remembering brian mcgill
We lost our friend Brian McGill this past Thursday.
Worked a full shift that day, just as he always did, alongside his buddy Thomas Jones. Said good-bye to the guys as he left the physical plant shop. Waved to folks he knew as he drove off through the Jacobs Gym parking lot on his way home. That was Brian, always friendly, always smiling.
Then, as Friday morning dawned, we learned of his death. The news hit hard. It cut to the quick. It brought tears. Many tears. And truthfully, now, in the aftermath, his loss seems unbelievable, even surreal.
Brian joined the Collegiate family on January 25, 1993, as an HVAC technician and has worked with Thomas for most of those 15 years. When you enter a warm building on a frigid morning or a cool one on a stifling day, those guys are responsible.
Back then, our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems were primitive compared to today’s high-tech operation. Together Brian and Thomas kept up with the times, mastered the new technology, and made our buildings a pleasant place to be, even if it meant getting here early, staying late, or coming in on the weekend.
Several years ago, answered the call for bus drivers and got his CDL license. Many times, he was part of the crew that shuttled Collegiate’s athletic teams to practices in Goochland or to games on the road.
Brian, who was 45, spent much his life in Amelia County. He loved farming, and some of his most enjoyable days were those spent fishing, sometimes with his close friend and colleague Robert Moore.
Brian was a Washington Redskins fan, remained loyal through their ups and downs over the years, and enjoyed an always friendly rivalry with Thomas, whose team is the Dallas Cowboys.
And NASCAR. Just mention NASCAR, and he could talk from first-hand experience, for he made regular trips to Florida for the Daytona 500.
In all honesty, Brian’s friends, and he had many on this campus, are struggling mightily with his loss. It’s too overwhelming. Devastating isn’t too strong a word. We take solace, though, in pulling together and remembering the good times, and what follows are reflections of those who knew him well.
Robert Moore, assistant director of the physical plant: “He’d give you the shirt off his back. There were always people around here that asked for help with something at their house. Replacing hot water heaters was the main thing. He always found time to help people out.
“And he had a great sense of humor. He always made me laugh. “He was my best friend.”
Glen Dandridge, manager in charge of transportation and maintenance who was part of the team that hired Brian: “We saw his experience, and we recognized his attitude and willingness to work. He got better as he went along. He was a great person. And, a distant second, he was a great worker.”
Walter George, a fellow bus driver: “When we’d take teams to Goochland, we’d pass our time while they practiced by walking down to the lake. That was our spot.
“I’d feed the fish, and he’d use his turkey-caller. Every now and then, he’d think a turkey answered, but I don’t think one ever did. We always laughed about it. He was a good friend.”
Keith Sickinger, a veteran of the grounds crew: “When my wife (Pam) died four years ago, a lot of the guys who came out to Goochland (where Sickinger was assigned at the time) to check on me. Brian was one of them. He comforted me during my loss. That was very special.”
Bryan Voltz, who’s responsible for general maintenance and plumbing: “Brian was always willing to lend a hand whether it was with his knowledge or a physical hand. “My son (Lenn, who’s 23) is (now) in Coast Guard boot camp. I’ve been talking to Brian about that, about what my son’s going through. It’s helped a lot.”
Thomas Jones, whom Brian recruited off the general maintenance staff, trained, and taught many tricks of the HVAC trade: “When you met Brian McGill, you found he was one of the best people you could know.
“We became like brothers. We couldn’t be any closer. I will miss him, and I’ll never forget him.”
