Obituary of Earl W. Brydges Jr.

Earl William Brydges Jr. passed away peacefully early morning Friday, March 19, 2021 at the home of his daughter Courtney Peters and her husband Geoff in Amherst, where he spent the last 2+ years of his life. Earl was born in Niagara Falls, New York in 1937 and raised in Wilson, New York where he will be laid to rest. He is the son of former Senator Earl W. and Eleanor Brydges, both of whom predeceased him. After graduating from Wilson High School in 1955, where he was senior class president, he graduated from Syracuse University in 1959, where he was a brother at Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) and received his law degree from St. John’s University Law School in 1962. Earl started his law career with his father’s firm Orr, Brydges, Orr & Dowd. He also served as Public Defender in Niagara County while continuing his legal career in Niagara Falls where he was recognized by the City Bar Association in 1996 for his efforts and dedication to providing “pro-bono” services to the City. One of his more significant law cases was representing the city of Niagara Falls in the Love Canal case in which he succeeded in holding Occidental Chemical jointly responsible for the damages caused when the case was finally resolved in 1994. Earl also served on the New York State Commission of Investigation in New York City from 1972 to 1998, where, among other things, he investigated organized crime throughout the state. His community involvement included serving as the initial Chairman of the Board of Artpark & Company in 1977 where he was recognized by New York State Parks for his significant contributions to continue the commitment set forth by his Father to make arts accessible to all persons. He also served for many years on the Board of Niagara University, where he was bestowed the degree of Doctor of Law in 1987. He also served on the board at Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital. As an avid and semi-accomplished golfer, Earl was a member of Niagara Falls Country Club (NFCC) for over forty years where he was a sought-after partner in many tournaments and recorded a hole in one on #18 in 2004. He loved the game of golf so much that he volunteered for junior golf programs at NFCC and hosted dozens of young amateurs over decades during the Porter Cup including Corey Pavin, Howard Twitty, Phil Mickelson, and the Nicklaus boys to name a few. In addition to golf, Earl loved to fish and hunt. He, along with several close friends, would travel annually to Georgian Bay in Ontario to fish for walleye pike. He also participated in several successful moose hunting trips in Northern Ontario that were followed by hosting “moose dinners” at NFCC. In 1967 Earl married Martha Shalala who survives him along with their children Earl William (Wende) Brydges III, Kirsten (Michael) Lawley, Jason (Lisa) Brydges, and Courtney (Geoff) Peters along with 11 grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren. Visitation hours will be held on Friday, March 26 from 2-6 PM at the Hardison Funeral Homes Inc. N. Fourth and Ridge St. Lewiston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 AM, Saturday March 27 at St Peter RC Church 600 Center St. in Lewiston. Donations in memory of Earl may be made to Artpark in Lewiston and Hospice of Buffalo. Please visit www.hardisonfuneralhomes.com for online condolences.