Farewell my work husband

I found out at 12:45 Monday (5/9/16) that my work husband from my previous job passed away of a massive heart attack while he was working out. He wasn't yet 29. He was getting married, in Greece on May 19th. Up until I was diagnosed, I was planning on attending his wedding in Greece, but my surgery is scheduled for day I was to leave...

Brian was the kindest, sweetest, most caring man I have ever met. 3 months after we started working next to each other at JPMORGAN, I had a total knee replacement. I didn't know anyone yet in Delaware, and Brian would check in on me every day to see what I needed. He even took an afternoon off work to drive me to Philly for my doctors appointment. He would do anything for a friend, and after some time, I really considered him my work husband, as we became family.

He made work fun... he always had a joke, played around, but took his job seriously. He made everyone laugh, and always made everyone feel welcome and appreciated.

Brian coined the phrase Chillin' and Billin', which helped you let go of the things you could not change at work and move past the things that irritated you.

Once Brian found out I spoke Spanish, he and I and Jason (Cubano from Chicago that sat by us) spent many hours a week ranting, raving, joking, poking fun at each other in Spanish. My Spanish improved, and we had a blast at work.

Brian helped me appreciate Delaware more, and he and Marina invited me out to a few fun evenings. When in their presence, everyone always felt welcome.

Since moving, not a day has gone by that I haven't missed sitting by Brian and laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I've reached out to him often since leaving Delaware, but you know how it is... you look back and regret not reaching out more now that someone you cared about is gone. The last time we spoke, we wished each other well, made some joke, and I asked him to post lots of pictures of his wedding so that I could see what I was missing.

I missed him then. I miss him now. The world has lost an incredibly ambitious, smart, talented, stable, funny, carrying, compassionate, worldly, amazing, fun, graceful, caring man. There will never be anyone like him again.

Keep chillin and billin, my friend. You were one of a kind, and an amazing human being!

Con todo mi corázon!

💔💔💔