Norman Monteith Bryden, 77, of New Bedford, formerly of Wellesley and Needham, died Monday March 3, 2003 at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford. He was the husband of Janina S. (Smietana) Bryden.
Born in Springfield, the son of the late Norman M. and Marjorie P. (Wood) Bryden, he was a longtime resident of Needham, where he served several terms as town meeting member. He later resided in Wellesley before moving to New Bedford 2 years ago.
Mr. Bryden began his career in public relations in 1960, after a decade as a reporter and editor at two New England newspapers. He spent three years as an account executive with Carl Byoir & Associates, Inc. of New York, then became the public relations director for the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. In 1965, he was named Boston University's director of public relations. He rejoined Byoir in 1968 and directed a public relations program for Honeywell worldwide that won a PRSA Silver Anvil Award. He went into consulting in 1973, was an assistant professor of communications at Boston University, and in 1982 became director of public affairs at Bentley College. In 1987 he was named Bentley's director of community and government relations, where he served until his retirement in 1988.
Mr. Bryden's professional activities included leadership positions at the regional and national level of PRSA, Publicity Club Board of Directors and winner of Bell Ringer Award for best public service program. An accredited PRSA professional, he was a responsible, moral, honest, creative, and eloquent advocate and spokesperson for education, government, and business. He instilled in those working for and with him a strong sense of duty to community and the profession.
While at B.U., he created and organized a model Public Relations agency for students to work with actual clients. He sought out and hired numerous people anxious to enter and advance in public relations and used his extraordinary writing and editing skills, his wisdom and savvy to aid tremendously in their professional development. He was the recipient of the Publicity Club of New England's Crystal Bell Award for "distinguished achievement in public relations presented for superior credentials, high ethical standards, and outstanding accomplishments."
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy.
He is survived by his wife; his children, Glenn Stephen Bryden of Lowell, Barry Thacher Bryden and his wife Heidi of Milford, NH, Kristine Gagne of Needham, Norman M. Bryden III of Norfolk, Francesca Trevisani and her husband Robert of Wellesley Hills, and Elizabeth Standish Bryden of Manchester, CT; his grandchildren, James Gagne and his wife Amy of Millis, Stephanie and Jason Gagne of Needham, and Robert and Elizabeth Trevisani of Wellesley Hills; and two great-grandchildren, Randi and James Gagne.
His Funeral Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Village for Families and Children, Inc., 1680 Albany Ave., Hartford, CT 06105.