Brian David Raub passed away on March 10, 2021. Born on August 5, 1953, in Grove City, PA, Brian was the third of four sons born to Paul Lester Raub II, D.O., and Miriam Geraldine Smith Raub.

Husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, visionary, wrestler, moral compass, entrepreneur, Christian, advocate, photographer, humanitarian, ally, genealogist, adventurer – not adjectives, but accolades bestowed by those who knew him best. By those who had the opportunity to love and be loved by him. Because, while a rare, metastatic duodenal cancer ultimately cut short Brian’s life, he dedicated every preceding moment to full, love-filled, and zealous living.

Enthusiastic from the start, Brian entered this world as he inhabited it: Eager to tackle a challenge and charging full-speed ahead – right into his father’s adept D.O. hands and his own potential, unaware of the marks he would eventually leave on this world.

For Brian was a man of many marks. A small, skinny kid, Brian weighed 85 pounds when he began wrestling in 8th grade. He perfected his “cradle” technique – and pinned more than 90% of his opponents after his freshman year. His first mark: The “iron cradle” kid who went on to be a nationwide top-50 wrestling senior (1971), with his pick of acceptances to Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. He chose Yale (1971-1975).

In 1966, that same scrawny eighth-grader also met the love of his life, forever partner, and future wife, Lisa. She also chose Yale. But first, Brian’s second mark: A leader of his high school class of 1971: Student Council President, President of the Varsity Club, Captain of the wrestling team, and President of the local TAR (teenage Republicans; Republicans had different values then).

In 1972, Brian and Lisa exchanged their vows and became the second married undergraduate couple at Yale. For Lisa, he took on the role – his next mark – of husband, unwavering supporter, and fierce cheerleader. A firm believer in and advocate for women’s rights (even when at his personal or professional disadvantage), Brian supported and encouraged Lisa throughout her academic and professional endeavors.

His next achievements dominoed in rapid succession: Outstanding Freshmen Wrestler, Business Manager and then General Manager at Yale Banner Publications, an MBA from Harvard Business School (1975-1977). In his first marketing job, his R&D Head informed him that, of all the people he’d ever had to supervise, Brian was the most difficult because he wouldn’t take orders and thought that he knew everything. That tracked. And so, the seed of a future mark: sole proprietor, self-employed – his own boss.

In 1983, Brian and Lisa welcomed their first and only child: a daughter, Erin. Another mark: Father, protector, guide, teacher. As children so often do, Erin became Brian’s greatest pride, deepest joy, and impetus for so many of his future paths. (And also, clearly, the writer of this obituary.) For Erin, he quit his 80-hour work-week and eventually, on her 12th birthday, launched the Vacation Villa Referral Center (VVRC), a visionary vacation rental website and predecessor to A1Vacations.com, which in 2005 was sold to HomeAway/VRBO and later acquired by Expedia.

In 2001, Brian and Lisa realized a dream and moved to live waterfront on Smith Mountain Lake – Brian’s final home, happy place, and ultimate resting spot. Here and together, they pursued their love of the water, of each other, and of internet entrepreneurship. Here, Brian also developed Smith-Mountain-Lake.com, a website instrumental to many who would make their own move, inspired by their own dreams. By 2010, Brian had finally retired, successful and professionally fulfilled.

In 2011, another milestone, another mark: Grandfather to a half-Costa Rican, half-American grandson. For Max, Brian and Lisa adopted Costa Rica as their second home and devoted four months each year to life with their Costa Rican family and grandchild, who Brian taught about wrestling and camping, hiking and photography. And a lot of other things, too. Including the legendary Raub boys. Oh, the stories Max will tell…

Brian reveled in his retirement, walking 20-30 miles weekly; digging even deeper into his genealogical quest (for now, back to the mid-1700s); hiking part of the Appalachian Trail (450 miles!); traveling through Costa Rica, Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada; honing his macro photography skills; climbing Costa Rica’s highest and most difficult mountain, Cerro Chirripó, with close friend and neighbor, Gary Pennett; and embarking on a solo 13,000-mile road trip to 22 national parks. In total, he visited 35 U.S. national parks and 49 states (sorry to miss you, Louisiana!). He’s headed to Africa in the afterlife.

A full life. An accomplished life. A good life, by any gauge. And yet, the measure of a man dwells beyond his accomplishments, unrolling over the depth and breadth and reach of his legacy – in how he will be remembered and the stories, smiled recollections, and lessons that will be passed down to new generations.

Brian excels there, too. For these will be tales of character and earned wisdom left to posterity: Always return things in better condition than you received them. Do the right thing, even when it’s hard. Invest wisely. Don’t let the world (or anyone) intimidate you. Always stop to photograph a beautiful flower or mountain peak. SEO can make anyone a supermodel. Leap off waterfalls. If someone can’t go with you, go it alone. Roast your own coffee. Get a live Christmas tree. Eat the ice cream. It’s never too late to chase any goal. Always drive the scenic route (but make your family get out for the dangerous parts). When someone needs you – GO. Don’t save your dreams for “later.” Smell the roses. Love with courage and abandon and willingness. And always check that your heart’s in the right place.

You could depend on Brian. And you still can, because his legacy lives on in his wife, his child, his grandchild, his friends, and his extended family. Brian readily, willingly, and selflessly did for others – without question, asking no pomp or circumstance. He based his actions on what he believed to be right and worthy and true, not on what would garner glory or credit.

Brian’s unwavering strength of character, Christian faith, and moral insight drove his insistence on what’s right over what’s easy, on kindness without publicity, and on generosity toward both neighbor and stranger. Not just in his honor or in his memory, but simply because of who he was – of who we are for having known him, we take up his mantle. May we wear it well. For, though we walk into a world without Brian in it, we will carry him with us always.

Brian was a faithful Presbyterian who embraced Jesus Christ as his Savior. He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul Lester Raub II and Miriam Smith Raub, and two of his brothers and best friends, Dr. Jeffrey D. Raub (d. 2004) and Paul L. Raub III (d. 2017). His spirit lives on in those who survive him: Wife and lifelong best friend, Annalyse Callahan Raub, of Moneta, VA. Daughter Erin E. Raub, her husband Fabián Cordero González, and grandson Max C. Cordero Raub, of Santa Bárbara de Heredia, Costa Rica. Beloved brother Dr. Daniel J. Raub and his wife, Linda Riley Raub, of Aurora, Ohio.

Enjoy your afterlife, Dad. Remember to send us a sign, if you find life on other planets. We know you’ll be there to greet us, whenever we get to where you are. Love you always. See you again.

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In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to two causes near to Brian’s heart: the David H. Clelland Scholarship Fund (via the Community Foundation of Western PA) and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

When gatherings are safe to resume, family, friends, and loved ones will gather at his celebration of life service at Trinity Ecumenical Parish – Smith Mountain Lake. For now, messages of sympathy, stories, and photos may be shared on Brian’s Caring Bridge.