Bill Bryan had a passion for baseball and hockey, but it was people he cared about most.

Bryan, who spent a great part of his life helping young people enjoy the benefits of athletics, died Thursday at his home in Holden. He was 77.

Next to his family, baseball was Bryan’s first love. After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, the New York native came to Maine to attend Colby College in Waterville.

Bryan eventually became the director of admissions at Colby and was active in Waterville youth sports. There, he founded Maine’s first Little League program.

“He was one of the kindest, nicest men I ever knew,” said John Winkin, who coached baseball at Colby, then at the University of Maine, where Bryan worked in admissions from 1966 until 1985.

“He and I kind of ran the Little League program with [businessman and philanthropist] Harold Alfond in Waterville,” Winkin said. “He was great with youngsters, absolutely fabulous. He was always involved with youth baseball and youth hockey.”

Bryan also served as a major league scout for more than 50 years, starting with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1952-94.

However, Bryan’s influence extended well beyond Maine into Canada, where he helped bring baseball to fishing villages along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec and Labrador, and to other small towns in Aroostook County and the Canadian Maritimes.

“He worked with his brother [Bob] for the Quebec Labrador Foundation,” Winkin said. “He was really concerned about helping underprivileged kids. He loved doing that.”

Al Hackett, who met Bryan as a prospective Colby student, later worked with him in the UMaine admissions office for 22 years. He was overwhelmed by Bryan’s commitment to those less fortunate.

“He was probably the finest man – morally, ethically, generally – that I’ve ever known,” Hackett said. “He was great to everybody, but in particular to the youngsters who needed some help.”

Former UMaine athletic director Stu Haskell said Bryan was a avid fan of the baseball and hockey teams at UMaine and Colby.

“He was a wonderful man,” Haskell said. “He was one of those guys who was always there at the games. He was a very courteous man with a great insight into athletics. He knew his baseball and his hockey magnificently.”

Bryan’s longtime friendship with Alfond was instrumental in the building of Alfond Arena and the start of UMaine’s varsity hockey program, according to Haskell. Bryan worked closely with former Black Bear hockey coach Jack Semler in recruiting players.

Bryan also was active in starting Holden’s recreation programs.

In 1994, Alfond announced an annual grant to fund the Bill Bryan Pirate Scholarship for the UMaine baseball program.

In Bryan’s honor, the family requests contributions be directed to the William L. Bryan Scholarship Fund, which will provide educational and athletic opportunities to students in rural Maine and the Maritimes. Contributions should be sent to: William L. Bryan Scholarship Fund, Quebec Labrador Foundation, 55 South Main St., Ipswich, MA 01938.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Holden Congregational Church.