We bid farewell to our brilliant and beloved "Bran" who passed away on October 27 at his home in Portland, Oregon.  Only 35, Brian Clark Kentosh was born in Ojai, California, on Juneteenth of 1989.

Brian was an Eagle Scout and enjoyed backpacking and hiking.  He drove around the Ojai Valley and to Nordhoff HS in a 1970 VW Beetle that he painted to look like a cow.  Always building something, Brian made a working hovercraft and a land-sailer that he drove on dry lake beds.  He played guitar, sang in the Nordhoff Choir and played trumpet in the marching band.  He learned Russian and made a balalaika, a Russian stringed instrument.  Brian graduated with honors from UCLA with a degree in aerospace engineering.

Brian was a true rocket scientist and worked as a propulsion design engineer for SpaceX for a few years and attended meetings with Elon Musk, followed by a stint at Virgin Galactic where he once met Sir Richard Branson.  He lived the good life in Los Angeles with an apartment by the beach, his own 18' sailboat, and a lot of friends.  He loved to take The Shipster out to sail with the dolphins.

He liked exploring and fell in love with the beauty and culture of the Pacific Northwest.  In 2017 he bought an orange house in Portland which he named Apricot Manor.  He found a job designing aerial drones at Flighthouse Engineering in Portland.

Brian was a unique individual, adopting a vegan lifestyle, wearing neon pants, and growing out his hair.  He was sociable and enjoyed gathering with family and friends.  He loved animals and was a proud cat dad to his kitties Jazzy and Carlie.  Brian will be remembered for his wit, creativity, and caring nature.

Brian loved the outdoors and led an active lifestyle:  camping, kayaking, skiing, biking, running half-marathons, and gathering wild mushrooms. He continued to play the guitar, even building some guitars himself.  He also expanded his musical repertoire to include the old Norse tagelharpa.  He took up photography to capture Oregon's spectacular scenery and wildlife.

But after complications from pancreatitis, he never fully regained his energy. Brian is survived by his parents, Jim and Linda Kentosh of Ojai, his brother Michael, sister Julie Lau (husband Sándor), nephew Drago, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, and his 99-year-old grandmother Betty Kentosh.

Proshchay, Bran.  We'll miss you forever.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 12 p.m., Saturday, January 18, 2025, at

McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland, Oregon.