Kenneth Irving Bryant

WINTHROP – Kenneth Irving Bryant, 76, of Winthrop, passed peacefully on July 20, 2025. He was born on Sept. 4, 1948, in Augusta.

Kenneth graduated from Winthrop High School in 1966, and Farmington State Teacher’s College (now the University of Maine at Farmington) in 1970 with a BS in History and Geography. He later earned his master’s degree in history from USM. Using this education, he taught in the Augusta middle schools for 37 years, primarily at the Lou Buker School. When asked how he taught there for so long, he would joke that the key to being an effective middle school teacher was that “you have to be crazier than the kids.” His stories of teaching, however, always showed the great respect and fondness he held for his students. After retiring from teaching, he worked at Fairpoint Communications for another decade or so before finally fully retiring.

Kenneth and Ruth have been members of the Winthrop United Methodist Church for over 40 years, where they have faithfully and joyfully served on possibly every committee or council. They both took great joy in participating in and building the community of the church, especially in creating an environment where the people of the church could flourish and grow in their spiritual journeys, particularly through Tres Dias. The two of them held leadership positions within Tres Dias for over 20 years, helped found Vida Nueva of Maine, and Kenneth lived over 50 weekends. Kenneth found great joy and comfort in the friendships he found within his faith community.

The same teaching, nurturing, and guiding instincts that led Kenneth in his career and church also made him a beloved member of his family. He created environments where people could express, grow, and become the best versions of themselves, and he passed this value on to those who loved him most. He will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ruth Philbrick Bryant; daughter Mairi St. Amand, her husband Tony, and children Shannon, Katherine, Jeremiah O’Leary, and Rachel Williams and partner Robbie; his son Andrew Bryant and his wife Kristin McLaren, and children Jaden and Abraham; sisters Susan Bryant-Paige and her husband Kim, and Ellen Poore and husband Phillip, and a brother Donald Bryant and wife Kathryn; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.

Visiting hours will be held at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop, Maine Monday August 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Kenneth’s Funeral Service will be in Winthrop United Methodist Church, 58 Main Street, Winthrop on Tuesday August 5 at 11 a.m.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop, Maine.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Roberts Funeral Home website, http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers,

the family asks that donations be made to:

Camp Mechuwana or

Winthrop United

Methodist Church or

Tres Dias of Maine