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1 year has passed

December 11, 2015

As today is the first anniversary of Brian’s death and I cannot help but celebrate his life.  This time is so hard for so many of us and it is easy to tear up in the pain and sadness of missing him.  I turn to photos often and can’t help but feel like we were together just yesterday.  The familiarity of his smile brings me right back to countless memories we share.  Today my goal was to highlight some fond memories from our lives together so that they may be reinforced so at to never fade. 

*Brian was always ready to let me climb him or talk him into doing a cartwheel or whatever circus trick of the week was.  He was never any good at it and his flexibility was something to be desired but his strength far made up for that as he could throw me really far when I wanted him to!   He loved to play in the grass in the backyard with me or climb a tree whenever we found a good one.

*We got beanbags for Christmas one year.   We would set up all 3 beanbags in Alicia and my bedroom and put my circus mat behind them.  Then we would run down the hallways as fast as we could and either flop into them or roll into them and knock them down.  It was a great game!  If we weren’t knocking down beanbags, tickle fights and wrestling were often on the docket.

*Brian usually called out “hey hooch” when greeting me.  He never meant is as its scandalous meaning (I presume) and for some reason it saddens me that no one is going to call me a hooch ever again?  Hahaha.  weird.

*Known for throwing parties in high school , Brian and Alicia were much more sociable than I was.  I often “hid” down the hall with my friends over and we seldom left the room or socialized with their friends –hey, we had our own younger kid party going on!   Anyways, Brian was always good about checking on me.  He would encourage us to hang out with everyone and even if we declined, he would hop down and say hi often to make sure we were having a good night.

*Brian was having a sleepover with Pat McCarty and several other boys when the pet tarantula got out of the terrarium. Boy did they get startled!  Their scream woke the whole house up as they found it crawling around the room in the middle of the night.

*He would always let me cheat in H.O.R.S.E.

*I did my study abroad in Galway, Ireland because I thought Brian was so cool and that is where he had chosen to go and had loved it.

*Dad was trying to teach me to drive stick and it was stressing me out so much that Brian, in his beat up Orange BMW with the halfway broken seat that made it a gangsta drive helped me out.  I still to this day have him to thank for teaching me stick.  Come to think of it, Brian had a series of unfortunate cars – the broken seat BMW, the white Lincoln that was an uncool boat even if it did seat a lot of people, the little blue one that embarrassed Alicia horribly when dad drove it around town and the nova, which was actually cool but only lasted a week or two until taken away for speeding around town.

*I don’t remember watching him play baseball much but I know he was a great catcher.  I do remember the basketball games!  Brian carried a basketball around with him everywhere.   I often walk by a rec center on my way around town that keeps the gym doors open for air. I head the squeaking of basketball shoes and hear the ball bouncing and I immediately think of how much Brian loved the game.  It was so hard on Brian when I won the Elks free-throw contest by getting 1 out of 10 free throws in but happened to be the only girl in my age bracket.  Brian made over 15 free throws in a row but still got beat out for first.  I took home a huge trophy and he, empty handed.  It must have driven him crazy that I won a 2 foot tall trophy by default and he got nothing but he never let on.  He congratulated me on the way home and never brooded about the fact I put that trophy up in my room for years

*Brian and his friends would come by Prospect Park to hang out just outside of the amphitheater when the annual circus shows were at prospect park.   Even though the boys were probably there more to see some of the girls from his grade I always felt honored that they would come and say hi. 

*Brian’s room smelled SO BAD when he was in high school.  Maybe all boys rooms are like that but man, it was rough!!!

*The family was supposed to take care of Brian’s Bonsai tree when he was away at college or studying abroad.  We, of course, didn’t.  To cover up our neglect, we spray-painted it green to see if we could get away with it.  He definitely caught on quicker than we would have thought.

*Brian was so close to Grandpa Glassco.  The bigger the project the better, those two were always laughing and smiling.  Losing Grandpa was had on all of us grandchildren but I think Brian the most. 

*Brian was always a stiff competitor in a card or board game.  13s, rummy, poker you name it, he could win.

It is odd to see a collection of memories written down and to review them.  I think to myself, are these the most important ones?  Why in God’s name did I think of these ones and write them down, they seem so inconsequential.  I guess in the end, the little things are what I’m trying to get down on paper so that they don’t fade.  It’s impossible to get the entire essence of any person, let alone your brother in a page and a half.  I guess we must just hope that in the end, we have a collection of memories, little and big, that do him justice.

