ELMIRA - John Bryant passed away at home on Aug. 16, 2013. "JB" will be missed by his many friends and all of those whose lives he touched in some way.  He is survived by his longtime best friend and wife, Cindy Emmer. John was a lifelong political activist. While in college, he helped with voter registration in the South. During the 1970s, he worked with several statewide organizations that promoted the training and hiring of minorities in the trades. Locally, he developed and managed Operation TRADE, a CETA-funded program that provided education and training to its  participants.  John also worked for the Elmira Housing Authority as a management aide in Bragg Towers and Hoffman Plaza, always advocating for the welfare of the tenants. John served several years on the board of directors of Chemung County ARC, where he was president from 1980-83. John retired from the New York State Department of Transportation as human resources manager of Region 6 in 2007.John dedicated his life to helping others gain the skills needed to be successful in life. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Chemung County SPCA, 2435 state Route 352, Elmira, NY 14903.  A gathering of friends to celebrate John's life will occur on Wednesday (Aug. 28, 2013) from 4-7 p.m. at McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira.