Dr. Neil W. Brayton 1944-2022

Neil was born July 21, 1944, in Youngstown, the fifth child of Margaret and John Brayton.

Neil graduated from Liberty High School in 1962. He was a gifted athlete. He practiced hard for his mentor and basketball coach, Pete Prokop. He lettered in basketball, golf and cross-country. He was the point guard on the school’s 1961 Class A State Runner-Up Basketball Squad. His coach said, “Stick with basketball, they do not give many scholarships for golf.” Neil received 35 basketball scholarship offers. He chose University of Maryland for their dentistry program.

After being the leading scorer on the Terps freshman basketball team, he went on to start on the varsity team for the next three years, averaging double figures in scoring for the team. Popular on campus, he was elected junior and senior class president. He was a member of the ODK National Leadership fraternity. Among the awards he received, one was for the senior “who evinces love for and helpfulness to other men.”

In 1966, Neil graduated with a B.S. in zoology. In 1970, Neil received his D.D.S. degree from University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, Md. After dental school, he served as a dentist in the U.S. Army 2nd Field Hospital in Bremerhaven, Germany for three years. He received the Army Commendation Medal.

In Germany, he resumed his basketball playing on several teams, including German Nord-Regional Liga team and a US All-Star team in Europe. He coached the Bremerhaven American High School team to the playoffs. Attaining the rank of major, Neil completed his service tour and returned to the U.S in 1973.

Coming to Chestertown, Md., Neil accepted a dental position with Dr. Fred Wyman. Neil found his home in Chestertown. In 1975, he set up a practice on High Street, eventually building a large, modern office on Speer Road. Neil was dedicated to his dental practice. His patients became his friends for life. He worked to make it a fun and painless experience for all. He cared about their lives as well as their dental health. Neil believed strongly that good dental health could positively affect a patient’s self-esteem and well-being. Neil did not want anyone to be denied proper dental care due to cost or lack of access.

He supported Cross-Roads Community and volunteered annually with Missions of Mercy. His love of coaching basketball continued as he worked with Church League and Kent and Queen Anne’s Rec League teams. A highlight was coaching the Queen Anne’s County HS boys’ basketball team, teaching goals of commitment and practice. He received the Coach of the Year Award in North Bayside Conference in 1996.

Golfing was Neil’s passionate pastime, and he enjoyed playing with friends and spending time at the 19th hole afterwards. Neil set goals in golf and qualified for the Maryland Amateur and Maryland Open, and he won the Delmarva Peninsula Senior Golf Tournament, as well as several Chester River Club Championships.

Neil is survived by his wife of 51 years, Robyn; and their three children, John Brayton (Samantha), Allison MacKinnon (Cyrus) and Douglas Brayton (Meghan). He is also survived by a brother, John Brayton; two sisters, Margaret Elliott and Kathleen Kurlander; a sister-in-law, Carole Brayton; a brother-in-law, Joel Richard; 10 grandchildren, Faith Harrington, Isaac Harrington, Evelyn Harrington, Willamina Brayton, Sybil Brayton, Zane Brayton, Samuel Brayton, Eloisa Brayton, Marjorie Brayton and Benjamin MacKinnon; and six nieces and nephews, Kelly Brayton (Simon), Corey Brayton (Roxanne), Charlie Elliott (Susan), Duane Brayton (Chris), Holly Stewart (Jimmie) and Elizabeth Israel (Joel).

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers; Thomas Brayton and Carl Brayton; and a nephew, Terence Brayton.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Chestertown, Md. The service will be livestreamed and viewable at www.fhnfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Neil-Brayton-Dds.

After the service, a celebration of life reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Chester River Yacht and Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made in remembrance of Neil’s life to ALS Research (www.als.org/donate).

Online condolences may be made at www.fhnfuneralhome.com/obituaries .

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