Brian G. Beerley

Brian Gerard Beerley, 66, of Flourtown, PA passed away on February 26th. Brian will be dearly missed by his wife Janet of 44 years, and his four children, Laura Arnoldt (Pete), Tracy Hanson (Jeff), Sean and Ryan. As “Pop Pop” to his five grand-children: PJ, Evan, Claire, Ellie, and Madeline; along with his nineteen nieces and nephews, twenty-one grandnieces and grandnephews, and several close in-laws, he will always be remembered as a jokester. Brian was preceded in death by his brother George “Moose” Beerley (Anne) and is survived by his siblings; Cecelia Klock (Butch), Mark Beerley (Peg), Dennis Beerley (late Joanne), and Paul Beerley. ----------------- Born and raised on Royal Street in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Brian fondly reminisced about "the old neighborhood", where he met his highschool sweetheart & eventual partner for life, Janet. He belonged to St Francis of Assisi parish, sang in the choir, was part of the Germantown Boys Club and attended Dobbins Tech School. As a young teen Brian spent time under the hood of all the family vehicles and grew to love working as a mechanic alongside his Dad and under mentorship of Lenny MacNamara. Brian embraced an everlasting curiosity and desire to understand how things work. From sewing to woodworking, repairing vacuums to replacing the engine of his Dodge Dart, Brian found true happiness in improving anything that deserved fixing. He taught us that some things need to be taken apart or purposefully dismantled in order to fully master it. He joined the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542 at age 19, sharing his occupation with his father and brothers. After starting as an oiler, he honed his skills and gained experience as a mechanic, and then operating engineer, all while building his reputation as a respected coworker and friend. Brian truly practiced what he preached: "Do what you love." He was skilled in numerous crafts and trades, but as technical and mechanical as he was, he thoroughly enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. While off of the job site, he volunteered time maintaining the F.E.L.L. baseball fields for years. A renewed love for golf in his adult life led to several rounds being played at Flourtown CC. Although there was always a project underway, his "off days'' comprised of organizing the garage, solving Sudoku puzzles, taking long walks along the Wissahickon, starting unnecessarily large bonfires, playing with the dog(s), watching an old western, and loved coming home after work to Janet and his kids in the home he fostered, often ending his Friday with a High Life in his recliner. Although it wasn't easy for him to step away from his work and projects, Brian would happily do so to spend quality time with his family. The family's vacation week in Maine was his annual time off work every August since 1985 - and he still managed to find a construction-oriented project even in the wilderness. Brian also tended to the family home in Villas, NJ whenever possible over the summer time. Aside from only a few flights to Hawaii or Alaska, he preferred to drive. If you were traveling together to Pittsburgh, Jersey, Maine, Arkansas, Finger Lakes, Florida, South Carolina, or anywhere else - his role behind the wheel was rarely argued. While on the road, he was always proud to swiftly identify any older vehicle from an impressive distance, sometimes based solely on the sound of its engine or by the unique design of a headlight or side mirror. Brian's strong attention to detail and careful handling of his work translated into a strong ability to form and maintain personal relationships, which is an attestation as to who he truly was. He would jump to help anybody (relatives, friends, neighbors) solve a seemingly daunting task and would never give up when presented with challenges. Brian died of a heart attack early on Friday February 26th, taking his life quickly and unexpectedly. He left us doing what he loved - rising early and ready for his work day. ------- A public viewing will be held from 9-11AM Saturday March 6th at Saint Genevieve Church in Flourtown, PA. Due to current restrictions, a private funeral mass will follow. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be made available virtually through the St. Genevieve Parish Website https://stgensparish.com , or clicking the direct streaming link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1JfmyLNbGqiuKx-CtYRMsQ/featured In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to: The Magee Rehab Hospital Foundation Memo: Moose’s Fund 1513 Race Street, Philadelphia PA 19102 OR Archbishop Wood High School Memo: Jennifer Beerley Scholarship Fund 655 York Rd. Warminster, PA 18974. Gifts can also be made online at Magee Rehab or Archbishop Wood donation pages. There will be a celebration of Brian's life planned at a later date when it is safe to gather.