Gerald Briney

Just today, I tried to find contact info for Jerry because I was refiling lessons he taught me - how to lead an innovative program like the Science Academy of Austin, how to partner with business and to avoid wearing brown dress shoes. I am sorry that I am too late to talk to him again.

Others have said that most of his puns were funny; therefore, I must have heard the rest of his puns. My wincing as he

Just today, I tried to find contact info for Jerry because I was refiling lessons he taught me - how to lead an innovative program like the Science Academy of Austin, how to partner with business and to avoid wearing brown dress shoes. I am sorry that I am too late to talk to him again.

Others have said that most of his puns were funny; therefore, I must have heard the rest of his puns. My wincing as he told the punch line made him laugh all the harder in his inimitable way..

Here are two things he taught me back in 1984-1989:
"If you want to keep a business advisory board involved, make sure they have something to do at the board meeting."
" Educational administrators act as though they must prove their worth to those in attendance. Business executives don't waste time on this."
I have used his lessons ever since with great results.

Jerry became my Dad when he married my mother. I was about 12 and had lost my biological father when I was a child so Jerry is the only Dad I have known. He was a perfect compliment to my Mother in both personality and talent and taught me so many things that have profoundly impacted my life.

Jerry set a great example from planning and organization, to zany puns, to how to handle the ups and downs of life

Jerry became my Dad when he married my mother. I was about 12 and had lost my biological father when I was a child so Jerry is the only Dad I have known. He was a perfect compliment to my Mother in both personality and talent and taught me so many things that have profoundly impacted my life.

Jerry set a great example from planning and organization, to zany puns, to how to handle the ups and downs of life - always try but realize you will not win them all - "Sometimes that is the cost for living on planet earth". Whatever I needed help with - from cars to hot water heaters to electricity to interviewing for a job with a chip manufacturer - Jerry could help. He taught me about basic handyman things, computers, music hi-fi, photography, and life. He was always available and interested. While he was very intelligent and knowledgeable, he also had a very funny sense of humor - you could always count on him to come out with a pun. Mother often carried the conversation, but Jerry came out with the zingers. I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. He never gossiped. I never heard him complain or fuss about work, money, social factors or any of the usual things people hassle with. He just always did his best, accepted what came and moved on.

After he retired from IBM he spent even more time on the computer and read books - a lot of books. Jerry gave me my first computer game - this was in the pre-graphics days - but I loved it. He introduced me to authors like Louis L'amour, LeCarre, James Patterson, Mary Higgins Clark and others. I think between the 2 of us we have every book Louis L'amour ever wrote.

The last few years were focused on keepng Jerry as healthy as possible, comfortable and happy. He would always beam with a brilliant smile when he saw you, and he still appreciated the caramel cakes whether or not he was able to eat them!

Jerry always made a positive impact wherever he was and he worked to make a difference in the lives of others regardless of who they were.

Jerry was a great Dad and he will be greatly missed.

Michelle

June 16, 2012
June and Jerry, two of the most outstanding Christians I have ever known. You epitomize the love of Jesus in everything you do. Jerry, you will be missed by many. June, just know that I love you and am praying for you constantly, Helen and Charles Lenkerd

June 30, 2012
Jerry was a special friend who will be lovingly missed! We are thankful to have know him in our lifetime and look forward to that glad reunion when we join him in Heaven someday. Our hearts weep with June and Michelle, but we look forward to sharing memories of Jerry with them in the future. We have lots to laugh about together!
Love, Jan and Bob

July 09, 2012
June, I am thinking of you and Jerry and our many meals together at WHCC. You were an angel of light in his life, and I so enjoyed seeing you with him and the deep love you shared. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
~ Susan Young, Austin, Texas

July 11, 2012
Jerry was one-of-a kind. Among his many good qualities, Jerry was helpful, energetic, and extremely intelligent. Just to single out his intelligence, what struck me in particular was not only the fact that he could talk on any subject, but that he made an effort to determine that subject according to the other person's interests. That, coupled with his engaging manner, made him easy to talk and be with. For several reasons, Jerry Briney was a person

July 11, 2012
Jerry was one-of-a kind. Among his many good qualities, Jerry was helpful, energetic, and extremely intelligent. Just to single out his intelligence, what struck me in particular was not only the fact that he could talk on any subject, but that he made an effort to determine that subject according to the other person's interests. That, coupled with his engaging manner, made him easy to talk and be with. For several reasons, Jerry Briney was a person that anyone who knew him well can never forget.
My love and sympathy to June and the family.
~ Janis Russell, Austin, Texas

