The region鈥檚 marine transportation industry has lost some of its voice, passion and energy with the death of former Clipper Navigation president Darrell Bryan.
Bryan, a tireless advocate for the tourism and ferry industries and someone known for his knack of pulling disparate groups together over a common cause, died Sept. 7 of multiple myeloma at age 71.
Ryan Burles, chief executive of Black Ball Ferry, was a close friend and one-time competitor. 鈥淗e was a great person, someone who loved to get after it and have fun doing it,鈥� said Burles. 鈥淗e was a really special man.鈥�
Clipper provides passenger-ferry service between Victoria and Seattle.
Burles said they met in 1986 and, at times, he counted Bryan as a confidante as much as a competitor and appreciated his ability to take on all challenges.
鈥淗e was a real leader, and as much as I admired his hard work and entrepreneurial nature and perseverance in building the Clipper, [Bryan] wanted to build the tourism brand for Victoria and the region,鈥� Burles recalled.
And then there was the style. Up front, unapologetic and, at times, loud. 鈥淗e liked the debate,鈥� Burles said with a laugh. 鈥淚n a lot of ways there has been a hole here since he retired [in 2015]. I don鈥檛 know if there are many people quite like him.鈥�
鈥淒arrell definitely had a big personality, you knew when he was in the room,鈥� said Dave Gudgel, Clipper鈥檚 CEO. 鈥淗e was not shy of speaking his mind.鈥�
While Bryan鈥檚 tongue was sharp at times, it was also skilled in the art of diplomacy, establishing partnerships, developing allies and at the end of the day getting things done.
鈥淒arrell had a huge heart and was highly regarded in our industry. I really enjoyed our time together,鈥� said Destination Greater Victoria chief executive Paul Nursey. 鈥淚n spite of his reputation for being demanding, I personally found Darrell to be great to work with.鈥�
Bryan played a fundamental role in growing Clipper into a cornerstone of the tourism industry.
He would become the public face of the Seattle-based company for 29 years after being the second person hired by founder Merideth Tall in 1986. He was an advocate for Clipper and the tourism industry, never afraid to take on elected officials on issues that affected tourism and transportation to the Island. In interviews, Bryan, would rail against regulation and red tape, fight on behalf of the industry in two countries and at the end of the day be the first to admit he loved every minute of it.
鈥淗e left a big mark on the marine transportation industry and tourism industry here,鈥� said Gudgel, noting one of Bryan鈥檚 biggest feats was on a quarterly basis bringing together everyone on the Seattle waterfront, from the U.S. Coast Guard to restaurants and operators, to talk about issues and find solutions. 鈥淭hat will carry on after him.鈥�
Ian Robertson, now chief executive of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, was with the Rocky Mountaineer train service 14 years ago when his path crossed Bryan鈥檚 as they headed to Washington, D.C. to talk about border crossings. 鈥淲hat I admired most was Darrell never talked about his own business, but what was for the good of the region and how it would enhance tourism in two countries,鈥� he said. 鈥淒arrell was a no-nonsense kind of guy, but very fair and quite forceful about getting his point across, but always respectful.鈥�
John Wilson of Wilson鈥檚 Transportation, said Bryan was an innovator and 鈥渋nstrumental in making Victoria a destination of choice for Americans in the Pacific Northwest and beyond while opening up a new way for locals to get to Seattle.鈥�
Darrell Bryan was born Aug. 25, 1948 in Long Beach, California. He is survived by Cathleen, his wife of 48 years, and sons Patrick and Matthew.
