Brian Thomas Harley

1966 - 2025

Harley, Brian Thomas

April 27, 1966 - January 21, 2025

Brian was born on April 27, 1966, in Bryn Mawr, PA, the youngest of three children. He spent his entire childhood in the suburbs north of Philadelphia.

Brian loved all kinds of animals. As a child, he had pet hamsters, guinea pigs, snakes, mice, tarantula, chinchilla, iguana, cats and dogs. He would frequently bring out his pet snakes for show and tell. One day, he brought his boa constrictor Larry Bowa - named after the famous Phillies player - downstairs to proudly show to one of his dad's friends. The family friend took one look and ran out the front door.

From an early age, Brian also enjoyed learning about the design of engines and the mechanical side of physics. Brian and his older brother Bob shared an interest in shooting off model rockets in Valley Forge Park. To the dismay of his mother, they also enjoy shooting off loud rockets in the backyard. Their dad would sometimes join them, mixing acetylene and oxygen into balloons and exploding them with a lighted fuse. Inspired by his dad, a model train enthusiast, he developed an interest in building airplane models and flying radio-controlled airplanes and helicopters. He shared this interest with other enthusiasts at Valley Forge Park. He was so proficient that he would help them build and fly their model planes.

Brian always loved to have a problem to solve. One of his favorite stories from his childhood was the time the family concocted a plan to eradicate a pest that was living in the walls of their house. He and his brother discovered that their carefully crafted plan to shoot the thing in a way that would neither hurt anybody nor damage the house had one flaw - they forgot to factor in the possibility that the critter might be a skunk!

Brian considered being a vet or a dentist when he was growing up, but eventually decided to pursue a career in aviation. He studied engineering at Penn State, at both the Ogontz campus and the main campus in State College. Always being practical, he wanted to have a degree in engineering as a backup plan in case his preferred career as a pilot did not pan out. During his college years, he received his pilot's license, learned how to fly sailplanes, and earned money (and flight hours) towing sailplanes at a local glider port. After a few years at Penn State, he transferred to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, and completed a B.S. degree in aeronautical engineering.

After graduating from college, Brian worked as an aviation mechanic and commercial airline pilot for US Airways Express. At his own expense he completed a program through Continental Airlines to become jet certified. He was noticed for his talent and hired by Continental Micronesia to fly routes out of Guam. After a few years, he had his choice of Continental hubs and chose Houston, Texas, as his home base. He spent the remainder of his career working for Continental Airlines and United Airlines (post-merger). While he flew the Boeing 737 for much of his life, he was a captain on the Boeing 787 with United Airlines during the last year of his life, flying from the San Francisco base to destinations in Asia.

A year after moving to Houston, he met his future wife Cynthia in 2001 just as she was launching her own career as an anthropology professor at Texas A&M University. Cynthia and Brian got married in 2005, and enjoyed over two decades together. Shortly after they met, they got their first dog together (Splash), and that was when Brian acquired a new nickname as "Pupdaddy." Each of the five rescue dogs that came into their lives over the years hit the jackpot when it came to love, attention, and daily walks.

His love of animals extended to any dog he happened to meet, as well as the cats and horses that Brian and Cynthia took care of on their small farm property. Most of the cats showed up as strays, and Brian always agreed to let one more move into the house (or on more than one occasion, a mama cat and her kittens). In addition to sharing a love for animals, Brian and Cynthia enjoyed nature and adventure-based travel. Some of their most memorable trips included vacations to Alaska, Egypt, Namibia, Tanzania, and Utah.

Brian made friends easily, and was a best friend to many. He had a gift for making people feel comfortable, and remembering all of the small details that friends shared about their lives. Whenever he was stuck on a layover at an airport, he would use the time to chat with his friends. As one of the only people in the world who reads new appliance manuals from cover to cover, he always got a special delight out of helping friends solve mechanical problems. He pursued many hobbies over his lifetime, and enjoyed the process of mastering new skills. He will be greatly missed by many family and friends who shared his love for model airplanes, sailplanes, tennis, windsurfing, frisbee golf, and the stock market.

Brian is survived by his wife Cynthia Werner, his sister Linda Harley (Allan Horwitz), his father-in-law Bob Werner, his step-mother Pat Harley, his aunt Joyce Behrend (Jack), his uncle Eddie Sharp, his cousins Nancy Sharp Ward (Dave), Richard Sharp (Debbie), Kate Gormally, and Mark Murphy, his sister-in-law Joan Pastor Harley, his brothers-in-law Tom Werner (Luz), Bruce Werner (Carole) and Robert Werner (Peggy), step-siblings Katy Ruocco (John), Mike Pendy (Justine Sanchez), and Jill Pendy, and other relatives. He is also survived by two dogs, five cats, and three horses who feel the absence of his presence.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rosemary and Tom Harley, his dear brother Bob Harley, and numerous pets that we hope he has reunited with on the other side of the rainbow bridge.

Friends and family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life on Sunday, March 23rd, from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., at Peach Creek Ranch in College Station, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the animal rescue organizations that saved the lives of his beloved dogs Quito (Aggieland Humane Society in Bryan, TX) and Cali (AnimalVillageNM in Ruidoso, NM).