Brian G Batsch CLU ChFC ACA BFA
Brian G Batsch
On Dec 15, 2024, the love of my life passed away after a valiant fight with cancer. Our son Brice and grandchildren, Madysyn and Maddex are devastated at his loss. We have been together for 52 incredible years as we grew up together. Sharron
Brian was a gifted person, I called him my Mr Google. He had an amazing capacity to recall people, music and events. His talent extended to his business as a broker. He is an exceptional fine artist with his pieces found in Glenbow, Muttart, MH College Collection, Devonian Collection, Calgary Allied Arts Foundation and the University of Calgary. His paintings have graced the walls of Calgary City Hall, the Calgary International Airport, and the Jack Singer Concert Hall. His work was selected by the prestigious Royal Canadian Academy of Art for Spectrum Canada at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Many of his beautiful works are found in private collections. Brian was a humble person and many did not know of his talent.
He took a position with the Medicine Hat College to become the Director of Visual Arts, building the program to two years transferable to ACA and U of C. He was and is a builder.
He was a Rotarian and served as president for the Riverview Rotary in 2002-2003. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and in 2005 received the Rotary Service Above Self Award. While with Rotary he crafted many projects. He designed murals, which can be seen on the Telus Building, Stony Plain Rd and 154 Street. Eastwood School featured another mural of colourful butterflies and bugs for the library. Rotarians painted a project, Brian finished their work. He has a book full of letters from students thanking him.
As an accomplished gardener, he initiated the Rotary Full Monty. Rotary members would bid to have Brian design a garden project that fellow members would build over a weekend. It was a successful fundraising activity.
He was President of Events Edmonton, Edmonton Liver Foundation AB Chapter, on the board of the Fort Edmonton Park Foundation and a committee for the Devonian Gardens. When I had a fundraising project, Brian was always supportive bringing together tables to support it.
In late 1999, a neighbour needed funding for doctors to assist children in Ecuador. He took the conversation to his Rotary and they became an International project. The Rotary continued to give its support for 20-plus years.
In 2008, he climbed Mt Kilimanjaro as a fundraiser with the Canadian Liver Foundation. His energy and giving have never ceased and his artwork is currently helping to support housing in El Salvador with Jeff McElheran.
Brian loved to travel. We experienced incredible cultures, history, art and architecture. Brian always travelled in style and I benefited from all the time and effort he took to plan our adventures. We were fortunate to spend much of our last few years travelling to see many wonders of our world.
As a father and grandfather, Brian was always ready to help. Whether painting, building, hiking or camping, he was there as an active member of our family. School projects, Beavers and Cubs were all part of our life and our privilege to participate.
Brian loved to golf and he got Maddex involved at a young age. He was a member of the Edmonton Petroleum Golf and Country Club where he rose to Club President 2012-2013. In 2023, he gave the EPGCC members a gift, a beautiful painting for the Club House.
Brian and I loved our garden. We supported the Edmonton Horticultural Society with many of its fundraising tours. In 1999, our garden received the Grand Challenge award. In 2005 it was featured in Canadian Gardener and Alberta Gardener Landscapes in 2010. He designed the garden and then shaped every shrub. He placed lighting in our garden and music. It was and is our sanctuary.
Our home is his home with beautiful art on our walls. Brian loved to finish our ceilings which are adorned with paintings, tin tiles, and zodiac images. When these projects were in design mode he would always tell me ‘there won’t be any mess!” Fortunately, I am a sceptic.
Brian loved his home. Scott Keen wrote an article about our home for the Alberta Ballet Home and Garden Tour in 2012. He called it Controlled chaos charms in art-filled home.
Brian is a beautiful person both inside and out. I once said I wanted to marry an artist with sky-blue eyes and I did. We will miss Mr. Google, a wonderful father, grandfather and the love of my life.
A special thank you to Dr. Bain and all the staff in 5C4 at the U of A Hospital for the care Brian received. Thank you to Dr. Chua and Dr. Scarf at CCI and a special thanks to Dr.Tsikata our family doctor.
The Slide Show and Comments are found in the link below.
In Memory Celebration of Life Streaming Jan 5, 2025 12:00 PM Mtn Zone
Sharron Batsch