July 12, 2012
I have many fond memories of the Barr family and the Briney's getting together for games, and of course, always amazing food! Thank you, Jerry, for being such a kind and caring friend to my parents and to Wesley and I. We will miss you! Lots of love to you, June. We're here if you need us! xoxo
~ Melanie Barr, Austin, Texas

Two of my dearest friends -- Jerry and June! I especially remember one time when I visited them in Texas, along with a couple of friends. What a wonderful host Jerry was! He made us feel like we were Queens. Just couldn't do enough for us. And June, of course, has always been so loving and understanding. I 'll miss Jerry , and miss her too, even though she's still around. Texas is a long way from Decatur, Ga. June,

Two of my dearest friends -- Jerry and June! I especially remember one time when I visited them in Texas, along with a couple of friends. What a wonderful host Jerry was! He made us feel like we were Queens. Just couldn't do enough for us. And June, of course, has always been so loving and understanding. I 'll miss Jerry , and miss her too, even though she's still around. Texas is a long way from Decatur, Ga. June, you're always in my thoughts and prayers, and Jerry is an awesome memory. God bless you and yours! With much love, Helen Lenkerd

June, I just heard from Helen. I hadn't heard from you in a long time and knew it was a difficult spell for you, having been through same myself. Please call me when you want to talk and compare notes and long-distance hugs. Love to you all....

I met June 1st, at a critical time in my life, both personally and spiritually, and, not surprisingly, June became my chief cheerleader, encouraging me, comforting me, and laughing with and at me. She opened her heart to this "stray" and made me feel special and important. Why do I start with June? Because those of you who know them, you can't talk about Jerry without talking about June, or vice versa--they are two halves of a whole. So

I met June 1st, at a critical time in my life, both personally and spiritually, and, not surprisingly, June became my chief cheerleader, encouraging me, comforting me, and laughing with and at me. She opened her heart to this "stray" and made me feel special and important. Why do I start with June? Because those of you who know them, you can't talk about Jerry without talking about June, or vice versa--they are two halves of a whole. So when the Lord brought June into my life, He also brought Jerry...I just didn't notice for a while because Jerry was somewhat in the shadow of June's outgoing personality...and I was intimidated by his intellect!
Our lives intersected at church mostly. We served on lots of committees together (and if you're not Presbyterian, you don't know how important committees are!), and I began to learn a lot about Jerry.
He liked fountain pens--the kind with a nib that you refill from an ink well. He enjoyed solving problems and doing things with his hands. He had a great sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye all the time. I learned that he was experienced, wise, insightful and humble, but he was also a "straight-shooter." Jerry would tell you the truth whether you wanted to hear it or not. And he could be surprisingly dispassionate when analyzing a problem, but he was never distant or judgmental. Jerry cared deeply. People mattered to him more than analysis, plans or programs.
Gradually, over time, Jerry's grace got to me, and he became my "other dad." He was unfailingly patient and kind, even when I called him in a panic (and I called him in a panic quite a few times!): "Jerry, my hot water heater is leaking all over the floor! What should I do?" "Jerry, my water pipes are frozen and I'm supposed to leave town tomorrow with the kids! What do I do?" "Jerry, some guy wants to replace my roof? What should I do?" (His response to this question was brief and to the point!)
But then there was the day that I called him about my car. Something was wrong with it, and not being a mechanical genius, I thought I'd get a little tutorial from Jerry so that the mechanic couldn't take advantage of me. That's when I learned something else very important about Jerry. After listening for about 20 minutes and trying to take notes, I began to glaze over at the terms "compression ratio," torque factors," and "torsion coefficients" (and those are the ones I can pronounce!). I realized that, upon certain occasions, if you asked Jerry the time, he could tell you how to build a watch.
As my other dad, Jerry taught me the value of having what he called "base line conversations" about difficult topics, and he would occasionally have "the talk" with me when he noticed something in my life that concerned him. Awkward, yes. Helpful, absolutely! Jerry never "worried" but if he expressed "concern," you'd better be paying attention.
In some ways, Jerry also became my spiritual father--not by what he said but by how he lived. He was a steady, steady man of integrity. If Jerry gave you his word, you could forget about it because he would do what he had promised. He adored his wife, and he and June taught me a lot about a truly Christ-centered marriage (I didn't even know such a thing existed before I met them!). Jerry loved his wife as Christ loved the church...sacrificially. He also loved his Lord, and serving others was Jerry's way of demonstrating that love.
As Joshua said to the Israelites after they had entered and conquered the land of Canaan, "Choose this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
Jerry chose wisely...and I will miss him. Until we meet again...