Soeren Stewart "Stu" Brynn

Groton - LCDR Soeren Stewart "Stu" Brynn, of Groton, went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, June 11, 2013.

Stu was born on Oct. 1, 1934 in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was married to Lorene "Lori" Mae Leander on Aug. 18, 1962. They enjoyed a beautiful marriage for over 50 years.

Stu served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1952-1956 as a radioman on several USCG Cutters including the Eastwind and Escanaba. He received a commission as an officer in 1970 and retired as a lieutenant commander in 1999. He headed up several leadership schools in Alameda, Calif. and Yorktown, Va., as well as serving at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and the Research and Development Center at Avery Point in Groton.

Stu graduated from Greenville College in Greenville, Ill. in 1962. He was awarded a graduate assistant position at the University of Maryland and completed his master's degree in physical education. Stu started his coaching career at Olivet College in Michigan. He left Olivet to become the first ever head football coach at Tabor College in Kansas. While at Tabor, Stu was recruited to be the head football coach at West Monroe High School in West Monroe, La. This was an especially challenging job as it was 1970, the first year of forced integration in Louisiana. He rose to the challenge, brought athletes of different cultures together into a football family, was rewarded with the love and respect of his players and won the Coach of the Year award in the conference. He continued his coaching career in colleges and high schools in Texas and Maryland, as well as taking teams to Mexico and Scandinavia. After retirement, he assisted in football for one year at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Stu was a great coach and patriot. Though he loved sports and the Coast Guard, Stu's true love and passion was his family. He was a great husband to Lori, a great father to his three children, Steve, Leif and Caroline, and a great grandfather to his four grandchildren, Sydney, Mason, Mady and Morgun. Stu loved God and loved life. Though now in heaven, he will always live on in the family that he protected, nurtured and cherished.

He was a great man.

He is survived by his wife, Lori, who resides in Groton; his children, Steve Brynn of Colchester, Leif Brynn and his wife, Dedra, of Argyle, Texas, and Caroline Whittaker and her husband, Mike, of Oakdale; and his four grandchildren, Sydney Brynn of Argyle, Texas and Mason, Mady and Morgun Whittaker of Oakdale.

A private celebration of life will be held for immediate family on Saturday, June 15.

In Lieu of flowers, the family is asking that all donations be sent to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047 or online at www. lbda.org in memory of Stu.

Please visit www.byles.com to sign the guestbook or share a memory.