Shamsi Mecklai Bryson

Shamsi Mecklai Bryson

June 26, 1933 - October 2, 2025

Words that express the life of such a vibrant personality and a life well-lived are challenging to come by.

Shamsi was born the youngest of 10 and the only girl. This afforded her an upbringing unmatched by any other. Pampered, yet supervised by her closest brothers, she grew to be a strong young woman, outspoken and independent.

After her traditional schooling, Shamsi was given the opportunity to travel Europe extensively. She spent several months abroad, learning about and enjoying a multitude of cultures. She wasn't keen on coming home, so her father actually had to get on a boat to retrieve her and bring her home.

At only 16 or 17 years of age, Shamsi was a go-getter who worked for her father for a time before applying to become a travel agent. She was immediately accepted in 1951, beginning a career that would span seven decades.

Between the years of 1951-1957, Shamsi lived the life of a veritable princess, though she was hard-working as well. She frequented the racetrack to see her family's racehorses perform, attended social events held at the Mecklai Mansion, and participated in various activities at the Willingdon Club.

In 1957, she met a handsome, young American man that defied her previous belief that all American men were loud and obnoxious. Bob Bryson not only proved her wrong, but proposed to her on New Year's Eve. They were married on May 16, 1958 in India.

Moving to America with a new husband was challenging. They lived with Bob's parents in Atco, New Jersey until they could purchase a house. Their new home was in Willingboro, New Jersey. They met wonderful neighbors who would become life-long friends.

Shamsi was as adaptable as she was affable. She quickly found a niche to both serve as a social outlet and as a community supporter, volunteering at a local hospital. She also gained employment as a travel agent, and so continued her career tenaciously.

It was in approximately 1965 that Shamsi and Bob expanded their family by adopting a Standard Poodle puppy whom they named Apache. He would serve as their first "child" in many ways. Apache went with Shamsi very happily in the car to visit close friends in Philadelphia. Neighborhood kids would come over to see if Bob and Apache could come out to play.

1967 brought the adoption of their first human child, John Ali. He was a healthy, bouncing baby boy that brought Shamsi and Bob great joy and laughter. A little over two years later, they would add a second child to their family. Jane Ann was adopted in 1969. This completed their family in the little house on Budhollow Lane.

Bob changed jobs a few times, taking Shamsi and the kids to New York, Virginia, and Illinois. They settled in a dapper colonial-style home in Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1977. Shamsi was not one to sacrifice a career she loved, though she was busy with kids and moves, she remained a travel agent throughout.

Shamsi was the talk of the town in Arlington Heights, quickly establishing herself as a force with which to be reckoned serving on the school board in the kids' district. Some teasingly called her the "Indian on the warpath" because of her dedicated manner of fighting for the improvements in education that all children deserved.

Making new friends while keeping old friends close, Shamsi continued to balance work, being a mom, hosting parties, and being socially active in the community for many years.

After the kids had graduated out of the public school district and had moved on to college, Shamsi found other pursuits to keep her happily busy besides work. She could be found vacationing with Bob in Las Vegas, attending Arlington Park to cheer on her favorite horses, and shopping at Marshall Fields.

In 1999, Bob got cold. So Shamsi and he built a new house in Bradenton, Florida. Picking up and moving 30+ years of life wasn't easy. But Shamsi persevered through it all, now working remotely using a computer before working remotely was a "thing." She continued booking her clients worldwide without a hitch. Of course, the ever-positive and popular Shamsi slid right into the swing of the new social schedule, attending wine tastings, going to the theater, and watching fashion shows while Bob golfed and played poker with his buddies.

Sadly, on February 5, 2008, Shamsi lost the love of her life. Bob passed away at the age of 78. This was probably one of the most trying times of her life. Shamsi stayed strong, and made a huge decision to keep the house in Florida, yet build another in Naperville, Illinois to be closer to her son and daughter and their spouses, and eventually her grandchildren. She became the penultimate "snowbird," living in Florida for six months of the year, and Illinois for six months of the year.

Shamsi had another tragic loss on August 29, 2017, when her son John lost his courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease.) He had fought for three years, and Shamsi took it upon herself to get to Green Bay, Wisconsin to visit him as often as she could during those years. It was also in 2017 that she was diagnosed with breast cancer, however Shamsi underwent treatment and came through as strong as before.

In 2022, Shamsi decided another move was important to be made. She had a home built in New Lenox, Illinois to be closer to her daughter and her family who live in Mokena. Shamsi knew she was not getting any younger, though she was still active with her friends and working part-time as a travel agent.

This was also the year that brought along the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer, which now grew in her lungs. Shamsi never felt or acted as if the cancer had come back. She was seemingly unstoppable. She took treatments well for three years with no side-effects at all. Until the treatments stopped working. In mid-July of 2025, she was given two to three months to live. Ever the optimist, she took this news as a sign that she was soon to be reunited with Bob and John. Shamsi passed peacefully in her sleep, with no pain at all, on October 2, 2025.