Edie Bryan: last run for a dear friend…...

Edie at left, with ColoRail’s Rich Luckin, Jim Souby, and Jay Jones. Photo by Bob Brewster.

Jun 17, 2024 Written By Ed Callahan

Edith Wait Bryan: June 12, 1937 — June 13, 2024

Transit leader and ColoRail friend Edie Bryan passed away on Thursday, June 13, one day after her 87th birthday.

Edie was a strong advocate for trains, transit and walkability for many decades, beginning with her service on the Lakewood Planning Commission, from 1979 to 1983, where she was known as the "sidewalk lady" for insisting on sidewalks being installed in every new neighborhood.

Subsequently, Edie was elected to the Regional Transportation District board in 1992 and served until 1996. She was first in the minority, and then the small majority which approved the first light rail construction project in the Denver area. She saw that service implemented before the anti-tax advocate who replaced her on the board could kill it. She advocated for the build-out of many more RTD rail lines, while both on and off the board. 

For the rest of her life Edie remained a tireless advocate for public transportation and train travel. She was a member and reliable supporter of ColoRail for many years. Her last donation to ColoRail was received less than a month ago, on May 23.

ColoRail veteran Bob Brewster’s favorite memory of Edie is when they carried the ColoRail banner up the 16th St. Mall while pulling a wagon containing boxes of FasTracks petitions toward the Capitol in 2004. Board member Harry Safstrom recalls Edie as the driving force behind the California Zephyr rails and trails program.

Edie is survived by her husband of 63 years, Richard “Dick” Bryan, M.D., their four children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Rest in peace.