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Brian Bob

March 21, 1966 - March 21, 2023

Light and love. If you knew Brian Bob, you were on the receiving end of those forces every time you saw him. And man, it was great. Sometimes you were more in need of one over the other, and without you saying anything, Brian knew exactly what to deliver. It could be a hug that buried you into his chest, an uplifting rush from hearing his bellowing or other times sneaky laugh hit your ear from down the hall, or getting the pursed side lips and "mm" reaction he'd send your way after you said something ridiculous. Right now, as we're all searching for the right words and our feelings are spinning, many have remarked that Brian would know the right words to say to make it better. He'd know the right move to make to steady the space. And he'd have the right sassy remark to bring a smile to our faces. So in his memory, we'll do our best to bring each other the love and light that we all collected from our time with Brian. Having devoted 30 years to Covenant House, his handprints are deeply impressed in the culture of our organization, message of our mission, and in the purpose of all of us he inspirited.

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  • 2023-03-29 20:28:47 View / Comment (0)
    Kate Fenton

    Kate Fenton

    Kate Fenton

    Dear Brian, The role you played in my life can never be replaced, but the lessons you left will forever remain. You were always there when I needed guiding and supporting me through whatever was the current topic. We didn’t speak every day but when we did it was an hour plus long conversation. You loved my children and My husband an always made sure to tell me what an amazing mom I was and always told me how I could do better. You would yell at me to remove that word you hated so much from my vocabulary…….. I will never say it again in your honor. I’m so sad for now but please feel free to come visit me I wont be scared. I love you an please send your spirt back to this earth so the next generation can feel what it’s like to be loved by Brian K. Bod. Love you forever, until we meet again, with unconditional love and respect. Kate Fenton, Queens, NY

  • 2023-03-29 17:18:54 View / Comment (0)
    Rachelle Albach

    Rachelle Albach

    Rachelle Albach

    To be in the presence of Brian meant you were safe. Safe to be yourself and feel not just accepted but encouraged; safe to reveal your insecurities and be coached by him to feel like those could be your strengths; safe to say something ridiculous and him say "I hate you" which really meant you were in with him. Every moment I had with him and saw him have with others built us up. And in between all of those teaching and setting us right moments, are the memories I'm thinking of right now which are of Brian just being. The snort he'd make when he was clearing his nose and throat just like Millie did -- I swear Brian found his spirit animal in her. The way he'd come up behind you and gently bump you to let you know he was there with you. The way he'd plop into the desk chair in the late afternoon and you realized it was the first time he sat all day, and how he would regularly check in on you with a call or an early morning facetime. While I will miss Brian and those small and big moments, but there is some comfort in knowing Brian is with Millie again, both trying to out grump each other, that I'll continue to feel his presence in all those hard moments, and that he's finally at rest not having to worry about the next ask of him or the non-stop emails in his inbox (but let's be real, he wasn't worrying about those emails before, and I loved that about him).

  • 2023-03-29 15:09:07 View / Comment (0)

    Tonia Schwichtenberg

    Circa 1990 - Grand Canyon: This was just us being us since the early 90's when we met at the LB Los Altos YMCA! My sweet friend, may you rest in love and peace! Forever in my heart!! I love you!

  • 2023-03-29 14:37:28 View / Comment (0)

    Tonia Schwichtenberg

    It all began at the LB Los Altos YMCA-Friendship since the 1980's-Jean, Kent, Amy.

  • 2023-03-29 14:40:09 View / Comment (0)

    Tonia Schwichtenberg

    Circa early 1990 - Where it all began so many years ago meeting at the LB Los Altos YMCA! This is us and our love, life, and journey together with the remarkable Brian Bob!

  • 2023-03-29 03:58:54 View / Comment (0)
    Jean Smith

    Jean Smith

    Jean Smith

    Brian and our dog Chowder. They love each other very much.

  • 2023-03-29 03:57:02 View / Comment (0)
    Jean Smith

    Jean Smith

    Jean Smith

    A family trip to visit Brian in Oakland. A fun trip in 2010

  • 2023-03-29 04:41:15 View / Comment (0)
    Jean Smith

    Jean Smith

    Jean Smith

    Brian and I met each other in 1987. We were working at the Los Altos YMCA in Long Beach, Ca in the after school childcare program. We became friends instantly and have loved each other for 36 years. He encouraged me to date a man named Kenton that we worked with at the Los Altos YMCA, He thought we would be perfect for each other and he was right, We have been married for 33 years. The three of us got to grow up together. I learned so much about compassion, empathy, human connection, social justice, and have been enlightened by him about what it’s like to be a black man in living in America..We shared many joyous occasions that included “LAUGH OUT LOUD” experiences along with disappointments and health scares. He was a constant source of love and support in my life. Brian will forever be in my heart, and my husband and daughter’s heart and we will miss him everyday for the rest of our lives. Rest in LOVE my sweet, sweet Brian

  • 2023-03-29 03:55:12 View / Comment (0)
    Jean Smith

    Jean Smith

    Jean Smith

    A very young Brian. At the Grand Canyon in 1992. We took 17 teens there for a week of fun and leadership training.

