Brian L. KOSKI

KOSKI, Brian L.

With his family at his side, Brian Leonard Koski, 64, passed away at home on May 27, 2013. He was a resident of Highland Park, Pittsburgh, PA for the past 17 years. Brian leaves behind his lifelong friend and beloved wife of 22 years, Allyson Holtz; cherished children Jude Koski (Sanjai Moses) of San Francisco and Jake Koski (Kathryn Armstrong) and adored granddaughter, Lia Armstrong Koski of New Haven, CT. The oldest son of the late Emil "Lee" and Jeannette (Lariviere) Koski, Brian was predeceased by brothers David and Robert and granddaughter, Eliza Jude Koski. Born in Camp Hill, PA on July 11, 1948, Brian grew up in Hartford, CT graduating from the Noah Webster School and Hartford Public High School. He attended Bradley University, Peoria, IL. A lifelong athlete - swimmer, soccer player, golfer, marathoner and triathlete - a summer lifeguard position connected Brian to the American Red Cross and was the beginning of a 35- year career in healthcare and Blood Banking. Working with multi-national corporations - AT&T, Johnson and Johnson, United Technologies (Pratt and Whitney), and Hamilton Standard, Brian designed systems, for increased corporate donation programs, that became standards for the blood banking industry. He spent over 17 years with the American Red Cross Blood Services (Connecticut and Wisconsin). Other positions included Florida's Blood Centers, Regional Administrative Director; Virginia Blood Services; Senior Vice President, Operations; Community Blood Centers of South Florida, Chief Operating Officer; Pittsburgh's Central Blood Bank, Vice President for Corporate Development. More recently Brian served as Executive Director of Operation Valor Arts, a 501c3 non-profit organization assisting veterans with education and training through the design and construction of public art. Our family will cherish memories of the rounds of golf Brian played with his parents and son, Jake; his dedication to coaching Jude's and Jake's soccer teams; his love of photography and delight that his granddaughter is following in his footsteps and the creative talents he applied to his woodworking. Buck and Pearl are still waiting for their next walk on the park trails with "Pop". May his memory be a source of strength and a blessing.
Memorial services in Hartford and Pittsburgh are planned for later in the summer. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Brian's name to Operation Valor Arts: a Veterans' Initiative, P.O. Box 5224, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.