make it happen. He secured chairs that held guest, redid the plumbing in a way that worked (after many plumbers tried) with lots of hot pasta water spilling down the pipes daily. Now cooks like Guido would not have to tred water as they cheffed. He made a window for Daphne to receive the dining rooms dishes without leaning down so far and hurting her knees. He put a wood drop handle on the freezer to bypass the failing seals that would be hard to replace. He helped me put tin up in 07 as health dept hated the old painted wall by dish station, he helped me sweep water out of the dining room down the steps, after pipes broke, and admired my humor at the moment, built the shelf for stereo, and he also made me aware how much i loved to cook, he could see me, he use to tell me it was like I was high when i cooked, that was so. He hated to throw things away knowing he might turn them into something useful. He was difficult at times a rash sometimes, but I could always see that he just wanted to love and be loved. He loved others with song. He loved nature, sunsets, and the sea. He took me to the Jadan's lookout once for sunset. These were his choice gifts. Like most of us in the Caribbean he was a seeker, looking for change and freedom! I will hold all the great memories of him in my heart.
- Joshlynn Crosley
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