36 year-old Brian grew up in Baldwin with his four siblings: Kevin, 41; Pat, 40; John, 38; and Maureen, 30. Brian's childhood was filled with the love of his family whose strong Catholic faith & proud Irish heritage formed the basis for the man he had become. Brian's all-American appeal & ability on the football field made his time at Baldwin High School a memorable one. He furthered his education by completing a two-year program at Nassau Community College, earning an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. With school behind him, Brian took a job as a head waiter, with the intention of learning the restaurant business and eventually opening a bar & eatery of his own. Brian had found his niche. Being around people put him at the top of his game. The restaurant became his stage & people stopped by, not only to eat, but to be around Brian. When you were with him, it didn't matter who you were, what you looked like or where you came from. YOU were treated like Kings and Queens. YOU were somebody. Brian enjoyed these conversations so much that he would often be seen during his off-time making sure his steady customers and friends were taken care of properly. On January 16th 1994, Brian heard his calling. Following his father Jack, a 25 year veteran of the NYC Fire Department, Brian was sworn in as one of NYC's Bravest. His boyish charm & caring demeanor, made him a welcome addition to Engine Company 226. His devotion to his job as well as his culinary expertise (where he always reminded us that "presentation is everything") made his probationary first year a breeze. A fast learner, Brian was notorious for his aggressive firefighting style. On his return to the firehouse, he would grab a cup of coffee and a cigarette in preparation for a full review with those working of the job they had just returned from. The fire department also enabled Brian to march annually in the Saint Patrick's Day Parade, which he proudly did, sporting a Shamrock pin and Green Beret. 1994 was definitely a year to remember. With six months on the job, on June 25th 1994, Brian married the love of his life, Dawn, at Saint Christopher's Roman Catholic Church in Baldwin. Wedding rings from Ireland, Bagpipers piping and Brian's mom singing a few Irish tunes, were all fond memories of that beautiful day. Brian & Dawn became an inseparable team. They played off each others' humor and had everyone smiling around them. Dawn also shared Brian's love of family and between 1994 & 2001 they became the proud parents of Brianne Marie, 5; Jack Ryan, 4; Liam Francis, 2; & Aidan James, 4 months. Having a work schedule that allowed Brian a lot of time off, he chose to spend quality time boating and going on family outings with Dawn and the children, taking care of his dad who suffered from M.S. until his passing the beginning of this year, or volunteering for various M.S. events. In a recent conversation with Dawn, Brian said "Nobody's got it better than me. Life is Complete."

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