Brian K. Lusk
1959-2004

A wee bit of a page dedicated to my brother.

To read
Brian's Eulogy,
click here

Brian had a lot of interests; maybe not so much hobbies - I think his hobby was getting home after work and sitting down and relaxing in front of his very large TV.

He did love music and small time betting. He used to have the guys from work over every once in awhile to play cards. And he and his co-workers would bet on sports and even the television show Survivor - a show I can't even bear watching, let alone betting on!

What he loved the most I think though was music - he had a lot of rare or hard-to-get tracks. He also had a lot of music on his computer - there must be at least 1,000 tracks!

He had a lot of guitar heroes - Steve Vai, Robin Trower, Pat Travers, Frank Marino, Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore - too numerous to name.

My favourite group is Deep Purple, and although I can't say they were Brian's, they were one of his favourites. So it is very fitting that on Feb. 21, 2004, Brian and I went down to Toronto to see Deep Purple. This was no ordinary concert - Brian and I had backstage passes!

This was beyond our wildest dreams. And even though Brian was not a highly-animated guy, inside he was chewing nails.

After the concert we got to talk briefly with the guys and get our picture taken with each one of them. One of the highlights of Brian's life I know.
(see pic at right).

Sadly, we purchased tickets for another Purple gig for Aug. '04. Also on the bill was Joe Satriani, another of Brian's guitar heroes. Of course I went, in tribute to Brian.

A SIGNATURE: An abstract reminder of the fleeting time we spend here walking planet Earth.

Son, brother, uncle, gone way too soon...

We all got the shock of our lives of course when my brother Brian passed away in June, 2004. He had diabetes, so we were always worried that he could go - but we really didn't think it would happen this suddenly.

Brian leaves his mother Margo, his brothers Bill and Ken and sister Cathy; brother-in-law Roy and sisters-in-law Mary and Kerri; neices Tatiana, Monica and Joanna and nephew Jared. He also leaves many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Brian had a constant struggle with his diabetes. Diabetes to me is like a war - and someone has to lose the war, and Brian did. It is very hard to control, and if you don't have it under control, you lose. But, he enjoyed his life. He had his own home, and could do whatever he wanted there - whether it was listening to music, watching lame shows like Survivor, or trying to cook something edible - he was in his element.

I thought it would be easier to sit down and write about Brian, but I find myself suffering a lack of words. I spent practically my entire life with him - I have it all in my head, but it doesn't seem to translate easily into words. And that's OK, I just wanted to share something of Brian's life with others.

Because Brian and I were so close in age, we "hung" around a lot together - I guess you could say for 40 years, give or take. And sometimes I am sure he would have preferred it otherwise. For example, Brian is an 18 year-old "happenin' dude", and guess who shows up? - his 15 year-old younger brother! But, his friends had brothers or sisters who were my age, so a lot of the time, we all ended up hanging around together.

During the '70s in Montreal we all hung around as a gang. When we moved from Montreal to Hornepayne in 1979 (yes, Horneypayne), Brian went off to Ottawa to attend college. Billy and Cathy stayed behind in Montreal. A couple of years later Brian joined us in Hornepayne and began working on the railway.

Less than two years later, Mom, Dad, Brian and I moved back to Capreol. From then until I took my first real job in Terrace Bay, Ontario, we all lived in Capreol together, first on Ferguson Street then Hanna, where my mom still lives.

Brian is shown at left drinking what I thought was his first legal beer at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. This is the summer of course, so Brian wouldn't turn 17 for four or five months. So I guess he's having an illegal beer!

We had some interesting times when I would go along with Brian and his friends to the bars in Montreal when I was underage. Brian would lend me clothes so I would look older. I think they only made me look silly - I cut quite a figure in his '70s neon pants and platform boots. I had to step gingerly not too fall over. I remember one night it worked for quite awhile, but finally I was "carded" and kicked out.

I remember being all excited because in 1979 I would be 17 and could legally go to the bar. Then just before my birthday, Quebec upped the drinking age to 18 - and I had to wait another year! Then we moved to Ontario, where the drinking age was 19! Then I had to wait two years!

Brian had a lot of friends in Montreal. The most popular hang-out was of course our house, so it sure was easy for me to hang with Brian and his friends. But usually after a short time, Brian would tell me to vamoose.

Brian, like some kind of guru, surrounded by a few of his friends: Silva Gore on Bobby Jones' knee, and Peggy Cahill on the right. I don't remember the name of the guy on the left.

I was running around the streets of Montreal with my friends, and ran across Sherbrooke Street at the wrong time. A Ford Capri hit me dead on. I was thrown 40 feet across the snow-covered road. The impact broke the femur, tibia and fibula in my left leg, and caused major bruising in many places.

Both Brian and I had our share of broken bones. In addition to this accident, I also broke my left collar bone when I jumped off a building into some leaves - the leaves weren't very soft.

I think Brian broke his collar bone twice - once when he was the one on the bottom of a football scrimmage, and once when he fell off the handlebars of a bike. He was getting a lift down Girourd Street in Montreal - if you knew that street, you would know it wasn't a good idea..

Brian's fortunes changed greatly in the early '90s when he became a full-time employee of the Canada Revenue Agency. He was finally able to "get out of the house" and he purchased his first house on Attlee Street in Sudbury. It is a beautiful, three-bedroom home in a very nice area.

Brian's memory will live on in all of us. It hasn't been easy. It is especially hard for his mother - losing a child is one of the most difficult losses to experience. Losing a brother or sister is pretty hard too.

Brian was thinking about getting a cat, and the last time I talked to him, I called to see if he had the cat. I told him my son Jared and I would like to come and visit, with him and the cat. He said, "Oh, you're only going to visit if I have a cat?"

Later Bri.

Brian with one of his guitar heroes Steve Morse.

Brian Kenneth Lusk

Brian is the beloved son of Margo Betty (Giles) and the late Kenneth George (predeceased in 1995) of Capreol, Ontario. Brian was a wonderful brother to William and Maria, Catherine and Roy, and Kenneth and Kerri. He will be sadly missed by his nephew Jared and his nieces Tatiana, Joanna and Monica. Brian will also be missed by his aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Brian was born in Sudbury, Ontario, on October 31, 1959. He lived with his family in Capreol, Brampton, Montreal and Hornepayne. Brian moved to Sudbury...in 2002...and 'lived' his life the way he enjoyed it.

Brian shared a love of music with his brother Ken, 'loved' playing cards with Jared and reading to his nieces. He enjoyed his weekend card parties with his friends.

Brian was an employee of the Canada Revenue Agency. The family is grateful to Brian's colleagues for the care given to him. Brian was a gentle soul and his laughter and smile will stay with us forever.