Mel is survived by his wife Carolyn Bloom Bryan, his son Mark Bryan (married to Kim Bryan, with children Riley Bryan, Emily Johns, Travis Johns, and Rachel Johns), his daughter Cindy Bryan, Judy Bryan (mother of his son and daughter), his sister Melba (married to Johnny Johnson), his nephews Rod Bryan, Keith Bryan, and Shane Johnson, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Jacqueline and Nathan Spiritas, and nephews Brandon and Cameron Spiritas, and numerous other loving family members.
Mel was a warm, generous, and loving man. He was a beloved and loyal husband, son, brother, father, grandfather, and uncle, and a valued friend and ally of many.
He was a builder, a construction contractor by trade and profession, but he also loved building and maintaining relationships in his personal life. He liked people, liked talking to them, and was genuinely interested in what was going on in their lives.
The son of Frank and Ruth Bryan, he grew up in Green Cove Springs, Florida, in a house just a few blocks off of the St. Johns River, with his brothers Earl and Rodger (now deceased) and his sister Melba.
He graduated from Clay High School in Green Cove Springs in 1961 and was a proud Clay High “Blue Devil.” While at Clay High, he played quarterback on the football team, and met Judy Huntley, who became his first wife and the mother of their two children Mark and Cindy. While at Clay High, he was lucky to have a great group of classmates and friends, many of whom still stay in touch. He recently enjoyed his 80th birthday celebration with many of those classmates and friends and it made his day.
After graduating from Clay High, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, working his way through to a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction. During college he worked as a co-op intern at NASA, Cape Canaveral, working there 6 months out of a year and then attending school for 6 months out of the year. He was lucky to have observed some of those earlier NASA launches during his time there.
After graduating from the University of Florida, he pursued a career in construction general contracting, and began working his way up the chain at a series of general contracting companies, like Holmberg Construction Company, James M. Barker Company, and Blosam Contractors, Inc.
At Blosam, he met Carolyn Bloom, who became his loving, devoted Wife.
Mel eventually left Blosam to form his own general contracting company, The Devcon Group. Devcon constructed numerous types of projects, including hotels, apartments, condos, schools, and healthcare facilities. Some of his projects won awards, including the Jacksonville International Airport Commuter Gate (Project of the Year) and the Red Roof Inn in Brunswick, Georgia (Renovation Project of the Year).Mel enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment which comes from building things from the ground up and from the completion of a job well done.
Mel was active in the construction industry and in particular in Associated General Contractors (“AGC”), a construction industry advocacy group, where he was Past President of the Northeast Florida Chapter. He spent much time and effort giving back to and working to further the interests of the construction industry, including through his work on the Florida Building Construction Industry Advisory Committee (Past Vice Chair, representing AGC).
Mel was civically active, and enjoyed spending time in Rotary, where he and other Rotarians with the North Jacksonville Rotary Club performed numerous community service projects over many years.
Mel loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing and boating in the waters of the St. Johns River and other nearby bodies of water. He loved hunting. He loved visiting the Smoky Mountains and was able to recently enjoy a trip to the Black Mountain/Asheville area of North Carolina with family. During his lifetime, he enjoyed playing tennis and golf.
And, Mel loved all things Gator Sports and was a dedicated member of Gator Nation.
Mel was an optimist. And he chose to be happy and positive.
Mel loved life and the family and friends he shared it with. In that spirit, a Celebration of Life in remembrance of Mel will be held on Friday, April 26, 2024, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Hardage Giddens Funeral Home, 11801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223.
For any interested, donations in remembrance of Mel may be made to the Harold Bloom Interfaith Endowment Trust, c/o The Temple, 8727 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32217 – (904) 733-7078.
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