Obituary of Brian Kelman

Brian Andrew Kelman, aged 38, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 10, 2014, in his home in Tucson, AZ. Brian was born in Rochester, MN, to Joan and Donald Kelman. He was a dual citizen of the USA and Canada and lived most of his young life in Prince George, BC, with summers spent in Marshfield, WI. As a child he displayed an uncommon aptitude for designing and building, especially planes or anything associated with flight. At the age of 18, he was accepted to the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he studied aerospace engineering and completed his Bachelor’s degree. During his time at the U of A, he wrote a weekly single frame comic strip called Planet X, which mixed science fiction, anthropology, zoology, satire and casual observation of social behavior into one absurd whole. It suggested elements of The Far Side, by Gary Larson, seen through Brian’s peculiarly off the wall sense of humor. In his 20’s, Brian began working in restaurants, particularly Zachary’s Pizza, where he often took a leadership or managerial role. This close-knit group of coworkers gave him a chance to experience the dynamics that characterize a fulfilling work life. During this time he forged friendships with people who remained close to the end of his life. In 2007 Brian started his career as an EMT at Southwest Ambulance. He was very attentive and skilled at his work, caring for the sick, and demonstrated a professionalism that was an example to his peers. He was loved and respected by his coworkers at Southwest Ambulance, where he formed many friendships personally and professionally. Brian pursued many passions in his life, including Karate, competitive cycling, and a variety of artistic media, from drawing to found object sculpture. His fondness for the natural landscape particularly informed his love of cycling, hiking, camping and outdoor adventures – he was hilarious, audacious and entertaining as a travel companion. He became a skilled wood worker, focusing particularly on turned objects. This direction, combined with a lifelong devotion to engineering, led him to begin training as a machinist, at which he also excelled. Brian regularly combined these seemingly disparate passions to design and build functional objects from a solar oven to a spinning wheel. He was known to create from scratch contraptions for his many friends, both as an act of generosity, and because of the obvious pride he took in the creative process. Brian will be remembered for his intellect, creativity, lightning-quick sense of humor, generosity and empathy. He was endlessly kind and understanding, did not judge others unfairly, and his smile and laugh will be remembered by all who had the fortune to be in his presence. Brian is survived by his parents Joan and Donald, his stepmother Cynthia, his siblings Carl, Melanie, Leslie and Craig, and his extended family in Canada, as well as his adoptive family of friends in Tucson. An informal gathering of family and friends will take place on Friday, October 17, 2014 at the Lodge On The Desert, 306 N Alvernon Way, 85711, in the Palm Room. Guests may begin to arrive at 6:30 for light appetizers and drinks, followed by speakers beginning around 7:30 and an open mic afterward. We hope this provides an opportunity to share memories with Brian’s family and friends. Visit Brian’s Facebook Page for more details, and an event link, or to contribute photos to the slideshow.