BARBARA BRYAN

BRYAN--Barbara.

Aged 72, a nonprofit leader in New York from 1975-2003, died October 17th of metastatic colon cancer. A graduate of Wellesley College with an M.A. from New York University, Barbara began her career as a teacher in the Peace Corps in Turkey, then became a community college English teacher. In 1973, she moved to New York and was employed at the Russell Sage Foundation, Institute for Community Design Analysis, and Safe Horizon, then known as Victim Services Agency, where she headed the Brooklyn and Staten Island Court operations for five years. In 1985, she became the second executive director (later president) of the five- year-old New York Regional Association of Grantmakers (NYRAG), now Philanthropy New York. Over the next 18 years, Barbara guided and grew the membership organization of private foundations, community foundations, and corporate giving programs. Under her leadership, NYRAG encouraged greater inclusiveness and diversity in the philanthropic sector; emphasized greater openness and accountability toward nonprofit grantseeking organizations; and participated in efforts to increase philanthropy in the region. Barbara Bryan is survived by her husband, Will Freeman; her mother, Betty Bryan; an aunt, June Bair; sisters Carolyn Young (widow of J. Michael Young), Susan Bryan (Cindy White), and Jean Bryan (Thom Clark); brother, Frederick (Betty Holmes); stepsons, Toby Freeman (Celia) and Eben Freeman (Rekha Menon); grandchildren, Kiran Menon Freeman and Maya Menon Freeman; three nephews; two nieces; and numerous grandnephews, grandnieces, and cousins. Services will be held at 2:00pm on October 30 at Manhattan's Middle Collegiate Church (50 East 7th Street). The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to a charitable organization of your choice.