Brian Mahaney - Obituary

rian John Mahaney, 68, of Annapolis and formerly of Sacramento, CA, passed away tragically on November 19, 2022, in a car accident. Born on January 7, 1954, in Sacramento to the late Helen and John Mahaney, Brian was a graduate of Christian Brothers High School. He went on to study philosophy at St. Mary's College, where he graduated as valedictorian and was a member of the De La Salle Christian Brothers. He left the Brothers after four years to continue his education in Rome, Italy, where he received an additional Bachelor's in Theology before ultimately earning his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Catholic University. While completing his doctorate, he met his wife, Dr. Nancy Bell, whom he married in Annapolis in 1986. Shortly after, Brian joined his brother, Stephen, in the family business, John F. Mahaney Company, bringing the newlyweds back to Sacramento. It was here that Brian worked for most of his life. After retiring from the Mahaney Company, he moved to Annapolis, where he became a sought-after substitute kindergarten teacher. His energy was boundless. Spending time with his wife and two children, Michael and Katherine, was the light of Brian's life. Hunting was a close second. Brian was an avid duck hunter, a fly fisherman, a bicyclist, an Ironman, a cook, a baker, a language student, a world traveler, a philosopher, and most of all, a comedian. His boisterous laugh filled the room. He traveled from California to Washington to Canada on hunting trips with his brother and son. He especially loved Italy, where he took a bicycle trip with Stephen each year. He often arranged special trips to surprise his wife, Nancy, and treasured the father-daughter trips to Europe with his daughter, Kat. Complementing his travels, he studied various languages. Rarely would you catch him without his flashcards, quizzing himself on verbs and nouns in French, Italian, and, most recently, Spanish. He also took up fly fishing in recent years, a hobby that he noted challenged his patience and fine motor skills. Perhaps his most appreciated hobby was his skilled cooking. He was an amazing cook. He took a special interest in baking, honing his skills at the Cordon Bleu in France. His family and friends were happy to be his test subjects. Brian was a beloved husband and father and a true character. He was, in his own words, "a really great guy." Brian is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children, Michael and Katherine; his siblings, Charlene (Mike), Stephen (Kathleen), JoAnne (David), and his twin, Marian; his stepmother, Elizabeth, and many nieces and nephews. No words can express how truly loved he was by so many. He will be desperately missed. Friends are invited to celebrate Brian’s life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Friday, December 2 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 109 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis, MD on Saturday, December 3 at 9 am. Condolences may be made by using the memories tab on the left.