Bryan Beske

Bryan Beske, age 66, passed away on Sunday, June 16, 2024 at his home in Florida after recently moving from Westerville, Ohio. He was a leader in the technology industry and an active member of the community, supporting those around him as a friend and volunteer.

His love of technology sparked during college, culminating in a degree in Computer Science from Ohio Wesleyan University and an impactful career at companies including Digital Equipment Corp, Worthington Industries, Gap, Donatos, HP, IBM, and many early Internet startups. He traveled the world for his career, living in Germany for a time and making many friends. As a pioneer of the internet he also spoke on the floor of the United Nations on the future of the world wide web and the world-changing opportunities it would create.

While changing the world and helping others with technology, Bryan was deeply spiritual and most recently served as a Congregational Care Minister at First Community Church. He was pivotal in establishing a long term endowment and foundation at Rafiki AIDS ministries in Kenya. He especially enjoyed cooking for others. From choirs of children to the First Community Church choir, from holiday meals and fresh bakes to after school snacks, Bryan’s food and voluntary ministry of service fed the bellies and souls of countless friends, family members and strangers. He was the number one fan of Sally Beske, his wife of 41 years, and worked tirelessly to support her work in the music ministries at First Community Church.

With a passion for medicine and training as an emergency medical technician in his youth, Bryan was a constant comfort as a husband, father, and friend, always happy to be on call to help provide a calming presence in the midst of life's most difficult and scary moments. Later in life he volunteered as a greeter at St. Ann's Hospital in Westerville, listening and guiding people through challenging times.

Bryan found peace on the golf course, be it with friends or simply alone walking. It didn’t matter if he got a hole in one or put five balls in the water from the same spot, it was about being in nature and enjoying the friendship of those around him.

Bryan is survived by his son Colin Beske and spouse Kathleen Rowland, grandchildren Juliet and Theodore Rowland-Beske, and daughter Sarah Beske and spouse Timothy Zepelak. As well as his extended family Kevin and Sheila, Stewart, Spencer Wirick; Dale and Nancy Wirick; Mindy and Justin, Emma, Claire Pyle; Carrie Wirick and Thomas A. Smith, Tyler and Megan Smith, and Celeste Smith.

His grandson says he was one of his favorite people in the world, and this is true for so many others. Bryan told his family to call whenever we needed help, no matter what, and without any judgment. Bryan lived his life this way, for all of those around him and not just his family. We will all miss him dearly.

Memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at First Community Church-North Campus, 3777 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The First Community Church Foundation, Rafiki Global AIDS Ministry of Kenya, or The Ohio Health Foundation.