Dale Bryner Obituary

Bryner, Dale

Ithaca: Dale Bryner passed away peacefully on November 16th in the company of family and friends. Dale was a beloved mother, sister, environmental educator, teacher, and member of the community. Dale came to Ithaca 12 years ago and began Earth Arts, a wilderness education and mentoring program. Prior to coming to Ithaca, Dale earned her M.F.A. at Carnegie Mellon University in ceramic art, painting and design. She began her teaching career in Valley City, North Dakota and later moved to the Southwest where she taught at a variety of colleges and art centers becoming a respected expert in traditional American Indian primitive pottery, techniques and firings. Dale taught Art Education in Iowa before coming to upstate New York to combine her love for the outdoors, teaching, and art to form Earth Arts. Dale's passion was connecting youth and adults to the land, each other, and their community through earth-based arts. Dale's love and devotion is remembered by her children Phoebe and Ben, her brother and sisters Rachel, Andy, and Donna, and by the many families and friends in the community that she loved. See www.earthartsithaca.org for service details.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Ithaca Journal on Nov. 19, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Dale Bryner

9 Entries

Art Wagner

August 16, 2022

Dale was a dear, authentic friend who played a significant role in my slow evolution. She was available to listen, talk deeply and share her own concerns. She encouraged my exploration of connection to nature and soul. She saw the qualities in myself that I couldn't then see. She became a roll model for my own growth.
I am honored and grateful to have experienced our friendship, Dale, and look forward to meeting again.

Benjamin Meixell

December 1, 2011

Dale taught me something wonderful about love and life every time I saw her. She was incredibly helpful to me as we experienced the death of her aunt, my grandmother, and I wish the best to her family. She will be loved by all, always and forever.

Eric Banford

November 27, 2011

Dale is one of the most shining, radiant souls I have ever met, her love for life was contagious. When I think of Dale, I picture her smile, her beautiful eyes, that deep knowing that was her way. Our children and our community were greatly blessed by the time she spent with us. I will think of her always as the warblers flit tree to tree, as the water laughs in the stream, as the sun shines on creation. Thank you for all that you gave.

We love you, Dale.

Rachel

November 24, 2011

I was blessed to know Dale for 16 years. Earth Arts is my second home and Dale was like my second Mother. She was a blessing and a source of light to all who met her. I will miss her dearly.

Amie Hamlin

November 20, 2011

What a huge loss to our community. The other guest book entries so perfectly express how I feel. My daughter has attended her camps for a few years now. Earth Arts is her favorite of all Ithaca camps, and she really doesn't want to go anywhere else. Dale has been such a special influence on my daughter and me. We will so miss her.

November 19, 2011

Dale's loss is especially devastating because, for most of us, she so associated with the things that grow and endure--trees, streams, meadows, flowers, woodland animals; the changing seasons; children; nurture, peacefulness, love; with all the sources of life. It will take a very long time to comprehend her leaving us. I think of the happy days my girls spent in Dale's woods--building shelters, seeking out private spots for meditation, gathering around fires, creating objects, singing. Now part of the chord that connects with those times through memory is snapped, leaving a blank. Or so it seems. On the other hand, the influence she had on others is vast beyond measure, and that's what remains. The poet Shelley wrote of John Keats: "He is a portion of that loveliness that he has made more lovely." For me, it will never be possible to take a walk in the woods, or hear the sound of waters or of children laughing and not feel that Dale is there.

Paul Sawyer (Ithaca)

Sigrid Kulkowitz

November 19, 2011

We were so fortunate to have Dale as part of our community. Her love for the earth and her respect for all the families she worked with over the years has left an indelible impression among so many of us. Personally, I loved her sense of humor, her clear commitment and her great smile. She will be greatly missed.

Rebecca Lesser

November 19, 2011

Although I did not know Dale well, I would like to share a vivid and beautiful memory of watching the older children at our school walking back from the woods after Earth Arts one fall day a few years ago. Their cheeks were red, their eyes were shining, and they were chattering excitedly about what they had discovered in nature that day. Dale, equally radiant, was walked behind them, smiling as she talked with one of the students. In that moment, from across the playground where I was watching my first graders at recess, I remember thinking, "there is one very special person." Dale was a beloved part of our school community and we will never forget her.

Lisa Marshall

November 19, 2011

Dale touched the lives of hundreds of children and their families including mine. She brought a profound dedication to her work that instilled a love of the natural world in children that was both reverent and deeply felt. There is no one else like Dale. Rest in peace beautiful lady, we will never forget you.

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