Honoring the memory of John E. Bryson

By
Kylie Gordon
Headshot of John E. Bryson

Stanford alumnus and former Lane Center advisory council member John Bryson has died, leaving behind his wife of over fifty years, four daughters, and a legacy of leadership and service. The Bill Lane Center for the American West mourns his passing and extends deep sympathy to his friends and loved ones.

In addition to his contributions to the Lane Center, Bryson served as a United States Secretary of Commerce, an environmental advocate, and a member of the Caltech Board of Trustees. He was a native Westerner, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest before earning his BA from Stanford in 1965 and JD from Yale in 1969. Upon graduation, Bryson co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council, an organization comprising scientists, lawyers, and experts working to protect the environment.

President Barack Obama appointed Bryson as the 37th U.S. Secretary of Commerce in 2011. Later, he worked as a policy scholar at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., leading the Bryson Climate Initiative in projects on energy, international trade, and the global economy in China, India, and the U.S.

Always dedicated to California and the West, Bryson was also president of the California Public Utilities Commission and chairman of the California State Water Resources Control Board before joining the private sector.

John Bryson passed away on May 13, 2025, at his home in San Marino, California. He was 81 years old. The Bill Lane Center is grateful to have been a beneficiary of his dedication, guidance, and generosity during the course of his rich and accomplished life.

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