Brian Herne

When he was little we called him “Buzzy” because he literally buzzed around. He was funny, quick and pesky, understandable for the youngest of the nine children of Bud and Mary Herne of Flower City Park in Rochester. Born on June 22, 1959, Brian Gerard Herne lived his sixty-six years of life in Rochester, New York. He loved nature. He loved the beauty of the Genesee River and the power of Lake Ontario. He loved to fish and developed a genuine love and respect for falcons. He was a big proponent of the Rochester Falcon Project. The project began in the mid-nineties with an original nest box placed atop Rochester’s Kodak Tower. Over the next three decades, downtown Rochester’s efforts to reintroduce peregrine falcons has produced over eighty young, banded falcons! Brian loved this. His favorite people were fellow falconers and don’t call them “birders” or bird-watchers.

Nope.

They were falcon-focused and this wonderful band of people became some of Brian “Bird Dude” Herne’s greatest friends. Their kindnesses kept Brian in much-appreciated coffee, friendship, companionship and a genuine respect and love for their high-flying falcon friends. The project named each juvenile and adult and this amazing group of people knows all their names. Brian will be dearly missed by so many but his love for his friends and falcons gave him much to smile about while the support of our local AA groups and meetings helped keep this gentle man grounded. We will always be grateful for that. In later years Brian kept in contact with people by sending daily texts and messages of jokes, humor and the Earth’s beauty. Those daily messages are already missed by so many.

He was predeceased by his parents Bud (Francis) and Mary Herne, his sister and brother-in-law Patty Kay and Don Lilley, his older brother and sister-in-law Mike and Ann Herne, his sister-in-law Teri Herne and his loving aunt Isabelle Roth.  He is survived by siblings Ronnie Herne, Sweet Grass Longhouse, Ginny and Jerry Janas, Terry Herne, Ruthy and Dave Blodgett and Sean and Linda Herne.  Brian was also survived by former sisters-in-law Cindie Dawid, Mary Jane Bagnato and Nancy Bloss. A shout-out of thanks to Jerry Janas for his devotion to Brian, making sure he got to appointments, meetings and shopping. Jerry was the quiet force behind making sure the Bird Dude was looked after and we are forever in his debt.

Brian is also survived by a large number of nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews, many of whom remember the cool, younger uncle of their youth with smiles and warmth. His ashes will be inurned in Parma Union Cemetery in Hilton. Date to be determined. Friends and family are welcome. The family would also like to thank the staff of the Critical Care ICU at Strong Memorial Hospital and the Medical ICU unit 8-1600 for their valiant attempts to save Brian’s life. They were strong, professional and compassionate in every way and we are grateful to have such diligent medical care here. Your efforts will not be forgotten.