Popular bartender Vernon Brewer dies

Vernon Brewer worked in several Baltimore gay bars. (Washington Blade photo by Steve Charing)

Popular bartender Vernon Brewer died on Feb. 27 after a lengthy illness. Brewer lived in Rehoboth Beach, Del., with his partner of 26 years, Ivan Bolyard.

Many in Baltimore’s LGBT community remember Brewer from his years bartending at Leon’s, the oldest gay bar in Baltimore, on the corner of Park Avenue and Tyson Street. He began working there in 1986. Prior to that, in the 1970s, Vernon worked at the Gallery Bar. Later, he worked at the Allegro and at the once famous Harvey House on Charles Street.

Brewer once said that as a bartender if he had taken notes, he could have written a novel or a TV series, changing the names, of course, because he has seen almost everything “from people helping each other to bad behavior. Use your imagination.”

Details on funeral services were not immediately available but there will be a full military service in Millsboro, Del. A celebration of Brewer’s life will be held at Leon’s on Saturday, March 23 at 10 p.m.