Brian changed my life. I first met him in 2006 while working at my family’s farm stand at the age of 15. He had just been hired to Madeline’s Table in Tivoli, NY. He would come by the stand a few times a week to pick up orders and we quickly became friendly (maybe it was all the pastries he would often bring us from Poughkeepsie). I eventually asked him for a job at the restaurant as I was looking for employment beyond the family farm. Looking back, I had no idea what I was signing up for and how my life would be changed forever. Brian became my mentor for the next 4 years. He trained me in all things restaurant and taught me how to challenge myself to be a better and stronger person. He truly listened to me and gave me advice and perspective when I was just a kid in need of guidance. He showed me respect and how to handle life’s responsibilities. How to always leave a place in better condition than you found it. How to clean the hell out of a kitchen and respect my belongings. How to respect myself and stop apologizing all the time for things that weren’t my fault. He made me make goals for myself and saw to it that I followed them through. He even showed me how to parallel park one day in between a lunch and dinner shift to prepare me for my drivers test. Brian was a born teacher. He wanted to bring those around him up. He was patient, vibrant, down to earth, and deeply loved life and people. Above all, he loved his Tara. He wanted to be a father more than anything and would often ask what his future kid would look and be like. It is in times like these that makes me want to be bitter and angry at the world for being so unfair. For taking someone so bright and so good with so much left to give, but Brian would never want that. He would want those he loved to keep doing good and spreading love and continuing to better themselves because that is truly how you make the world around you a better place. Brian impacted so many people and will be carried around in the hearts of those he touched. My deepest condolences to his family, especially Tara and Hayden. Your Brian will never be forgotten. <3