Memorial Service Speech

April 16, 2015

We all know the saying “Attitude is everything.”  Our brother Brian's "attitude" was fun, sincere, and based on pure enjoyment of life's many small and seemingly insignificant pleasures. Yeah, sure, Brian could throw in some spice, but only where there was an injustice to be found. A healthy debate would ensue, and you would both walk away from the talk getting something from the experience. He wasn't shy, and he wasn't afraid to be the butt of a joke or the center of attention if it made everyone laugh and be connected, no matter how short a moment it was. Once, when he was 14 years old, he came out of his bedroom wearing all 16 pairs of boxers he owned, stretching all the way from his hips to his ankles like a long skirt. He could always send his sisters laughing into stitches. With Brian, it was all about the everyday, little things there his attitude really shined. And that's what's going to make it so hard to explain just why he meant so much to us- there are stories, sure, but it was more about who he was to all of us and what all of you meant to him.


Brian cared deeply for Alicia and me.  As a college student he invited me along to camp seaside in San Felipe, Mexico.  It was such an exciting chance for me - the little sister- to hang out with him, with Christina, and their San Diego friends, many of whom are here today.  The trip consisted of getting the truck stuck in the sand and watching my confident brother share his expertise in getting it out.  It also consisted of him encouraging the both of us to climb a 100 foot radio tower to watch the sunset after hopping the area fence.  Most memorable part of the trip was the sneaky stingray who shoved his barb into my foot and my brother's reaction.  He covered my foot in hot sand, made me next submerge it in boiling water and doted over me for the rest of the trip.  I can still remember sticking my foot out the truck window on the drive back to San Diego, in horrible pain, but still thinking not only how great the trip was but how paternal and loving Brian was.  We have always looked up to Brian and he always made sure that life was fun and encouraged us to be adventuresome any chance we got.  

When we think of Brian, we picture him wearing Flannel.  Flannel shirts and jackets were worn through countless camping trips and fishing trips, year after year.  Whether it was in the motorhome or in a tent Brian loved the great outdoors.  Hiking and exploring off trail with his dogs Jackson and Bailey in tow brought him great joy.  Gathering around the campfire with friends and family, playing the guitar and singing along to Bob Marley songs, brought him peace.  Brian enjoyed taking deep sea fishing trips with Dad and the Wild Game Feed boys.  On those occasions, the flannel was traded in for the white Game Feed Tank Tops or embroidered bone fishing shirts.  Either way, Brian was happy.  Surrounded by friends and family, the great outdoors were a central part of his life.

As soon as Brian could reach the pedals of our Grandpa Russ’s golf cart, he would zoom around San Clemente and the neighboring golf course.  We were talking to Tom Nolin last night, a long time friend of Brian’s and he shared how much Brian taught him about cars.  Brian and our Dad loved to work out in the garage, tinkering with everything from cars to motorcycles to dune buggies to lawn movers.  Anything with an engine was fair game for repair or modification.  When our Grandpa Glassco was with us, he would be right alongside those boys building and improving homes, driving tractors, or simply gluing or repairing the children’s toys when needed. Brian loved to take things apart, get his hands dirty, and fix them up better than before.

Christina, William and Cora meant the world to Brian and they mean the world to our family as well.  Brian could not have chosen a more strong, intelligent, and caring woman to spend his life with.  William is the spitting image of Brian and Cora surely has his intelligence.  Christina, and I’m sure all of you here today, will ensure that the children know how much he loved them.  We will also all ensure that they know how smart and witty and caring and wonderful he was.   

Thank you again to everyone for celebrating Brian with us tonight -  especially those of you who have traveled great distances to be here.  Alicia created a memorial website which has already demonstrated an outpouring of support and stories that we cannot thank you enough for. It has helped our family through this tough time to hear both recent and distant memories of Brian. If you have not shared a personal story of Brian, please do so on the Memorial site.  We would love for this site to be available as a centralized location for Cora and William to read stories about their father as they grow older.  Brian loved his friends and family deeply and developed close, personal connections, even across generations.  It didn’t matter if you were old or young, Brian loved to keep the conversation going.  Attitude is everything, so let us bring fond memories, humor, and some healthy attitude to this evening, just as Brian would have wanted.  

