Brian Gregory Stenstrom took his life on February 6th, 2021. He was the second oldest, with 33 years, 6 months, and 9 days in this world with us.  He was a humanist, and the most social, and most loved, in his large extended family, and loved everyone back with a heart that was ten sizes too big. His devotion and commitment to serve and love family, friends, acquaintances - and strangers - was what people remember most about him. As a boy, he was an Eagle Scout who loved the outdoors, but mostly being with his friends and their families, often playing cards and board games until the early morning hours. Brian struggled in school, and truly disliked it, but to the surprise of his family and friends, he went back to Camden Community College, and labored with great difficulty, steadfastly and quietly for a decade, to earn his Associates of Science (AS) Degree in Business - without ever mentioning a word of it to anyone until he picked up his degree and brought it home. His goal was to be a special needs counselor for children. He remembered his special needs teachers from elementary, middle, and high school fondly, and he was continuing work on his Bachelor’s Degree to this end. He was happiest serving behind the bar at the Irish Pub, in Philadelphia, with his brothers and friends, listening and talking to people from all walks of life. During the past year, he worked with his father, and brother Patrick, in their family business, often bringing his beloved dog, Jill, who would lay at his feet.  Being as social as Brian was, the past year of COVID-19 shut-downs, was extremely difficult, and he had an incredibly hard time being isolated and not being able to see his friends and family.

Only after he passed, and in the last week, did his family learn of numerous, quiet acts of kindness, from hundreds of calls and texts, and that he would often take the clothes and coat from his back, or his last dollar, and give them to friends, patrons, and indigent on the streets, giving comfort to those in need.  Brian shared his kindness, generosity of heart and spirit most, when no one was looking.

It is with that measure of character, and humanist grace in mind, that his family has set up a fund, and will be setting up a permanent Brian Stenstrom Foundation, for unexpected graces, that will focus on providing financial support for those in pain, grief, trouble, or have special needs, that do not fit any particular criteria. The goal will be to do many small things, that will lift people in need that may not know where to turn, or whom to ask, for help.