John Bryson, Political, legal, and business John Edgar Bryson was born July 24, 1943, and died May 13, 2025. The 37th US Secretary of Commerce since 1913, he served from 2011 to 2012. His past jobs include director at Boeing and chairman, CEO, and president of Edison International, which is the parent company of Southern California Edison. In 1970, he founded the Natural Resources Defense Council with Yale alumni.
John Bryson Obituary : His Biography and Legal Legacy
On October 20, 2011, the Senate confirmed Bryson as Commerce Secretary 74–26. His inauguration was Oct. 21, 2011. Bryson took a medical leave in June 2012 after a series of hit-and-run vehicle accidents caused seizures. Bryson quit on June 21, 2012, as “the work that I do to help America’s entrepreneurs and businesses build our economy and create jobs is more important now than ever, and I have come to the conclusion that I need to step down to prevent distractions from this critical mission.”
John Bryson Beginnings of formal education
Bryson was born in NYC on July 24, 1943. Growing up, his dad managed a sawmill. He graduated from Portland’s Cleveland High School in 1961. His bachelor’s degree was from Stanford University in 1965 and his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1969.
John Bryson Career
In 1970, Bryson and other Yale Law School graduates founded the Natural Resources Defense Council and served as its legal counsel. Bryson led the California Public Utilities Commission (1979–1982) and State Water Resources Control Board (1976–1979). Bryson was a San Francisco Morrison & Foerster associate from 1983 to 1984. Edison International hired Bryson in 1984. He was corporate director from 1990 until July 31, 2008.
Bryson is on the boards of The Walt Disney Company, Boeing, and the W. M. Keck Foundation after serving as a director/trustee for three Legg Mason Western Asset Management funds. He chaired the Public Policy Institute of California, co-chaired the Pacific Council on International Policy, and was a trustee at Stanford University and the California Institute of Technology, among other charitable organizations. He served on several educational and environmental boards.
John Bryson The Commerce Secretary
The White House Rose Garden hosted a March 2012 press conference with then-Secretary Bryson, President Obama, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.
On May 31, 2011, Obama nominated Bryson to succeed Gary Locke as Commerce Secretary.
Republican Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma stopped Bryson’s campaign in July, citing his environmental views. After a unanimous consent agreement, the Senate voted 74–26 to confirm Bryson on October 20, 2011. Upon inauguration, he became the 37th Secretary of Commerce on October 21, 2011.
As commerce secretary, Bryson co-chaired the White House industrial policy office with Gene Sperling.
John Bryson’s Resignation, 2012 traffic accidents
Bryson was suspected of two hit-and-runs in San Gabriel and Rosemead, California, on June 9, 2012. Apparently, he was asleep during the second accident. An official from the Department of Commerce said Bryson had a seizure and crashed. Los Angeles County prosecutors dropped charges on July 3, 2012.
Bryson announced his medical leave on June 11. Rebecca Blank, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, became Acting Secretary.
Bryson resigned as Secretary of Commerce on June 21, 2012.
Due to an unexpected seizure that impaired his cognitive abilities, Bryson would not face charges for the collisions in July.
Later in life, Bryson became a Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Distinguished Senior Public Policy Scholar in October 2012.
John Bryson’s death and life
Bryson married Louise. All four girls graduated from Pasadena Polytechnic School. Bryson and his wife served on the Board of Trustees. Along with the Marinos, Bryson and his spouse reside in California.
On May 13, 2025, Bryson, 81, died at home in San Marino, California.
Honoring John Bryson
In moments like these, we feel the loss deeply. John Bryson had a profound impact on many lives.
If you have any memories or thoughts to share, please feel free to leave a comment below. Let’s come together to remember and celebrate his life.
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