Memorial Talk from Dave Clark

January 16, 2015

When I was asked to say something about Brian today, I was absolutely honored, but not quite sure where to start. But, as a history buff, I think Brian would appreciate a quote by Abraham Lincoln. He said that “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years.

I think we’re here today not to mourn a tragic event, but to celebrate our years with Brian. Brian lived a lot of life in those years.

Brian was a big guy with a big heart. He was special, he was complex, and he was far from ordinary. He was quick-witted, he was clever, he was loud and gregarious, he had his opinions and he stuck to his guns. When he was in a room, he couldn’t be ignored – he was an undeniable presence. But my absolute favorite thing about Brian, is that he was truly, truly genuine.

Brian was also a man of great juxtaposition. He was a laugher and he was a crier. He was strong but vulnerable. He was aggressive but he was affectionate. I’ve never been hugged so much by a man in my life. And I don’t really like being hugged by dudes. But that’s how Brian was. If he wanted to hug you he was gonna do it.

Brian brought an incredible passion and intensity to everything that he did. He was a leader, never a follower. He acted with purpose, and when did something… when he did anything… he did it his way. He was a friend who challenged you, he called you out, and he made you want to just be better.

Giving a talk up here that would do Brian justice is a daunting task. If he were here with me right now, and could coach me through this difficult time, I think he would say … Dave… in the second paragraph you ended a sentence in a preposition and that’s grammatically incorrect. [Actually, I think he would tell me to calm down, suck it up, and don’t worry, because James’s speech had way more grammatical errors than mine.] But honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if he did say something like that, Brian always had an uncanny knack for taking a heavy situation and making it lighter with just one witty comment.

Actually, if he were here right now, I think he would be surprised at how many people came out to be here for him, not because it’s a surprising number, but because the Brian I knew was always more focused on being there for us, than on us being there for him.
Good, bad or otherwise, Brian wasn’t one to ask for help, but without a doubt, he was certainly always the first one to offer it.

Brian touched the lives of so many different people in so many different ways, and everyone here I’m sure has a uniquely individual experience to remember him by. Brian was a loved man. And it is because he was so loved that he leaves such great pain in the wake of his passing. Grief is the price we pay for love. Surely the tears we’ll see today and tomorrow are not simply a reaction to a death, but a testament to a life… the life that Brian lived in his years.

So as we look around today, we see so many of Brian’s friends here from different places and different times in his life, yet we all seem know each other on some level. And that is a reflection of Brian’s love of bringing people that he cared about together. And today, again, although we wish the circumstances could be very different, Brian has brought us all together one last time. So let’s take a moment to remember Brian for what he was to each of us, and for the goodness he brought to our lives.

Brian was a Husband, Father, Son, a Brother and Friend.
And we’re going miss him.

Eulogy for Funeral Mass for Brian Glassco

January 2, 2015

Good morning.  On behalf of Christina, and the Glassco, Russ, and Saylor families, I would like to thank you for being here this morning.  Each of you became important in different parts of Brian’s life, and I have the honor of briefly filling in the parts you may not know about.

         It is fitting that we gather here at Holy Name of Jesus, as Ann and Brad had Brian baptized at this altar; he had his first communion, reconciliation, and confirmation in this church.  Brian and Christina were married here, and they baptized Cora and William here.  As a child, a teen, and as a recent member of the Knights of Columbus, Brian chose again and again to commit to his Catholic faith and to share that faith with his children.  Brian started his education right next door at Sacred Heart School.  He thrived under the encouragement of Sister Mara, as exemplified by his second grade performance of  “Oh Danny Boy” in front of the entire school. 

         Throughout Sacred Heart, Kimberly, Cope, RHS, Santa Barbara, Galway and USD, Brian excelled in academics, sports, student government, and most of all, friendship.  Brian made a new “friend for life” at each grade level, on every team, and in every club.  Friends were drawn to his wicked basketball skills, his genuine warmth, his infectious enthusiasm, and his healthy disdain for unreasonable authority. Brian enjoyed impishly challenging rules and ideas that made no sense, and he was compelled to deflate them through logic and humor. When Christina and Brian were first dating, Christina noticed how Brian would introduce each person from his life to her as, “my good friend so and so,” even if he only knew them briefly or hadn’t spoken to them in years. Later, Christina would try to clarify with Brian, “You mean your acquaintance so and so, or your coworker, or your neighbor so and so?  They can’t all be your friends.”  She quickly learned that to Brian, each person was his good friend and that was how he felt about each one. 

