John E. Brigham

John E. Brigham, age 72, passed on August 9, 2025 in Erie, PA. He was born September 6, 1952 in Ilion, NY to Herbert and Margaret (Griffiths) Brigham.

He was a 1974 graduate of Syracuse University with a BS in Accounting. John married Joan Cogar on October 14, 1978 in Utica, NY. John and Joan had a son, Michael John Brigham on May 21, 1984.

John found business management a challenge. His first financial controller position was with Chicago Pneumatic, in Utica, NY. He was promoted to that position after receiving his Masters Degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in May 1989 in Troy, NY.

He relocated to Erie, PA with the position of controller with EMI; was eventually promoted to president. His other business connections included being president of Kold-Draft, Erie Management Group, and the Bio-Fuel Plant (currently know as Hero Bx). Toward the end of his career, John worked with investment companies out of New York City. His business travels took him from upstate New York to California, to Italy, Japan.

John was a kidney dialysis patient for 5 – 6 years. Beginning April 2019 John, his wife, and his kidney champion, Mark Zukowski, started a campaign to find a kidney donor for John. One method to get the word out ways posting 'business cards' stating our search for a kidney donor. A young man, Jacob Gland, picked up one of the cards, reached out to us, and within a few months was able, as a medical match, to donate his kidney to John. John was grateful for the extra years he received from such a gift.

John's interests included Harley Davidson – riding and collecting, music (played the saxophone and clarinet as a young man), leather crafting, and financial investing.

John was preceded in death by his parents, and in-laws, Tom and Josefine Cogar.

He is survived by his wife, son, daughter-in-law, Carol; his granddaughter, Helena; sisters Linda and Debra; brother, Steve and his wife, Betty; niece, Jennifer; and nephews, Marc and Kyle.

Friends are invited to call at Burton Quinn-Scott Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., West Ridge, 3801 W. 26th St., Erie on Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 1 PM until the time of memorial service there at 2 PM.