Brian Szymanski Obituary

Thinking of you buddy.

Still think about you every day my friend. Miss having you around.

You are still missed, Brian.

Still thinking about you. Haven't forgotten you for one second. Sending love through the cosmos.

I can't believe that it has been a year since you were taken away but your memory will live on forever in our hearts...we miss you Brian!

My condolences to Brians family, I rode the mountain bike with him every now and then, he truly loved his new bike he got last year, he couldn't of been and happier when he was riding that bike. He was always full of energy and enthusiasm. God bless the Family and Brian.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Szymanski family at this time. Brian had an energetic personality and great love of people around him, I am honored to have known him. Rest in Peace Brian.

Brian and I had many classes together here at NIU. He could always coax a smile no matter the type of day I had. He will always be remembered for his outgoing personality and his challenge to me to keep going and not stop.

We love Brian too!
With our deepest condolences,
Cheryl Povalish, Glenn Riquito, Val Slachetka

To the Szymanski family,I am so sorry for your loss and for what you are going through may the Lord give you the strenght to make it through each day.Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.

It breaks my heart to learn that such a vibrant, interesting and dynmanic man has left us. It is with the heaviest of hearts that I send my condolences.
Bridget Stuckey
Classmate, NIU

Death is nothing
I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I and you are you … whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by my old familiar name – speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me – pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort – without the ghost of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolutely unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?

I am waiting for you … for an interval, somewhere very near …
Just around the corner. ALL IS WELL …………………………………..

Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy. ~Author Unknown
My Deepest Sympathy to the Szymanski Family and may God be with you in the days ahead

Brian will truly be missed. It was a pleasure just knowing you. You touched our hearts.
The Jacobson Family

Brian's enormous heart, energy, and love of life will be missed by so many people that it is unimaginable. The world is a little sadder and darker without Brian. He made a positive impact at every turn, and the hundreds of lives that he touched in his short life are testament to how special he was to everyone he met. His generous spirit, engaging personality, and enormous intelligence will never be forgotten.

I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the Szymanski family. Although Brian and I have not been in touch more than just facebook since we dated, I will never forget how much he taught me about love and life. He could always make me smile, even in the darkest moments. I have always, and will always, have a special place in my heart for him. I hope he has finally found peace, and that his family will too. Much love to all of you.

Brian is the most genuinely friendly person I ever met and his positive demeanor was inspiring. You will be missed, brother.

Brian, words can not express how much you will be missed by so many. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and friends. My memories of you in high school will never be forgotten. You always knew how to make people laugh and for that I thank you and am proud to say I'm glad that I got a chance to know you.

MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO MOM AND DAD AND CASSY N VANESSA. YOU WERE MY SECOND FAMILY GROWING UP AND I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. MY LOVE AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU. BRIAN, YOUR SILLINESS AND NON STEP ENERGY AND YOUR WARM HEART WILL BE MISSED BY MANY. THE PEOPLE YOU TOUCHED ARE LUCKY TO HAVE HAD TO PLEASURE OF KNOWING YOU. C U ON THE OTHER SIDE XOXO. MELANIE SANCHEZ-TUCKER AND FAMILY

To the Szymanski Family......... No words could ever express how sorry I am for your loss. I didn't know Brian well, but I knew he was kind, friendly, and genuine just like his mother. I know how proud you were of him and how much you loved him. I hope you find comfort in knowing that he is discovering all the secrets of the stars and universe that he loved so much. He is with you and you are with him...............always.

Brian you will be missed so much and I will always have those great memories of you me and cassy when we were younger.. love you friend!!!!

Brian, we had fun in High School and am honored to get to know you again recently. You left too soon:-( I will forever miss your beautiful smile and energy. I will never forget you.

Brian,you were one of my best friends for 19 years. To be honest I thought of you and loved you more like a brother than a friend. I cannot even put into words how much my life is forever changed now that you are absent from it. I'll miss you so much. My heart goes out to Cassie, Vanessa and your parents.