         Brian set an impossible academic standard for all of the younger cousins by graduating from high school as a sports captain and an AP Scholar, graduating in three years from UCSB as a Regents Scholar, including study abroad in Galway, and then earning his law degree from USD.  At Santa Barbara, Brian heroically helped triage students who had been hit in a vehicular assault.  Brian especially loved music and history, and at the time of his death, he was preparing to become a history teacher. 

         Brian’s Great-Grandfather Buck, his Grandpa Bill, and Brad were most proud of Brian’s skill as a mechanic and his impulse to be a Good Samaritan.  Brad remembers coming home one day to find that Brian, at the age of ten, had figured out why Ann’s friend’s car wouldn’t start, and Brian had made the necessary repairs all by himself.  Just a few months ago, Brian stopped by Ann and Brad’s to pick up a tow rope to help a couple who had driven off the side of Sunset Drive.  Brad was slightly less proud when the 15 year old Brian and his buddies Tom and Corey snuck out for a joy ride in the 1976 Chevy Nova they had fixed up.  Brad was quick to sell that car and Brian was quick to learn that very little misbehavior went unnoticed in Redlands.  Ann and Brad’s friends reassured them that your kids aren’t really in trouble in Redlands until the helicopters are circling over your house.

         When Brian met Christina at Steve Becker’s law office, he knew he had met the love of his life.  He told me that after Christina finished graduate school, on their long drive back from New York, they would stop at roadside restaurants and after they ordered, Christina would leave the table to wash up.  Brian made sure that he always asked for the car keys before she left the table, so he could be sure she wouldn’t drive off without him.  He felt so lucky to marry Christina and so proud that she loved him right back.  Brian knew he could form with Christina the kind of loving family he had experienced with his doting grandparents, Gloria and Bill and Jerry and Marge, his loving parents, Brad and Ann, and his treasured sisters, Alicia and Elizabeth.

         Of course, Brian fell in love again and then again with the births of his precious children, Cora and Will.  At Cora’s birth, Brian impressed the nurses with his ice chest full of popsicles for Christina, the glade plug-in for a more pleasant smelling delivery room, and the laptop of lovely music for Cora to hear as she entered the world.  Lately, some of Brian’s happiest moments have been his nature-adventure walks after school with Cora, through the groves and parks of Redlands.  Brian was a patient and loving father, calmly rocking William for three days straight until Will learned to drink from a bottle.

         Brian loved reading and clipping coupons, supporting the Lakers and going on family camping trips.  He enjoyed fishing with the Big Game Feed, raising money for good causes and going over the top to celebrate his loved one’s special occasions.  But most of all, Brian loved when he could bring happiness to the people he loved.

         It is my guess that almost every one of us here had this experience with Brian:  He plops down next to you on a chair that can’t really fit you both.  That long, heavy arm reaches over to side hug you and rest on your shoulder.  He hands you the taco, or the flower, or the book he has brought for you and asks, “How are you doing?”  He really listens to your answer and then he lets you know, through his smile and his kindness that he couldn’t be any happier than he is, sharing that moment with you.  We can all continue that legacy of Brian’s love and we thank you for sharing this moment with us.

 

Funeral Service Speech (12/22/14)

December 28, 2014
New Maps of Hell (Deluxe Edition) - Skyscraper (Acoustic)

To give you all some perspective, My name is James Miller, and I have been Brain’s friend since 1993.  He first saw me.  I was getting hit by a car while riding my bike to school in seventh grade, and from that unfortunate moment our friendship began.  I was honored 14 years later to be the best man at Brian & Christina`s wedding.  And, I assure you that over the past 21 years of our friendship that we went through hell and back together.

I think one of the constant battles for all of us is the idea of faith.  We all live in a world where it is very easy to question our faith on a daily basis.  Why are we here, and what are we actually doing while we are here?  I am no different than any of you, I question my faith all of the time. I often wonder what the point of all of this is.  Even with my father being a minister and spending my early years growing up in the Church`s rectory, I am always wondering what really takes place beyond this tangible life that we live.

