Ronald C. Brisson

Ronald C. Brisson, age 86, of Durham, CT died at home on hospice early Sunday morning August 31, 2025 after a year of battling lymphoma and 3 months of metastatic brain cancer.

Ron was born on December 28, 1938 in Norway, MI, to his late parents Ronald and Gladys Brisson.  He attended and graduated from Bethel University and Seminary in St. Paul, MN before moving to New Britain, CT, where he met his wife of 53 years, Janet.  They made their home in New Britain where Ron was a Clinical Supervisor for many years at Klingberg Family Centers, a residential treatment center for children.  He earned his Masters of Community Psychology at University of New Haven.  Ron was a member of First Church of Christ, Wethersfield.

Ron is survived by his wife, Janet; son, Jeffrey; sister, Carol Zechlin of Norway, MI; father in law, Bud Hanson; brother in law, Paul Hanson, and his wife Jill; as well several nieces and nephews and their children.

Ron's family would like to express their deep gratitude to Smilow Cancer Hospital, New Haven, CT; Connecticut Hospice, Branford, CT; and Opal Stork Agency, West Haven, CT.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 13th at 1pm at First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, CT.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donation may be made to First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, Benevolent Fund: www.FirstChurch.org; Connecticut Hospice: www.Hospice.com; or Smilow Hospital Closer to Free Bicycle Ride Fundraiser: www.RideCloserToFree.org

Ron's family is grateful that he is now free from the illness that increasingly took over and diminished the quality of his last year of life.  Although the sting of death is very real, and especially devastating for Jan, Ron died peacefully in his sleep at home on hospice as hoped and intended.

Ron was a pioneer in healthy eating, organic gardening, and energy efficiency before they became mainstream sensibility. He loved nature and outdoor activities, introducing family members and others to canoeing, skiing, and appreciation of the wild places from the upper peninsula of Michigan where he grew up, to the mountains of Idaho where he was a ranger early in his adult years, to the more local Otis, MA.