WILLIAM "Bill" BRYANT

BRYANT WILLIAM LAUGHON BRYANT "Bill" April 12, 1933 ~ June 22, 2017 Bill Bryant was born in Roanoke, Virginia, served in the Air Force and later in the CIA. It was during that posting in Athens, Greece in 1956 that he met the love of his life, Aliki Gregory on a raft in the blue Aegean. She immediately recognized him as an American - he thought she was a native Greek and spoke Greek to her for three hours until she told him that she was from Chicago, IL. He told her over the course of the summer that he was going to marry her. She thought that was quite a line. After three years and many love letters, Bill returned stateside and proposed and that was the beginning of a major family drama because he wasn't a good Greek boy. Finally, on January 27, 1960 they were married at St. Andrews Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago in the eyes of the Lord and many, many curious Greeks. Bill and Aliki and their first child Natalie lived in Arlington, Virginia. To supplement his government income, Bill sold Cutco Cutlery door to door to the young professionals living in the countless apartment buildings. This is when Bill discovered his talent for selling. When a new posting abroad was due, he decided to leave the CIA and moved his young family, which now included his son Laughon, to McLean, Virginia and went to work as a real estate agent for Shannon & Luchs. After a few years, Bill opened his own real estate office, Chain Bridge Properties, at the corner of Route 7 and 123. In 1963, Tysons Corner was just that, nothing but a crossroads with a gas station, a fruit stand, and many acres of farmland, a great deal of it owned by Marcus Bles. Bill was always open, articulate, friendly, and above all, honest and a good relationship developed between him and Marcus Bles. Bill's southern accent always became more pronounced when speaking with a fellow Virginian. Bill was also a visionary and one of the first pioneers in what is now known as the Dulles Corridor, having the foresight to realize the huge potential of the farmland surrounding Dulles Airport in western Fairfax and eastern Loudon counties. Around this time, Bill and his children moved into their new home in McLean and they and their friends thoroughly enjoyed all of its many amenities. The crowning jewel was the indoor tennis court (Winter Court), which was extensively featured in Architectural Digest. Typical of Bill and his generous and sharing nature, the doors to Winter Court were never locked - always open for the enjoyment of friends, dignitaries, pros, and kids. In 1987, Bill realized a dream come true when he purchased a classic 160-foot beauty of a yacht and christened her The Fantasia. So many wonderful trips would follow, the epitome being a weekend long celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, shared with family and two busloads of friends - an unforgettable experience. Bill Bryant was a unique human being, not perfect but close. He adored his wife of 57 years, Aliki; his children, Natalie and Laughon (Tisha Love); his three grandchildren, Alana (Erik Rask), Bill and Bode; and his precious great-granddaughter, Laila Aliki Rask. Bill felt very blessed to be a part of so many beautiful lives. What made Bill unique in so many ways was his natural grace, his big heart, his empathy, and the respect he showed to every human being, royalty or laborer. He also possessed an almost old fashioned courtly attitude towards women. He was a Southern Gentlemen in the very best sense. It was Bill's wish to be cremated and for a very private family celebration of his life. He knew that he would be welcomed into God's arms. His wish was for his family and friends to cherish him as expressed by that very beautiful and touching prayer in a Greek Orthodox funeral service, "May his memory be eternal". As one wishes, donations in his memory may be made to Halquist Memorial Impatient Center - Hospice, 4715 15th Street, NW, Arlington, VA 22205.As one wishes, donations in his memory may be made to Halquist Memorial Impatient Center - Hospice, 4715 15th Street, NW, Arlington, VA 22205.