My deepest condolences to the Szymanski Family. Brian was a friend and a pleasure to spend time with. I will truly miss his infectious laughter and energy.

Rest in peace Brian. The love and support of family and friends will get everyone who loves you through this. You will be missed every day, and you will always be remembered as a guy with a big heart and an even bigger smile.

Brian, we will always remember you as a friendly, cheerful, energetic guy. I can't imagine what your family is going through. You will be missed every day. Hopefully you have found peace.
With love, the Young family

Our deepest condolences to the loss of your Dear Son and Brother. Who would have thought and we are still in disbelieve. May he find peace and look over you and may the memories of Brian carry you through all of this. With Our Love and Deepest Sympathy - Inge & Tom Hagedorn

My condolences and prayers to the Szymanski Family. You may have lost a son and brother but you have now gained an angel. RIP Brian

Our deepest, most sincere condolences to the Szymanski family on such an awful loss of your loved one, Brian. He was an inspiration to all, whether you met him once or knew him well! God be with you always and know that you have your personal Guardian Angel to watch over you now. With love from The Rich Watson Family

Brian you had an amazing sense of humor. I couldnt imagine Lewis U without you. We were in nearly every class together. You always had a smile and a kind word for others. I truely hope that you are in peace. I will pray for you and your family during this tragic time. RIP Sweetie... you will be missed!!

Brian shared his passion for biking with me. He took me on his favorite trails at Palos. He was always sharing movie trivia and making me laugh. He had such a great energy to him. I will forever be sad that we were not able to take just one more ride together. I am sad to see him go, but am very glad I had the privilege to know him. He had a positive effect on everyone he crossed paths with. Rest in peace my friend. I'll never be able to bike again without first thinking of you.

Brian always had a kind word to say and always brought wisdom when he spoke. I always learned something new when he had something to say. I will miss seeing him in class and in the halls at NIU.

Growing up in grade school with you and Cassy was a blast, I will always remember you as our class clown. It's true, I think of you when I have a few students with a sense of humor. I also enjoyed keeping in touch online because I loved seeing all the things you did that made you happy. Brian, say hello to Chris up there from all your grade school friends.

I knew Brian best about 16 years ago. He was definitely full of life and energy. We lost touch when I left Illinios, and reconnected through Facebook. I was astounded to see what he had accomplished in that short span of time. Destined for greatness. I am sadded by the loss to all of us friends and especially to his family. May yu be comforted by the fact that he is looking down on all of us, smiling that wonderful smile...we miss you, Brian...rest in peace

I pray for Brian's family and friends and that they can find peace. Brian was a kind and intelligent soul since childhood, he will be deeply missed.

Although I haven't seen Brian in a few years, I still considered him a good friend. He will be missed greatly.

You will be missed by me and my whole family. You are my best friend and were always here for me. Now i hope you are looking down and seeing all the love for you that is being shown. I miss you my friend. At least from up there you can look and see you Godchildren all the time.

This week my brother, a great friend, scholar, and overall wonderful person has lost his life. Brian was an amazing friend to many, and has always made it his mission to make others laugh. His intelligence, charitable actions, passion for higher education, and ability to reach out to others was outstanding. He has made a great impact on this world, and anyone who had the privilige of being touched by his words and actions. He will always live on in our hearts. Rest in peace, little brother. I will always love you and carry you with me in my heart every day....

Brian,

You lit up the room the moment you walked through the door...you inspired so many and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know such a wonderful man....may you rest in peace as you surely will be missed!

Brian and I were classmates and collaborators on many projects this semester. I will miss his smile, his enthusiasm and his support. He had the spirit to help and encourage many classmates. I was lucky to known him.

May the Lord Jesus Christ lead and guide you.

May God give the Szymanski family strength to bear this loss, as only He can do, And grant. His loving comfort to your family and to you.

I pray Brian's parents, family, and friends will find peace and know that the NIU community has lost an amazing colleague and friend. May we all live with even a small fraction of Brian's enthusiasm and passion for our world and deep commitment to make it a better place. He was truly a beacon of hope in this world. We are better to have known him.