I was driving back to the clinic where I work from a patient’s house when Christina told me that Brian had died earlier that day.  After we finished a conversation that neither one of us ever expected to have, I started the car back up and a Sublime song was playing… now for most people this is a simple coincidence, we live in Southern California, Sublime is a notorious Southern California band, and we listen to Southern California radio.  In 2010 one of our best friends Nick Carter passed away in his sleep as well. His favorite band was Sublime.  Over the past 4 years I have always remembered Carter whenever a Sublime song played on the radio.  I used listening to his favorite band as a way for me to remember him.  On Thursday I realized that I had it backwards.

Like I said, I started up the car and Sublime was playing, and I drove to work.  When I parked in the parking lot I made the necessary phone calls to the guys, departed the news about Brian, and when I got off the phone I turned the radio back on to have a minute or two before starting work.  Sublime was playing again.  I went to work for the afternoon with disbelief and a sunken heart.  After work I got in to my car and the first song I heard was Sublime… For the past 4 years I thought that every time I heard a Sublime song that it was me remembering Carter, but I now realize what it actually was… it was Carter saying hello, it was Carter saying it was going to be alright, and it was Carter now saying that it was his turn to take care of Brain.  My faith that there is something more than this life was restored that Thursday.

When I close my eyes and think of Brian, I am taken back to a Redlands summer day at the Malone’s house.  Brian and I were lying on the hot pool deck with our feet dangling in the water.  The acoustic version of the song “Skyscraper” by Bad Religion, which refers to the story of Babel, was playing in the background.  Brian and I sang it together without thought or mention.  It was a moment of friendship and experience.

The last time that I saw Brian was Sunday morning after Thanksgiving.  As we prepared to depart our separate ways, I gave him a big hug, told him that I loved him, and told him to call me if he needed anything.  That is how we have always left things since we were in the 7th grade.  Christina, I told you this yesterday, I am going to tell you again today, and I am going to tell you every time that I see you…  I love you, and please give me a call if you need anything.

The lesson that Brian’s life gave us is one of what you leave behind.  Brian gave us a life of passion, a life of experiences, a life of humor, and a life of friendship.  Always remember what Brian’s life gave to you.

I am not certain of what exactly happens when we die, but I have had enough signs from Carter, from my brother Peter, and from other loved ones lost, that I will again be able to give Brian a hug and tell him that I love him. Brian is with them now, and I cannot wait to hear their stories.

Given the Christmas season, I want to end with a prayer by Thomas Aquinas that my father shared with me upon news of Brian's death.
 

O saving Victim, opening wide the gate of heaven to man below,

our foes press on from every side, thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.

 

All praise and thanks to thee ascend forever more, blest One in Three;

O grant us life that shall not end in our true native land with thee.


Cheers

Memorial Service Speech (12/21/14)

December 28, 2014

For those of you who do not know me, my name is James Miller.  I was the best man at Brian & Christina`s wedding, and I am honored to share a few thoughts and memories with you today.

Brian actually knew who I was before I even knew that he existed.  The year was 1993 and I was riding my bike to the first day of school at Cope Middle School.  I had hoped that no one saw what took place, but a few days later Brain approached me and asked, “Hey, aren’t you that kid who got hit by a car on his bike the first day of school?”  I never thought that getting hit by a car could be a good thing, but looking back and having the 21 year friendship that I did with Brian, I would get hit by a car every time on the first day of seventh grade.

            There are parts of your life that are the most influential, there are parts that force you to grow up, there are parts that make you realize your parents know more than you do, and there are parts where you learn who has your back.  I was very fortunate to have Brian be the leading force through all of those parts of my life.  Brian and I grew up together.  We were able to go through those years with a blind respect for each other that kept our egos in check, yet let them grow until one of us needed a strong dose of reality.  We challenged each other to be the best versions of ourselves that we could be, all while finding time to chase girls, trying not to get into trouble – which seemed like an endless daily chore for us – and wondering where our lives would take us.

