Mesquite Park Bench Dedicated in Honor of Dr. James Brinton

February 6, 2023, Mesquite, NV - On Saturday, Jan. 21, nearly 50 family members of Dr. James Ashby Brinton gathered at the Mesquite Regional Sports & Event Complex to memorialize and celebrate the life of their Father and “Papa”, with the dedication of a park bench.

Traveling from Salt Lake City, Brinton’s family arrived for the dedication with shirts that read: “What you have to realize…”, on the front and, “Papa’s my biggest Fan,” on the back.

With approximately 50 grandchildren, many of which participate in Utah Youth Soccer, Brinton often attended their matches and supported them from the sidelines.

Having spent his final moments at the Complex in January of 2022, Brinton’s family orchestrated the construction of a park bench, overlooking the field where he suddenly passed away while cheering on one of his grandkids. Despite the use of a defibrillator by medical professionals, Brinton’s heart had stopped and he was unable to be revived.

“To his kids and his fifty grandkids, he was their biggest sports fan,” Brinton’s daughter Melissa Pennock told Mesa Valleys Progress. “He was at every game rooting for them.”

In addition to the dedication of the bench, the family also released balloons and celebrated Brinton’s 75th birthday.

The plaque reads: “Papa’s Bench, In loving memory of our biggest fan.”

The family plans to return again next year and are grateful to both the City and Complex for allowing them to memorialize their Papa’s life in this meaningful way.