Bryan was one of those guys who could make you laugh no matter what. You could just walk up to him and he would say something goofy and even if you were having a bad day, it was over. I had not seen him for a really long time before his passing, but thought about him often and wondered how he was. He will be missed at the reunion. May he continue to rest in peace. We miss you buddy!
I sit here and feel so young and yet I've written too many memories of friends gone too soon. Derek is right. Bryan is missed every single day. I should be sitting here eagerly anticipating seeing his lopsided grin in a week and instead I get to wonder how the two of us literally worked next door to each other for years and were too busy to even notice, but Bryan impacted my life in a way that I will never forget.
If it weren't for Bryan Hankus I may not have been able to go to college. There I said it. If this most gifted person had not helped me, I could not have educated the hundreds of students I've been blessed to teach (and this is not an embellishment!).
When I received my acceptance letter from WMU it was conditional based on my grade in Geometry. I was frantic because I loved Mr. Dzwonkiewicz, but I had no idea WTF the man was talking about, so each day for the rest of the year Bryan went over theories and hypothesis and proofs and whatever else they talk about in that abstract world- and I passed with a B.
Now I am not going to say he was always patient, because those of you who knew B, will know that's a lie, but he would just take a deep breath and say, "Ok, one more time." It makes me smile now just to think of his face trying to hold back what he really wanted to say :)
Bryan was so passionate about the things he believed and the way he thought things should be that I feel it's okay to say what I believe - I'm not going to sugar coat this either so if you will be offended please don't read on, but I have to just say how very angry I am - because I'm still hurting and missing him. Since he can not stop me i am going to demand that somehow, someway, Bryan is going to find a way to make us laugh so hard at least one time during the reunion that it makes up for all the tears we are fighting back. And if this happens, I will agree to let go of the hurt I feel and finally begin to celebrate the life of one of the best friends I'll ever know.
I missed my old friend at the reunion. The memorial was nice and I'm glad it was there, but it wasn't the same as seeing my friend's smiling face. RIP Bryan - Love you.
Derek Boik
Bryan passed away early summer 2010. He is missed everyday.
Jacki DeMeulenaere (Zawierucha)
Bryan was one of those guys who could make you laugh no matter what. You could just walk up to him and he would say something goofy and even if you were having a bad day, it was over. I had not seen him for a really long time before his passing, but thought about him often and wondered how he was. He will be missed at the reunion. May he continue to rest in peace. We miss you buddy!
Sue Piercey (Lind)
I sit here and feel so young and yet I've written too many memories of friends gone too soon. Derek is right. Bryan is missed every single day. I should be sitting here eagerly anticipating seeing his lopsided grin in a week and instead I get to wonder how the two of us literally worked next door to each other for years and were too busy to even notice, but Bryan impacted my life in a way that I will never forget.If it weren't for Bryan Hankus I may not have been able to go to college. There I said it. If this most gifted person had not helped me, I could not have educated the hundreds of students I've been blessed to teach (and this is not an embellishment!).
When I received my acceptance letter from WMU it was conditional based on my grade in Geometry. I was frantic because I loved Mr. Dzwonkiewicz, but I had no idea WTF the man was talking about, so each day for the rest of the year Bryan went over theories and hypothesis and proofs and whatever else they talk about in that abstract world- and I passed with a B.
Now I am not going to say he was always patient, because those of you who knew B, will know that's a lie, but he would just take a deep breath and say, "Ok, one more time." It makes me smile now just to think of his face trying to hold back what he really wanted to say :)
Bryan was so passionate about the things he believed and the way he thought things should be that I feel it's okay to say what I believe - I'm not going to sugar coat this either so if you will be offended please don't read on, but I have to just say how very angry I am - because I'm still hurting and missing him. Since he can not stop me i am going to demand that somehow, someway, Bryan is going to find a way to make us laugh so hard at least one time during the reunion that it makes up for all the tears we are fighting back. And if this happens, I will agree to let go of the hurt I feel and finally begin to celebrate the life of one of the best friends I'll ever know.
Heather Milton (Wahl)
I missed my old friend at the reunion. The memorial was nice and I'm glad it was there, but it wasn't the same as seeing my friend's smiling face. RIP Bryan - Love you.