Johnny (John) A. Bramblett was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Norma and Joe Bramblett December 23, 1946, and died September 13, 2025, in Helena, Montana, at age 78.
Between those dates John collected many accomplishments – serving as class president and repeatedly earning the superlative of “Best All-Around” in high school, trying out as a walk-on and making the U.S. Naval Academy’s 150-pound football team as kicker (having never played on a formal football team before); earning a Master’s degree in Public Health from John’s Hopkins University; and becoming a published author. But these were not the most important things to him or most interesting things about him.
John and Mairi met during college, were engaged within a month, married within a year, and were together for 57 years. Their shared sense of humor, values, and loving bond were their north star as they navigated raising three kids (John Jr., Brian, and Meghan) and losing two (Matthew and Christopher), serious health challenges for both, and many eras and adventures.
After several moves along the east coast, John and Mairi made Vermont their home for over 50 years. John loved his Waterbury community, especially treasuring the tightly knit group of neighborhood families on Perry Hill.
John was a member of the Waterbury Rotary Club and a volunteer with many causes and organizations including Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, Ronald McDonald House, Fletcher Allen Hospital, and the Waterbury Public Library. A natural mentor and servant, he shared his time and his wide range of skills and knowledge generously.
Engaging with the world from a place of curiosity and a drive for connection, John openly shared his fascination with the Universe, from the biggest existential questions to the tiniest natural wonders encountered on a walk in the woods. His interests and pastimes were too many to list, but included hiking, skiing, gold panning, meteorology, geology, metaphysics, history, and DIY projects.
An engineer by education and tinkerer by natural inclination, he taught himself to disassemble and reassemble Saabs from roof to tires and kept his family on the road through the late 80s and 90s by cobbling together (mostly) running vehicles from a rotating cast of parts cars. He spent many frigid Vermont winter evenings suited-up in his signature duct-taped blue puffy jacket and headlamp, supine, rolling around beneath the undercarriage of a rusted-out Saab on his homemade mechanic’s dolly.
Whether expressing delight, commending your values, surprising you with your favorite candy whenever he saw it at a store, celebrating your accomplishments, offering the best parts of the special-occasion lobster, or engaging in a heart-to-heart, he left no room for doubt that you were loved.
When life dealt John tragedy, he opened his heart rather than closing it. After his prematurely born infant son Matthew died, and a decade later his toddler son Christopher died in an accident weeks after John’s own cancer diagnosis, he only became more compassionate and demonstrative.
He authored a book, When Goodbye Is Forever: Learning to Live Again After the Loss of a Child, published by Random House, in which he shared the journey of grief he and his family experienced to help other families who’d lost children. Over the years he received many calls and correspondences from grieving parents sharing their own experiences and gratitude to him for helping them feel seen and supported.
Faced with a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2017, John stayed positive, active, and engaged however he could. As his body slowed, he found great enjoyment at home observing bird activity at the feeders and befriending a chipmunk he affectionately named The Little Guy, who would eat from his hand and climb into his shirt pocket.
John was grateful for his life and at peace with approaching the end of it. He remained awed by the mysteries, even as late-stage Parkinson’s brought significant challenges. Though he has moved on from his familiar physical form, he leaves a palpable legacy of love. His playfulness, presence, openness, and generosity with his loved ones and his unending wonder for the world are still and will always be felt every day.
Among his things, John’s family found a copy of a letter he wrote to a man who allowed him to metal detect on his property. John wrote in closing: “Please know I really enjoyed talking with you. I like people and think part of why we’re here is to pass a little time together when the opportunity comes. I hope to see you again sometime.” John – we can’t thank you enough for passing your time with us.
John was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Norma; and by his children Matthew and Christopher; and his in-laws “Doc” and Mary Alice Timmins. He is survived by his wife Mairi; children John Jr., Brian, Meghan; daughter-in-law Amy; grandchildren Aidan, Connor, Crosby, and Arlis; his cousin and honorary sister Mary Ann; and many beloved extended family, and dear friends.
A gathering to celebrate John’s life will be held in Waterbury, Vermont in spring or summer of 2026, specific location and date to be determined.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Bill & Sue Glinka says
Our deepest sympathies to the family. May this fine man, with whom we worked for many decades, rest in peace.