Brian David Evans

Brian David Evans 21 year-old son of Elizabeth and Dave and older brother of Grant, died tragically on Sunday morning, September 24. Brian slipped and fell from the roof of his residence in Boston, where he had recently begun his third year at Northeastern University. Brian was a political science major and was enthusiastically planning his first internship to commence in January 2007. Brian had an affectionate, engaging and eclectic personality. He was a gourmand from a very young age; he loved art, design and color and had a strong sense of his unique personal style. Brian was open, outgoing and welcoming, with a vivid imagination and a wry sense of humor. As a young boy, he played ice hockey, soccer and baseball with local club teams; he ran cross-country and track in high school. Brian took up snowboarding in 7th grade and loved it so much that he attended several summer camps in British Columbia, improving his skills and technique on the Canadian glaciers. From infancy, Brian and his family have enjoyed sailing their boat on San Francisco Bay. For the past several years, Brian joined family and friends in the Friday night regatta series during the spring and summer. While at Northeastern, Brian pursued his love of sailing as a member of the club sailing team, honing new skills on the Charles River. Brian's passion for music first expressed itself in singing with the Ragazzi Boys Chorus. In later adolescence and continuing until the present, music became the glue that bound many of his closest friendships as, together with his buddies, Brian made, mixed and synthesized music for themselves and others. All three of the friends Brian roomed with at Northeastern are music technology majors and accomplished musicians. Brian had a brilliant mind with incredible curiosity about the world and everything in it, yet his academic performance was challenged by dyslexia and ADHD. The depth of his intuitive understanding of mathematics and science often took teachers by surprise. In Brian's elementary and middle school years, he took great pride in stumping teachers with his science fair projects. Although facing difficult odds, Brian was determined to succeed. He was fortunate to attend Charles Armstrong School, a nationally recognized school for dyslexic children in Belmont. With the support of his family, friends, teachers and counselors, Brian graduated from Junipero Serra High School in 2004 and earned an academic scholarship to Northeastern. Brian thrived in the vibrancy of San Francisco; he was happiest combing through used record stores, "stylin'" courtesy of a combination of thrift stores and designer boutiques, listening to music and "chillin'" with his friends both here and in Boston. Brian always enthusiastically volunteered to be a personal tour guide to family and friends visiting either of the cities he so enjoyed. Despite their seven-year age difference, Brian and his younger brother Grant had a close, loving and playful relationship. He was Grant's biggest fan in both academic and athletic endeavors. A loving son and brother, Brian's favorite times with his family were engaging debates at dinner, family holidays and sharing varied, adventurous and exotic vacations - whether in the ranches and jungles of Brazil, body surfing and kayaking on the East coast, riding a camel in Egypt, snorkeling in the Red Sea, bartering on market days in Italy and France, sailing and exploring the reef in Belize, or simply learning to surf in San Diego, water skiing in the Delta or driving the Coast highway. Through all of his experiences, Brian learned the value of tolerance and diversity and developed a keen sense of fairness and compassion; he co-founded the Diversity Club at Junipero Serra H.S. These principles became central to his view of the world. It is an even greater tragedy that Brian's life was cut short before he could fully share his skills, talents and passion with a larger community. Brian will be deeply missed by Elizabeth, David and Grant; by his grandparents, Mary and Joe Asip and Betty and Jerry Evans; by his extended family and his many friends, both locally and across the country. A viewing will be held Fri., Sept. 29, 4-7pm at Sneider & Sullivan & O'Connell's Funeral Home, 977 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo 94402. A Memorial Service will be held Sat., Sept. 30, 11am at St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church, corner of Alameda de las Pulgas and Crystal Springs Rd., San Mateo, CA 94402. In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, the family requests memorial contributions be made to The Brian Evans Memorial Fund, c/o Peninsula Community Foundation, 1700 S. El Camino Real #300, San Mateo, CA 94402 (650) 581-4372.