Brian D Hartwick

Brian Douglas Ross Hartwick passed away on February 12th, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, after a long and full life of 75 years. Born on November 7th, 1950, in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, affectionately known by the family as “the Motherland”. Brian could build or mend nearly anything, filled rooms with laughter with his sharp, dry wit, and charmed everyone he encountered with his signature blend of kindness and ease.

Brian was a devoted husband to the love of his life, Liz, with whom he shared 42 years of partnership, worldwide adventures, and countless stories. He was the wildly proud father of two daughters: Andrea, his partner in crime, and Chelse (Sean), his fellow lover of jokes and cars. He is also survived by his younger sister, Char (Myron), with whom he shared a bond that meant the world to him.

Brian was intelligent, endlessly patient, kind, and genuinely capable of doing anything. He loved Colorado, The Beach Boys, telling jokes, spending time with his family, and anything that moved fast enough to require an engine or propeller.

His childhood was marked by summers along the shores of Drag Lake with his grandparents, and his teenage years by drag-racing through the streets of Detroit. These were two early signs of his lifelong passion for all things mechanical and his tendency to live life exactly as he wanted, even when that meant pushing the limits.

Brian’s exceptional aviation career began in Colorado, where he joined (and eventually owned) a flying club where he was a flight instructor. He later went on to fly internationally as a commercial pilot for 35 years, sharing the magic of flight with anyone curious enough to ask. His family learned early on that holidays weren’t tied to a calendar; they celebrated whenever he was home because being together mattered infinitely more than the date. When he became a Captain, he announced over dinner that he could no longer be addressed as “Dad,” and should from now on be called “Captain.” This lasted only as long as it took his daughters to burst into laughter.

Above all else, Brian’s greatest joy and proudest accomplishment was his family. Being a husband and a girl dad meant everything to him. He cheered on every milestone, bragged shamelessly about his daughters to anyone who would listen, and treasured every moment spent with his girls and the woman he adored.

The loss of Brian has left a hole in his family that cannot be filled. Their world has been rocked, and they will spend the rest of their lives learning to live in a way that honors their husband, father, and brother, through memories, stories, and the unshakable sense of exactly what he would have said or done in any situation.

Brian loved life, and he loved his people even more. He would want the celebration of his life to be full of laughter, stories, and shared memories. He never cared much for fanfare or attention, but the outpouring of love from friends and family speaks to the impact he had on everyone who knew him. In true Brian fashion, there will be no formal services. Instead of flowers or formality, the family asks that you share a story or memory (or two… or five) about him. He would have loved that infinitely more.