Brian Douglas Britton

It’s with a tear in my eye that I write this memorial and say goodbye to my good friend Brian. His is a life taken way too soon but I’m fortunate to have been part of Brian’s journey and grateful for the ways he has enriched mine. Together we shared many laughs and experiences. Brian had a big personality and could take over a room with his storytelling and humour. Conversely, he had a caring, empathetic side that could be seen in some of our more heartfelt conversations.

Some of my lasting impressions of Brian are his insistence that The Cars first album should be considered the greatest debut album of all time and his incredible memory for quoting Seinfeld episodes. Together and with others we shared late nights at the DRC clubhouse, his captaincy on the Douglas Rugby Club’s tour to England/Scotland, ice fishing, golf trips, Beastquake in Seattle and his celebrity status as the Pope during the Las Vegas rugby 7s. Furthermore, Brian was one of a handful of people that followed international rugby and could be counted on to analyze the weekend’s games.

While I feel a hole in my heart from Brian’s passing, we’re all better people for having Brian in our life. I love you, Buddy.

My Uncle Brian was much more than just an uncle to me. He had many names in my life such as my ‘fill-in father’ for father daughter dances, the Trivia King during christmas eve, and my Uncle B.

He taught me how to do a trick with grandfather's pool table and what happens when you shake a bottle of Pepsi too hard. And as much as I’ll remember him for those things, I’ll remember him for his endless perseverance and love for his family the most.

I’ll miss my uncle every family get-together when I don’t feel like small talk anymore and wish someone was there to play a game with me. I’ll miss him whenever I play pool with my friends or in the basement at my grandparents' house. I’ll miss him whenever I see my two cousins Ella and Ben that look just like him, and I’ll think about him every time I see my family and wish the funniest person was there too.

Wherever he is now, I can only hope he is as loved there as he was here.

We are devastated by the sudden loss of Brian. What started as a connection between teammates grew into a close friendship that extended beyond the pitch and lasted for many years. He was a key member of our Tight 5 team (mechanical insulation) since joining us 28 years ago and his support of our family was immense. We have connected over the years with his family for whom our thoughts are with at this time. Brian’s quick wit, energy and passion for life will be greatly missed.

How lucky Am I to have the honour of having Bri as my brother.
He was the baby of the family and having two older sisters he was forced to be dressed up like a doll, paraded up and down the street in the stroller and fiercely protected by us.

He was an avid hockey lover and was very blessed to have his son share the same passion and equally talented as himself from a very young age.
His passion was his children. He was the Coach, the tutor with homework, his daughter shared the love of cooking he did and he gave her the freedom and independence to explore the kitchen. Ben and Ella were his entire world.

He was the music man and he is who you want on your team for music trivia or any other trivia with all his random facts. He was the King of the one liner comebacks and the comedian in the crowd and left with new friends any where he went. His personality was magnetic and people respected him for his hard work and genuine personality.

He was the Uncle who would tease and get the kids in trouble when younger and do it again 10 minutes later. “Funckle Bri” always there to be goalie in hallway hockey poke checking and tripping and fighting the penalty given. He was the chaperone to the nieces dances and the guidance all the kids needed.

Bri you will be missed more than we could ever put into words and loved forever.
Thank You for all the wonderful memories ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I had the pleasure of sharing the Rugby field with Brian at Douglas Rugby Club, some of the best memories in my life!
A gentleman on and off the pitch!
Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and friends through this time from Australia!

Brian had such a great heart for others, and it made him a great rugby teammate, coach and father. I looked up to him so much when I was a young player, and so thankful for the confidence and encouragement he showed me. Reading the comments from his son and daughter here made me remember how much he loved being a dad, and how much he loved them. I am praying for the entire Britton family, and all those who will miss him dearly. I am so thankful for the life of Brian Britton.

Brian will be greatly missed. He was an amazing hockey coach to my son. Always very encouraging and positive. He made sure the kids had fun while also learning and developing on the ice.
The rink won’t be the same with you Brian. Sully and the rest of the Pirates will never forget you.

