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Special People

Don Bryne

Passing of an Icon

My sincere condolences go to the family and friends of Don Bryne. He was a life-long inspiration to myself and to many friends alike. I had visited upon occasion by phone and was most pleased to make his acquaintance at the 2010 IWGS Symposium in San Angelo, Texas. His exploits with Nymphaea and Victoria was and will remain legendary and I was pleased and honored to have him as a good friend indeed. I salute him for his tireless work and accomplishments regarding aquatic floriculture, aquatics in general and its associated sciences. He truly made the world a better place. Don will be missed but never forgotten. In his memory as director of the International Waterlily Collection, we will feature his Suwannee Ladies, Nymphaea 'Shirley Bryne', N. 'Crystal' and N. 'Angela' in his memory throughout the 2011 season.
 
Ken Landon
Director IWC
Director of the IWPR

Donald W. Bryne, Suwannee Labs of Lake City, Florida passed away Sunday , January 23, 2011 - about 4:00 PM - at a Gainesville Hospital in Gainesville, FL. He had been ill with lung cancer  for three years. When his illness was discovered, he was given six months to two years to live - so he had a year up. He is best known ( for many, many, many , many years ) for his trips to mostly Brazil for Victoria Water Lily seed collection and his aquatic plant business.
For many years he was President of the Florida and  American Aquaculture Associations and represented our aquatic plant industry to the State of Florida regulatory agencies and often saved our industry from regulators who sought to close us out completely. In my poor Latin I would describe him as "Titanus Plantes Aquaticus Osbis" - A Giant of the Aquatic Plant World.
by Jim Thiele

Don, Joyce and Patrick in the Amazon

Don is now resting in peace in the Amazon. His ashes were taken there by his family to leave him where he spent so much time following his passion as an explorer.

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