Brian COLE

COLE, Brian R. 55, of Tampa died tragically and unexpectedly on May 20, 2024. Brian was born into a U.S. Airforce family in San Antonio, TX. As a child, Brian lived in Aviano, Italy, before moving with his family to Tampa in 1975. Brian attended H.B. Plant H.S. and graduated from the University of Florida in 1990. It was in Gainesville that Brian, through his lifelong friend, Craig Rothburd, met his future wife, Julia Mandell, while she was attending UF Law School. Brian worked for many years in the insurance and sales field. Brian loved the Florida Gators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and more recently, became a huge fan of Chelsea F.C. Soccer. Brian also enjoyed boating and fishing, but his greatest passion was live music including the bands Phish, Grateful Dead and Widespread Panic; in fact Brian saved the ticket stubs to over 300 shows/events that he attended. Brian was preceded in death by his mother, Marianne (Lewis) Cole. He is survived by his two children, Morgan and James; his former wife, Julia; his father Dr. Lonnie Cole; his sisters, Brenda (Cole) O'Neil and Sheila Cole. Brian will be greatly missed by his numerous longtime friends from Plant H.S. and UF and his friends from all his beloved activities, including the members of the Phish/TAB/Jamband Couchtour FB page, which Brian co-moderated. There will not be a formal funeral, but a celebration of Cole's life will be held at MacDintons Tampa, where he often watched Chelsea soccer with his son, James, on Father's Day afternoon, June 16, 2024. In honor of Cole, please consider donating to the WaterWheel Foundation.