  • 2023-03-29 03:28:23 View / Comment (0)
    Jean Smith

    Jean Smith

    Jean Smith

    Our friend group from the Los Altos YMCA. 1990

  • 2023-03-29 01:35:07 View / Comment (0)
  • 2023-03-28 23:39:55 View / Comment (0)
    Rachel Sherman

    Rachel Sherman

    Rachel Sherman

    Throwback photo of Brian on the big screen at the Night Of Broadway Stars Gala

  • 2023-03-28 23:35:57 View / Comment (0)
    Rachel Sherman

    Rachel Sherman

    Rachel Sherman

    Pride 2018

  • 2023-03-29 00:21:29 View / Comment (0)
    Rachel Sherman

    Rachel Sherman

    Rachel Sherman

    Brian was one of the very first people I met and worked with after moving to New York. I will never take for granted the impact he has left on my life. Brian’s office was right next to the CHNY Legal Department where I used to work. His presence would fill up and brighten our entire corner of the shelter. One of my favorite Brian memories was when my boss, Jeff, decided to attach an entire broom to the bathroom key because people were always losing it. Brian’s face when he came to get the bathroom key and realized this was priceless. Instead of removing the broom and taking just the key as most folks would do, he passive aggressively took the entire thing to the bathroom with him and then pretended to dramatically sweep the floor all around our office on his walk back. He was constantly a source of entertainment. You could always hear him coming from a mile away whether he was laughing loudly with a youth or singing along to the Noname song he was playing on his phone. His contagious joy made even the hard days feel lighter. Nobody was better at working with the young people than Brian was. He was truly one of a kind. I am gutted by this loss, but I take comfort in knowing that hundreds of people are better because they had the privilege of knowing him. I also take comfort in knowing that he lived a bigger and more adventurous life than most do. I know he is resting easy with his sweet baby Millie by his side. We love you and miss you so much, Brian.

  • 2023-03-28 16:54:03 View / Comment (0)
    Eli H

    Eli H

    Eli H

    Brian Bob was the first person my fellow Faith Community members and I saw on our first day at Covenant House New York in August 2017. We met him at Intake Reception, and in true Brian Bob fashion, he had briefly forgotten he was scheduled to give us our first tour. Also, in Brian Bob fashion, it was the most impactful tour anyone could give. He introduced us to everyone–and knew everyone’s name! Brian Bob would go on to become my mentor during my Faith Community year and I would later go on to hold his position in the interim after he moved back to California. One night, after working an all-day fundraising event, he paid for me and my fellow Faith Community members’ Uber ride back home to the Faith Community apartment. A simple gesture but it meant so much to me since I was dreading the long subway ride back home. Brian Bob took care of his people. And we were all his people. He connected with everyone so effortlessly– youth, visitors, volunteers, and staff. Brian was real, he was caring, he could always put a smile on someone’s face, and he lived his purpose. I will miss you, Brian!

  • 2023-03-28 01:50:26 View / Comment (0)
    Pam Sandonato

    Pam Sandonato

    Pam Sandonato

    During my first week on staff at Covenant House International in February 2014, I was invited to shadow Brian for a few hours at Covenant House New York and learn how he engaged youth to support our fundraising. A snowstorm rolled in and most people did not make it into the office that day, so I found myself at CHNY for an entire day with Brian and Tod Monaghan. They welcomed me into every space and introduced me to dozens of young people. We made our way up to the 8th floor conference room where we talked and joked around for hours. They made me feel like I belong. It took me a long time to make my way home that day because the storm kept getting worse, but as soon as I arrived home, I proclaimed to my family that I found my people and my purpose. Every tour I have ever given to a guest of Covenant House is modeled after that first day with Brian. What a gift it is to help sometime feel as though they belong. He did that for everyone. I'll miss you, my friend and one of my most favorite collaborators. XO - Pam

  • Jean Smith 2023-03-29 03:57:02 wrote: A family trip to visit Brian in Oakland. A fun trip in 2010

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