Bryan Bourque

Bryan Bourque of Melrose, Massachusetts, died unexpectedly on March 8th in Cambridge. Born on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1974, at Winchester Hospital, he was the beloved son of Bruce and Lydia (Kinney) Bourque. He was the brother of the late Christopher Bourque of Melrose, and is survived by his brothers Matthew Bourque and his wife Amy (DiLullo) of Melrose, and Justin Bourque and his wife Julie (Samaniego) of Imperial, California. He was the cherished nephew of Yvette (Burke) and William Drinkwater of Wakefield, and Cynthia (Burke) and John Barbati of Melrose. Bryan was the cousin of Brett and Courtney Barbati of Lynn, Ian and Samantha Drinkwater of Woburn, and Allen and Emily Drinkwater of Wakefield. He was the loving uncle of Alexandra Lloyd and Aaron Bourque.

A graduate of Melrose High School, class of 1993, Bryan excelled in languages, mastering Italian, Spanish, and French. As a high school exchange student, he traveled to Germany, and after graduation he explored Europe extensively, putting his language skills to use. He also attended Bunker Hill Community College. A talented musician, he played guitar and performed in a band with friends from Melrose at local venues including Edible Rex, The Rockpile, The Rat, and TT the Bear’s.

Bryan spent much of his career in hospitality, serving as a sales manager for Marriott Hotels. He had a deep love for animals, especially his cats Sampson and Jake, and showed kindness and care to everyone around him. He cherished visits to his Nana and Papa in Nova Scotia, where he connected with family and lifelong friends. From both of his grandmothers, he inherited a passion for cooking and became an accomplished cook, known for his Italian red sauce, proud apple pies, and beloved Ghirardelli brownies.