Brian W. Cross was born on Friday, January 3, 1969, in Catskill, New York. Brian went home to God on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the age of 57.

He was raised in Preston Hollow, New York, and attended Greenville High School, where he earned his GED.

In September 2025, Brian retired after an esteemed career as a supervisor with the New York State Department of Transportation, where he formed many lifelong friendships. He also owned and operated Brian’s Tree Cutting Services and Two Twisted Ladies Ice Cream.

Brian was a hard worker and a provider who took immense pride in what he built with his own two hands for his family. He came from very little and carried the lessons of his childhood with him throughout his life. He was incredibly proud of the life he built and the success he achieved despite the cards he had been dealt. Everything he accomplished was a testament to his determination, strength and perseverance.

When Brian wasn’t working, you could usually find him doing something he loved or finding a way to keep himself busy. Brian passed doing what he loved—riding his Indian motorcycle. He enjoyed riding four-wheelers and doing anything that brought adventure, excitement or a little adrenaline. He collected diecast cars, enjoyed shooting and playing pool, loved a good joke, and cherished time spent with family and friends.

Brian regularly enjoyed dinners out with friends and had plenty of opinions about the important things in life—especially burgers without cheese. He loved Pizza Hut, Corona beer, Tic Tacs, orange Life Savers and Root Beer Barrel candy.

Brian and his wife shared a love of the beach, palm trees and the water. They traveled together often, exploring new places and making memories along the way, but they always seemed to find their way back to their happiest place on Earth—Disney World and Orange Lake Resort in Florida. They had plans to retire together and snowbird to Florida, where they could enjoy the sunshine and water year-round.

More than any hobby, job or possession, Brian loved his family.

Brian is survived by his wife, Sandi; his daughter, Brianna (Matthew) Beatty; his bonus children, Nick (Ashley) Staley, Jessica (Ryan) Bailey and Bobby (Bree) Corrigan; his grandchildren, Johnathan Moore, Lilyanna, Teagan and Rowan Beatty, and Eleanor Bailey; his sisters, Tammy (Dave) Symons and Trisha (Nick) Price; his nieces and nephews, Michael (Siobhan) Symons, Jason (Krystin) Symons, Nicole (Anthony) Marciano, Austin (Hannah) Muntz, Dylan Muntz, Mercedes Price and Jessica Burni; his great-nieces and great-nephews, Paisley, Fallon and Ridge Marciano, Harrison, Hadley, Charlotte and Louis Symons; his beloved dog, Kaine; his cat, Nikita; and his many grand-fur babies.

He is also survived by his best friends, Gene (Darcy) Muntz, Scott (JoAnne) Powell, Nicole (Howard) Harris, Fred Vining, Jimmy Salisbury, and the Corrigan family, along with countless other family members and friends whose lives he touched.

Brian was predeceased by his grandparents, Happy and Viola Cross.

Brian had a tough-guy exterior, but underneath it was one of the biggest softies you could ever meet. He loved deeply, even if he didn’t always show it in the way you might expect. Brian rarely smiled, but when he did, you knew he was truly happy. His family brought out that smile more than anything. Seeing him light up around his grandchildren is something our family will treasure forever.

Brian should still be here.

He should still be riding his motorcycle, sitting down to dinner with friends, heading to the beach, arguing about cheese on his burger, and watching his grandchildren grow up. He should still be retiring to Florida with Sandi, Kaine and Nikita, visiting the Cake Bake Shoppe, and exploring new places and new adventures with her.

There were so many plans left to make, places left to see, dinners left to share, and memories left to create.

Brian’s life was not defined by where he started, but by everything he built along the way. He built a life he was proud of, a family who loved him, friendships that lasted a lifetime, and a legacy that will live on in the people who knew him.

He will be missed more than words can say, loved more than he ever knew, and remembered for all the little things that made him unmistakably Brian.

Until we meet again.

Care has been entrusted to AJ Cunningham Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at http://www.ajcunninghamfh.com.