Brian showing his Irish pride
Brian Walsh
1967 – 2012
Eulogy written by Brian Gracie
My name is Brian Gracie, longtime friend of Brian Walsh, my best friend. Here to forward referred to fondly and simply as “Walsh”. We stopped using first names many years ago.
Brian Walsh had many friends as you can see and I thank God that I was fortunate enough to be one of them. I met Walsh freshman year in college at James Madison University. It was 1985. Brian at the time was 5’3” tall and weighed approximately 115 lbs. He was funny, genuine, caring, and went out of his way to take interest in you and to make feel good about yourself. These qualities stayed with him for life. We instantly bonded and became friends (he was almost like a little brother that I never had.)
A year later I rushed Brian’s fraternity that he joined as a freshman and Brian chose me to be his little brother in the fraternity. Over the next couple of years, Walsh became the leader of our 125 person fraternity. I don’t think he intended to be the leader, but he was the one guy in the fraternity, whom everyone liked, could relate to and trusted. We often said, Walsh should consider politics and running for office.
Brian Walsh in college should have founded Facebook, but instead majored in political science. He was forever taking pictures at events and parties, some of which we might now need to destroy. He got this from his parents, especially his dad, Bill. Once Bill met you, you were on the list to get correspondence. In college – pre-cell phone, e-mail, and texting – Bill would send pictures, newspaper & magazine & articles of interest, to you in your mailbox. Thank you Bill and Elaine for Brian and for this wonderful gift. Brian’s gift earned him the “Phoenix Man’ Award in college chosen by a leading sorority not be named, a record number of times. At the time, he was taking all of these pictures, I often razzed him about being a “girl”. Later in life, we would be together with old friends and Walsh would take out pictures from events that occurred 15, 20 years earlier. I will treasure these images and memories and cling to them forever.
After graduation, and several 100,000 beers, Walsh now 5’8” and 165 lbs (you do the math) was going to Plano, TX where the Walsh’s had moved following JC Penny’s move from New Jersey. We all went to work and stayed in touch. Walsh was much better at this than any of us. I spoke with him often, and after college I felt a hole in my life not having him around.
I tricked Walsh into moving to Baltimore in May of 1990. Walsh flew to Baltimore on a Thursday night in order to go to Preakness on Saturday. I picked him up late at the airport and we went directly to the Green Turtle in Fells Point. At closing time, we were heading home I informed him that we were going to meeting my boss, Jim Morgan, the next morning for breakfast. I knew if I could get these 2 guys in the room together something good would happen, and it did. Obviously, Jim loved Walsh and created a new position for him to become a management trainee, which we never had at our company before. Thank you, Jim.
Walsh moved to Baltimore and it was unreal. It was my job to introduce him to people – what a joke! I can’t tell you the number of times, and the number of people who he met and said that Walsh is the greatest, what year did he graduate from Dulaney. Eventually I just started saying 1985. He attended the 5 and 10 year Dulaney reunions. Brian was a man of great faith. He regularly attended bible study group, and when my son, Connor, was born, it was an easy decision as to who to ask to be his godfather.
Walsh met the love of his life Amy shortly after moving to Baltimore. It was almost love at first sight. Brian kept a lot of that stuff to himself, but it was clear by his actions, that this was it. Initially, it was a little adjustment for Amy having to share Brian with so many different people. It takes a while to learn how to adjust to being with a rock star. Amy was a perfect complement for Walsh. Watching their love grow for each other over the last 16 years was inspirational. Amy, you are an amazing woman. You have been a tremendous mother, spouse and teammate. Thank you so much for sharing Brian with us. We collectively all want to be there for you and the kids for years to come.
Mackenzie, Sean and Kelly – your dad adored each one of you. He lived to be with you three. I would always try to get Walsh to do things early in the morning before work, workout, do early breakfast meetings, but he rarely did it because he wanted to be with his kids before they went to school. That time was important to Walsh. The Walsh’s took a lot of family vacations – to the Hargest’s in Arizona, the Walsh’s in Texas, and the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Brian really enjoyed and treasured these times.
7 years ago, Walsh made a transition from management into a full-time financial advisor. We again recruited him to join out firm and his office has been right next to mine. Walsh with the help of many of my colleagues was extremely successful. Growing his business four-fold in 7 years.
As I walk into that office now, I see stuff everywhere, magazines, files, pictures of friends and his family. It is like a treasure vault! On the wall hangs a letter from Sean, his 11 yr old son, and I am going to read it to you.
Sean’s Letter
My dad inspires me to enjoy my life by being a great role model. He shows me what he values through his actions. My father makes friends easily, works hard at his job, and loves our family. I want to be just like my dad.
I know it is important to do good in school. So if something is hard to understand, my dad probably has a short cut so it’s easier to understand. My father has told me to be respected you have to respect others. He also told me that you have to have good manors to gain that respect because he has a whole lot of friends. When I grow up I want to be just like my dad.
Sean, that is an awesome letter, and I think a whole of lot of people should try and grow up & be just like your dad. We will all really miss him.