Brian L. Stachitus

Brian Lee Stachitus joined loved ones in heaven and passed away peacefully with his wife and daughter by his side on August 6, 2023. He was a resident of Boerne, Texas and more recently, Cold Spring, NY.

Brian was born in Buffalo, NY, the youngest son of John Walter Stachitus and Elizabeth Ann (Picton) Stachitus. He grew up and attended school in the Depew/Lancaster area near Buffalo, NY. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Geology from The University at Buffalo (UB). In 1983 he married his wife of 40 years, Christine Pogorzala of Lockport, NY.

After moving to Houston, TX, he began a long and successful career as a geophysicist. Brian was always a diligent and devoted employee and took his work seriously. His peers remember him as a cheerful team player and a top notch scientist. 

His work brought him and his family to many parts of the US and World including California, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas. He and his wife had the wonderful opportunity to live in Stavanger, Norway for 3 1/2 years allowing him and his family to travel and visit places throughout Europe. Brian was able to meet family relatives in Lithuania and his wife's relatives in Poland.

He has one beautiful and talented daughter, Kathryn Ann Selman, son-in-law, Stephen and two precious grandchildren, Corey, 4 and Sierra, 2. Brian loved to play ice hockey and during his High School days would rise at 4:00am to get some rink time with his buddies. He was a newspaper delivery boy. Brian loved to garden. His pride and joy was his cactus collection of many varieties. He found joy in planting seeds and acorns and starting new plants. He enjoyed bicycle riding and completed the MS 150 in Texas numerous times. Hiking in nature was a love of his and a favorite place was Big Bend National Park.

Brian was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. Many remember his quirky sense of humor and his quick wit.  He enjoyed playing games especially Dominoes and Scrabble. Once retired, he completed a daily crossword puzzle. He enjoyed a variety of music which ranged from 60’s and 70’s hits including The Kinks, Classic Rock to Composer Grieg and a favorite was Pachelbel Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel. Brian loved animals and had beloved dogs Nikki, Kelley and Riley B.

Brian is survived by his wife Christine, daughter Kathryn Ann Selman, son-in-law Stephen Selman, grandchildren Corey and Sierra, his sister Donna Costrino, brother Frank and many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

He loved to play practical jokes and have fun. The joke he remembered most and told often was:

Last night I dreamt I was a muffler… 

I woke up totally exhausted.

Donations to Pancreatic Research would be gratefully appreciated. You can make a memorial gift to Brian Stachitus here: https://secure.pancan.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2681&mfc_pref=T&2681.donation=form1

A mass to celebrate Brian’s life will take place on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Loretto, 24 Fair Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516.