Fairport – November 14, 2018. Survived by loving wife of 39 years, Diane; children, Brianne (Sean) Snyder and Adam (Ellie) Thorn; grandchildren, Evan, Nathan, Trevor, Jonah and Liam; parents, Richard and Marie Thorn; brothers, David (Jan) and John (Susan) Thorn; many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Calling hours, Wednesday, November 28th, 10 AM at St. John of Rochester Church, Fairport. Funeral Mass will follow at NOON. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Assoc. of WNY, pcawny.org
Brian grew up on Beechwood Avenue in Poughkeepsie, New York, with his mom, dad, and two older brothers, David and John. He loved riding his bike, playing with his trains, and coin collecting.
He went to Spackenkill High (junior high through 9thgrade), and then, on to Poughkeepsie High School where he graduated in 1973. He loved biology and spent his first two years in college at Duchess Community College. He loved playing the saxophone and was in their Jazz Ensemble. He graduated in 1975 with an AAS in Biology. Brian finished his schooling at Marist College and graduated in 1978, Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.
In 1976, he started working part-time at Sears, Roebuck & Co. After graduating from college, he was offered a chance to, as he used to say, “move up the line”, which he did. Over the next two decades, he was promoted from a mere sales floor manager to a Regional Distribution manager in Albany, which lasted three years. He then went on to become the District Manager for the Buffalo region, and he moved his family out to Rochester, NY, in 1991. After travelling for several years, Brian decided to settle down as a Store manager, first in Irondequoit and then Greece.
In 2004, after 28 years with the company he’d devoted himself to, he was let go. He quickly got a job as a store manager to a group of great people at Comp. USA. When the company closed in 2008, he got yet another store manager’s job at AT&T center until 2011.
It was in June of 2012, after feeling ill for several months that he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. He went through a Whipple Surgery that extended his life, and he stayed in remission for the next five years. These last two years, Brian kept up the good fight. He made many good friends with the Whipple Warriors of Western NY State. He volunteered at St. John of Rochester church in several roles; lecturing, Eucharistic minister and helping to set up their live streaming system.
Brian loved his family, and especially adored his son, daughter, and his five grandsons. They brought him so much joy in these final days. He considered all those who he cared about to be part of his family; his work friends, church friends, and neighbors. He got great pleasure from helping wherever he was needed.
Through good times and bad his dry sense of humor carried him through. His smile was always at the ready along with his pragmatist attitude. And as each bump or road block came up, he would say, “It is what is it.”
Brian will be dearly missed by all his family and friends near and far.
See you in Heaven, Brian, Dad and Grandpa!
We love you!
Comments
3 responses to “Thorn, Brian D.”
I was so glad that I had the opportunity to know Brian. The whole Thorn family is wonderful. May God add his richest blessings to all.
Brian was always a cheerful and energetic person. He was my inspiration and hero as I battled with Breast Cancer. He chided me that if he could beat it, so could I. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. I will meet you in heaven. Love to Diane, Brianne and Adam
I enjoyed Brian’s wit and sense of humor. I wish I had had a chance to say good-by, but my prayers have always been with him and his family. I will continue to pray for them all, and, God-willing, we will meet again in the everlasting joy of heaven.