Brandon Garson

Raleigh Garson Leahy

Sister

Brandon's Funeral Service - Cleveland, Ohio

January 6, 2006

 

My entire life, I always looked out for my brother - maybe too much - but he was, after all, my little brother.  He was the favorite of everyone in my family - we used to joke that he had only child syndrome. 

 

When he was around 5, he got metal bunk beds in his room.  I regularly slept in there - but only on the bottom because I thought if the beds were to break, I should be on the bottom so he would not get hurt.  As BJ grew up, I continued to protect him.  I hurt when he hurt - if someone teased him or hurt his feelings, I would either yell at them or try to put a spin on it to make BJ believe that they were being mean because they were jealous.  Again, I could not bear to see my little brother sad or hurt. 

 

When BJ transferred to Duke his sophomore year, I knew he found a good place for himself.  He made incredible friends, studied a lot (which he liked), and loved the Duke Basketball team.  My Dad and I thought he worked to hard but BJ was driven - he wanted to be as good as he could be at everything he did. 

 

I think one of the hardest things for my brother when my father died was that my Dad never really got to see the man he was going to turn into - what path he would finally end up on.  I do think he knew that my Dad was looking down at him with a huge smile on his face - so proud of who he had become.  

 

Many of you are here because you knew BJ when he was younger, knew my father, or know our family.  I do not think enough of you know the incredible person BJ - or Brandon - had become.

 

Somehow in the last 3 + years, BJ was able to learn something my Dad knew but what many people never learn - the happiness is a journey - not a destination.  He figured out what truly made him happy.  He met someone, found a hobby he loved - kitesurfing - which I think made his move to Miami to be closer to my mom the ideal move - and in Miami he found a job that he adored - and they adored him.  He bought his apartment on the ocean last year - and saying that he loved it and the views from it would be a gross understatement.  I guess there is a sick sort of irony that the balcony he spent so much time on was where he died - but at least I know he was out there enjoying the views he loved so much. 

 

I will miss my brother more than any words can express - his goofy smile, his incredible blue eyes, wacky sense of humor, his laugh, his kindness and generosity, hearing his excitement and how proud he was about everything happening in his life and seeing him with Jane.  He was a best friend who will never be able to be replaced - there will forever be a hole in my heart for my incredible brother.  

 

There is a quote I loved that I think my brother - while he may never had heard it - truly lived by - "work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching".  If you every saw him dance, you would know this is true.