Our hearts are saddened by the news of Brian passing. Brian was a class act as a father, a husband, a teammate, a friend and more. Our thoughts and prayers to the family in this time of grief.🙏❤️

Dave ONeill

What a fun guy to be with. Had a lot of great memories with him. Life can be so cruel sometimes. I’m glad I had the chance to know him for a while.

We are going to miss you Brian. Very few had your kindness and genuinity. Love you Brother

Gutted to hear about Brian's passing. A great Rugby player and proud club member and supporter of both the Douglas Rugby Club and the United Rugby Club. Brian was always able to crack a joke, be a smartass, but would be there whenever needed, and was often seen at the smoker as well as on the sidelines for game days.

I found a photo from 1997, early in Brian's rugby career with Douglas. He is the super fit guy in the front row with his 6 pack on full display !

Continue to boss around the big boys and snipe the rucks. Brian, you will be missed.

I'll always remember Brian Britton as an incredible father who put their needs And wants before his. He was a great teammate and even better friend.
We had many laughs and adventures that I will always remember and tell for a very long time. We will all miss you, Britton. RIP knowing your family and friends will be there for you kids .
Cookie 🍪 and family

My dad was an amazing person whose smile could light up a whole room. He was my biggest supporter for lacrosse. He encouraged me to be more aggressive and try new things. He understood how I felt when it came to schoolwork and how much I struggled. He always told me to never give up and that’s one of the reasons why i didn’t fail math he spent every minute trying to make me and my brother happy if it was letting us pick a song in the car or going out for dinner. He always found a way to put a smile in our faces. I have a lot of special memories and I will always hold them in my heart. I love you dad 💙

My Dad was a good Dad. He was a good Hockey Coach. He was my biggest supporter. I Love him and will miss him.

I'm heartbroken to hear about Brian's passing.

I had the privilege of working alongside Brian at Tight 5, and I'll always remember him as a great coworker and an even better friend. He was someone you could count on, and he made work better just by being there.

My heart especially goes out to his children, Isabella and Benjamin. I hope they always know how much their dad was respected, cared about, and remembered by the people who worked with him. Brian was hands down one of the best fathers I have ever met. Wishing the kids,and all of Brian's family, strength and peace during this incredibly difficult time.

Rest in Peace, Brian. You will always be loved and never forgotten.

Brian was a huge part of the Douglas rugby club. His love of the fellow players was absolutely legendary as well as laughter. He will be missed very much.

Is there a funeral or service?

A core memory will always be my uncle Brian showing up with corsages and taking my sibling and I to our schools ‘father daughter ball’ when my dad was too sick to do so.
I will always remember him as the cool uncle that would pretend to chase us around with chainsaws in my grandparents backyard or shake pop bottles until they exploded in my parents garage. I am very lucky to be able to call him my uncle.

We were blessed to have had Brian join our extended family through his marriage to Erin; while they were no longer together, they shared the common bond of their beautiful children, Ella and Ben, the beloved treasures they created during the best years of their marriage.
Brian always had a special place in our family and he will be dearly missed. Brian was a fun, caring, smart and witty person, always an entertaining story teller at our family gatherings. Above all, Brian was a devoted father to his children; this loss is the greatest heartache, for Ella and Ben especially, and also for Erin who now must navigate their futures without their beloved father.
Brian, we were blessed to share in many life moments with you at family gatherings and we will treasure the fun times and the memories created.
Brian will hold a special place in our hearts forever more..

Jim and Barb and family- I’m very sorry to hear that Brian has passed on. He was a very nice person and I remember the fun times Brian had at Christmas when we all were together as a family.

I was so incredibly lucky to have Brian as my Brother in Law. I have many memories that will stay with me forever like when he took me out for the night to show me his hometown of Sarnia or when we played on a ball hockey team together. When I was going through a tuff time with medical issues, Uncle Brian showed up in his suit and corsages for my daughters when I wasn’t able to attend the Father Daughter dance at school. It was amazing watching him with his children he was a amazing Father. Uncle Brian, you will be missed by us all and I thank you for being such a incredible man and Brother in Law.