Looking back over our friendship this past week, I realized that Brian taught me an awful lot.  He taught me how to change a tire, he taught me that you can fall asleep virtually anywhere if you really wanted to, and also made the point that snoring is everybody else’s problem.  He showed me how to use an air compressor to give yourself a mohawk, he showed me that any shirt can become sleeveless – even if it has a collar with ‘Redlands ASB’ embroidered on it, and he also taught me that you always need to keep a pair of bowling shoes in your car because you just never know when you might need them.  He taught me that sometimes to find the best seat in the house at a concert you need to look up, which was the case with the rafters at The Barn in Riverside.  He taught me acceptance by putting up with my never ending love for 80’s Pop music, and that anything by the Talking Heads is the soundtrack to those early morning wake up calls while camping.

            Christina, I am going to apologize for this now and I am sure I will apologize again for it later.  There will be a time when Will returns home after a weekend with the Millers and has burned skin all along the border of his thumbs.  Brian taught me how to light a strike anywhere match with my thumb nail, and it is just one of those things that takes a lot of practice and Will must learn.

Most people have a good group of friends in high school, but as time goes on relationships fade, and life and geography typically dictate how close you are able to stay with those friends.  Our group of friends is an odd group of people, in many more ways than one, which has stayed close and stayed together despite all of those life and geographical challenges that we have encountered throughout the years.  I have made a lot of great friends since graduating high school, but do you really ever make any friends like the ones you made when you were growing up?

Brian was the center of our group.  He was the force that brought us all together and the glue that kept us together.  All of my best friends that are sitting here today, I met because of Brian.  He was the constant that navigated our ever expanding and shifting group.  He had the never ending energy and patience to include everyone by going out of his way to make sure that all were invited, all were convinced that you couldn’t miss out, and of course that all would feel welcomed.  His entire family did the same for me.  I was always welcomed into the Glassco household.  Hell, I was even punished at times like I belonged to the Glassco household.  Brad and Ann I cannot thank you enough for an environment to grow up in, feel safe in, and feel at home in.  Thank you for allowing our group of friends to grow and make mistakes together.

Today is December 21st, which was an important day for Brian and me.  It is the Winter solstice and the shortest day of the year.  When Brian and I were both enjoying the freedom of time while we were in graduate school, Brian purposed a challenge for us: play 2 rounds of golf on the shortest day of the year.  Due to the fact that graduate school has to eventually come to an end, Brian and I only got three cracks at it.  I can say with great satisfaction that we were successful all three times.

My son Gavin was born about 4 months after Will.  Every time we were able to get the two together, Brian always said how he just knew that they were going to be the best of friends.  I didn’t ever say anything to Brian, but I never really felt the same.  I mean what are the chances that two best friend’s sons become best friends as well.  You can’t predict the future, you never know what direction your life is going to go in, and you cannot force the type of friendship that Brian and I had.  I do know that Gavin and Will will know each other, and at the right time will hear of all of the debauchery that their fathers got into together while growing up.  There are many things that I hope for my son and for Will in their lives, but I think the thing that I hope for the most is that they find a friend like I had in Brain that they can grow up with.  And I really feel that deep down that that is what Brain was talking about.  You never know where to look for your best friends or where they are going to come from, and you might not even be the one who is doing the looking… you might be the one getting hit by a car.

My favorite part of Brian has always been the fact that when you asked for help, it was always about what do you need? and how can I help?, it was never about why you needed the help.  The last time that I saw Brian was Sunday morning after Thanksgiving.  As we prepared to depart our separate ways, I gave him a big hug, told him that I loved him, and told him to call me if he needed anything.  That is how we have always left things since we were in the 7th grade.  Christina, I am going to tell this to you now, I am going to tell you again tomorrow, and I am going to tell you every time that I see you…  I love you, and please give me a call if you need anything.

            I am really going to miss my friend.  I know that he is in good company, and that when I see him again I will be able to give him a big hug, tell him that I love him, and then get to hear all of the great stories that he has to tell.

 Thank you for listening to an old friend, and please remember to celebrate all that Brian gave to us. 

 

I am now going to close with an old Irish Blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

 Cheers

Mammoth Fishing 2006

December 21, 2014

So deeply saddened to learn of the tragedy of Brian's passing. I cannot imagine the feelings of any of the Glassco-Russ Clan. I got a text from Brad and was so shocked I could not even think for 15 minutes.................but on to the living. Brian would just want everyone to know how much he loved them.

