Byard Brogan Jr., ‘A Consummate Gentleman,’ Dies at 85

Glenside, Pa.--Byard Brogan Jr., longtime owner of the Philadelphia-area jewelry manufacturing company his father started in 1908, died Friday. He was 85.

Brogan was born, raised and educated in Philadelphia, according to an online obituary. After he graduated from Episcopal Academy in 1949, he began working for his father at the family jewelry manufacturing company, Byard F. Brogan.

He also continued his education during his early days at work, taking businesses classes at the Wharton School of Business and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania, and he served in the Army Medical Service Corps from 1954 to 1957.

He eventually became the owner and president of the family company, which used to be located on Sansom Street in Philadelphia before moving into a new spot in the city and then finally, in 1966, out to its current location in the suburb of Glenside.

Byard retired after being with the company for 60 years.

Brogan met his first wife, Grace Myrick, in the 1960s. They were married in 1969, had one son, Byard III, and were married until she died in 1979.

He met his second wife, Paula Borz, through mutual friends and they were married in 1983, welcoming their daughter Katherine into the world two years later. They remained married until her death in 2014.

Brogan spent his free time working outside and maintaining houses in Florida, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. He also loved cars, boats, photography and spending time on the water.

He will be remembered for “his selfless commitment throughout his life to caring for his mother, father, Grace, Paula and his children. A compassionate, selfless and patient man, Byard was the consummate gentleman,” the obituary stated.
    
He is survived by his son, Byard III; daughter, Katherine; and three grandchildren, Grace, Kate and Byard IV.

Visitation is scheduled for this coming Saturday, May 7, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Church of the Messiah in Lower Gwynedd, Pa.

The funeral service will follow at the church, and a graveside service is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. at West Laurel Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Foulkeways Stewardship Fund, Foulkeways at Gwynedd, 1120 Meetinghouse Road, Gwynedd, PA, 19436.