Neil W. Brayton DDS

1944 - 2022

Neil W. Brayton of Chestertown, MD, passed away on July 14, 2022 of complications from ALS, which he had been fighting for over a year. He was 77 years old.

Neil was born on July 21, 1944 in Youngstown, Ohio. He was the fifth child of Margaret and John Brayton.

Neil graduated from Liberty High School in Youngstown, Trumbull County, Ohio in 1962. He was a gifted athlete. He practiced hard for his mentor and basketball coach, Pete Prokop. He lettered in basketball, golf, and cross country. He was the point guard on the school's 1961 Class A State Runner-Up Basketball Squad. His coach said, "Stick with basketball, they do not give many scholarships for golf". Neil received 35 basketball scholarship offers. He chose University of Maryland for their dentistry program. After being the leading scorer on the Terps freshman basketball team, he went on to start on the varsity team for the next three years, averaging double figures in scoring for the team. Popular on campus, he was elected Junior and Senior Class President. He was a member of the ODK National Leadership fraternity. Among the awards he received, one was for the senior "who evinces love for and helpfulness to other men". In 1966 Neil graduated with a B.S. in Zoology. In 1970 Neil received his D.D.S. degree from University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, MD.

After dental school he served as a dentist in the U.S. Army 2nd Field Hospital in Bremerhaven, Germany for three years. He received the Army Commendation Medal. In Germany he resumed his basketball playing on several teams, including German Nord-Regional Liga team, and a US All-Star team in Europe. He coached the Bremerhaven American High School team to the play-offs. Attaining the rank of Major, Neil completed his service tour and returned to the U.S in 1973.

Coming to Chestertown, Maryland, Neil accepted a dental position with Dr. Fred Wyman. Neil found his home in Chestertown. In 1975 he set up a practice on High Street, eventually building a large, modern office on Speer Road. Neil was dedicated to his dental practice. His patients became his friends for life. He worked to make it a fun and painless experience for all. He cared about their lives as well as their dental health. Neil believed strongly that good dental health could positively affect a patient's self-esteem and well-being. Neil did not want anyone to be denied proper dental care due to cost or lack of access. He supported Cross-Roads Community and volunteered annually with Missions of Mercy.

He was an active member of the Chestertown Optimist Club and was awarded Optimist Man of the Year in 1995 for his sports and community contributions. He enjoyed judging in "Dancing with the Stars" to support the Horizons program. He taught Sunday School at Emmanuel Episcopal Church for his children and coached their basketball teams.

His love of coaching basketball continued as he worked with the Church League and the Kent and Queen Anne's Rec League teams for both boys and girls and men and women. A highlight was coaching the Queen Anne's County HS boys' basketball team, teaching goals of commitment and practice. He received the Coach of the Year Award in North Bayside Conference in 1996.

Golfing was Neil's passionate pastime, and he enjoyed playing with friends and spending time at the 19th hole afterwards. Neil set goals in golf and qualified for the Maryland Amateur and Maryland Open, and he won the Delmarva Peninsula Senior Golf Tournament as well as several Chester River Club Championships.

Neil is survived by his wife of 51 years, Robyn, and their three children, John Brayton (Samantha), Allison MacKinnon (Cyrus), and Douglas Brayton (Meghan). He is also survived by a brother, John Brayton, two sisters, Margaret Elliott and Kathleen Kurlander; a sister-in-law, Carole Brayton; 10 grandchildren, Faith Harrington, Isaac Harrington, Evelyn Harrington, Willamina Brayton, Sybil Brayton, Zane Brayton, Samuel Brayton, Eloisa Brayton, Marjorie Brayton, and Benjamin MacKinnon; six nieces and nephews, Kelly Brayton (Simon), Corey Brayton (Roxanne), Charlie Elliott (Susan), Duane Brayton (Chris), Holly Stewart (Jimmie), and Elizabeth Israel (Joel). Along with his parents he is preceded in death by two brothers; Thomas Brayton and Carl Brayton and a nephew, Terence Brayton.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Chestertown, Maryland. The service will be live-streamed and viewable at https://www.fhnfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Neil-Brayton-Dds (shortly before the service begins, the livestream can be found on Neil's page, titled "Webcast Video"). After the service, a Celebration of Life reception will be held at the Chester River Yacht and Country Club from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made in remembrance of Neil's life to ALS Research (www.als.org/donate).

Online condolences may be made at www.fhnfuneralhome.com/obituaries .