The time I remember so fondly of Brian was the Wild Game Feed trip to Mammoth in 2006. Brian was such a stellar young man, 26, full of life. He filled out any conversation or get together with panache. Intelligent, witty, yet kind and ready to help with whatever was happening. Fishing, eating, party, drinking, "driving"......... no matter, Brian was a master. Never overboard, always in control. That's saying something when many of us older guys weren't so much in control, and Brian's only 26 and acting a bit more responsibly.

One interesting event of that weekend was Brian riding on the back tailgate of Dad's F250 with Dad driving. Brad backed up over an orange cone that turned out to have a pipe in it, and Brian's leg just happened to be between the tailgate and the pipe. The injury was actually no joke and must have hurt like hell. But ........ you did not hear any whining from Brian. And also, there did not seem to be any resentment towards Dad. Nope ........ Brian just took this in stride and continued on with a great week end, well maybe limping a bit. What a young man at 26. A real man!

On the way home in the F250 we all had a good time. Maybe having a little too good of time barreling down Highway 395. I really want everyone to know that I personally appreciated it when Brian took over the driving. You know, Brian actually being the most responsible person in the F250, and in considerably better condition to be the one driving.

We'll all miss Brian terribly. We ask ourselves and God, why? Brian loved his family and parents so much. I know he would want to say that. Just have faith and try to trust in God. 

December 15, 2014

I still remember where I met Brian, first day of summer school chemistry with Mr. Cruikshank.   It was mostly freshly minted seniors and juniors with some smattering of ambitious sophomores, which Brian was, and I was not,  being merely forced to attend by my parents.  Brian roamed around the classroom like he belonged to all three grade levels and immediately joined the crew of class clowns.  One of his hijinks that summer in particular involved a 5’X3’ atomic elements poster - that Cruikshank would slam with a ruler when trying to make a  point - with ketchup packets.  In a typical Brian way, he made sure to do this during the snack break so the whole class was in on it, laughing the entire time.  I still remember, the anticipation, the splat, the residual spray on the wall, the class going bananas.  And Crooks completely mystified look was classic.  Man, I was so envious of thinking up that genius idea.  And Brian got a better grade than me too boot.

I probably had a dozen or so classes with Brian and usually sat near the back with him because he was also a slacker AP kid so I owe him for helping me so many times with bullshiting away time.  He also was part of a mutual secret society of Makio and Hobachi kids that exchanged and counterfeited off campus passes for ‘selling ads.’ He had a generally super laid back approach towards classes but still killed it and ended up getting scholarships and going to law school, so you could say he was sneaky smart without even trying to be sneaky smart.  Plus him and his crew were a nice counterpoint when the Asians were making a run at all the academics back at RHS.   He even represented by going varsity at basketball.

I can tell you I always was cool with him over a common love of Star Wars.  In fact I remember the first Star Wars book he recommended to me: Star Wars: X- Wing Rogue Squadron.  This was 1996.  The affable bastard that he was I don’t think I can’t think of a single time I ever had anything but good vibes from him. After we aged out of the high school days and he left for Santa Barbara and me to San Diego, I’d see him at the annual Glassco Christmas parties from time to time and it was always classic to shotgun one with him, talk Lakershop, and talk about how growing up kinda sucks.  I never got a chance to congratulate him on his new family but always got the updates from Alicia.  I hope I can tell his kids what an authentic and great guy he was one day, and I am sure I will get that chance.

Brian was one of those people that if you were in a group with him kicking it, he made the group better.  He put the party or the discussion or the whatever at that critical mass where it felt like a good time.  Started the next round, added a good point to a story, or just laughed at something stupid someone said.   I was fortunate to at least share in a few of those over the years.  He was a frequent classmate for all of my high school years and I always looked forward to seeing him when the chance came, which it did every once in a while.  We’ve gotten to a point where I have known the Glasscos for over half of my life, and they’re part of my childhood and growing up years - and Brian was the first one I ever met.  For that I am absolutely grateful and devastated. 

I know Brian used to go to church from time to time.  In that intangible, enduring spirit of his memory - I’d like to mention Corinthians 4:16-18.  “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light, and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”

Or as Yoda would have said, “rejoice for those around you have turned into the force” 

Our deepest thoughts and prayers all of you who are surviving him.  Ann, Brad, Alicia, Elizabeth we mourn along side you in your loss and thank you on behalf of everyone who has been touched by Brian.  I know it is many.  Our condolences to his wife, whom I always heard about how he loved her very much, and our greatest hopes for his children.

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