Evans, GA – Sara Zuretti Bryan, Ph.D., of Evans, GA, passed away on July 25, 2017, 13 months after her diagnosis with stage IV glioblastoma. Sara passed in complete peace, surrounded by her family.
Sara was born on May 23, 1951 to LTC Ernest Vincent Viano Zuretti, U.S. Army, and Cynthia Peirce Zuretti. Sara attended school in Germany and in the United States, graduating from Milford Area Senior High School, Milford, NH in 1969. Upon her graduation from the University of New Hampshire in 1973, she received her commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Sara was one of the first women ever commissioned into the Signal Corps following the transition which allowed women to serve in the Regular Army. In her first assignment, Sara served with then-CPT Claudia J. Kennedy, receiving mention in LTG Kennedy’s 2001 memoir “Generally Speaking: A Memoir by the First Woman Promoted to Three-Star General in the United States Army.”
Sara achieved her lifelong goal of attaining a Ph.D. and working in academia, with her career culminating as a senior Instructional Designer at Augusta University. In addition to her profession, one of Sara’s greatest passions was theater performance and was known for her active involvement in community theater, particularly with the Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre. Sara was also a member and Eucharistic Minister at Church of the Holy Comforter in Martinez. An avid runner, Sara’s favorite trainers were her custom New Balance 993 Army running shoes embroidered with “My Daughters are Warriors” to honor her daughters.
She is survived by her husband of 42 years, COL (Ret.) George M. Bryan, U.S. Army, and her children, LTC Julia M. Bryan, U.S. Army, a Ph.D. candidate at Purdue University, and MAJ Amanda C. Bryan, U.S. Army, a four-time combat veteran. In addition to her husband and daughters, Sara is survived by her combat unit of origin: her sisters, Linda (Zuretti) Gundersen of Milford, NH; Drusilla Zuretti, M.Ed., of Danvers, MA; and Amanda Zuretti, Esq. of Milford, MA.
Everyone who encountered Sara enjoyed her wicked humor, good taste, and gentle nature. She will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial gift in Sara’s honor to Church of the Holy Comforter in Martinez.