john brash
Cutchogue resident John Brush passed away on July 18, 2023 at the age of 71.
John was born in Greenport, one of five children of Muriel “Mert” and John “Duke” Brush. He was preceded by his parents and sister, Carolie “Ditz” Doucet (Tiger).
He is survived by two children: John Bruce (Kristen) and Lisa Diorio (Joseph), sisters Sandy Tompkins (Ricky) and Darin “Mope” McGinnis (Rob), brother Bob (Hope), grandsons John and Luke Bruce, and ex-wife Darlene. He also kept Karen Bondarchuk, who was a special part of his life.
John is truly unique. He’s bright, curious, and has a variety of hobbies and interests, including gardening, fishing, bird watching, and sports. He is also an excellent cook. In his early years, he worked as a bay worker and gardener before moving on to work as a driver for Burt’s Reliable. John recently retired, but every year on his birthday, he does a handstand just to prove he still “has it”.
John loves spending time in his yard with family and friends visiting. You can often find him honing his mind with crossword puzzles or acrostics on the kitchen island, doing yard work, or enjoying a peaceful nap. John’s yard is his sanctuary, blooming with forsythia, daffodils and lilacs in spring, and zinnias, butterfly bushes and roses of sharon in summer.
John prides himself on living a little off the grid. He has no internet and has never used an ATM, but he can whistle for a screeching owl and knows exactly which log to lift to find a salamander.
John is also remembered for his pitching ability that won championships in the Greenport and Mattituck softball leagues. John was a leader, on the mound, a thinker and strategist who loved the mind game.
John has a quick, witty sense of humor, which is often shown in his one-liners and tendency to “spoil the show.” His jokes often make you laugh out loud and stop to think about what he really means. But his charisma is unique, allowing him to say things others dare not. People love “Brush” because he said those things, not despite them. He is who he is, and we love him for that.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Wharf House, Founders Landing, Southold, on Thursday 27th July from 5pm to 8pm. welcome everybody.
This is a paid notice.
