Brian James Schraidt's Obituary
Brian James Schraidt, aged 31, formerly of Riverside, Illinois died at his home in San Bruno, California on May 24, 2021.
Brian was born on December 3, 1989 in Maywood, Illinois to James A. Schraidt and Jane Derbyshire. He is survived by his parents and his sister Claire.
Brian grew up in Riverside and graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School, where he enjoyed a reputation as an irreverent prankster. After graduating from Purdue University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction Management, Brian moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to work in the field of disaster restoration, particularly flood remediation. He worked in this field for 9 years, beginning as an intern and eventually becoming a project manager, first with Ideal Restoration and lately with Restoration Management Company. Brian enjoyed this work for its variety, immediacy and the satisfaction that comes from being able to bring order to chaotic situations.
Brian was at his best when he was outside or serving others. Throughout his college years and subsequent career, he volunteered to help in the wake of natural disasters and other emergencies, traveling to New York City to assist in the cleanup following Superstorm Sandy, in Henryville, Indiana in the aftermath of devastating tornadoes, and, more recently, in Santa Rosa in response to the Sonoma Complex Fire. In the last year Brian trained as a volunteer member of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit. He was looking forward to continuing his training and serving in the Unit. Lisa Harris, SAR Unit Leader, said of him,
Brian Schraidt was a Senior Trainee with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue Unit, and a graduate of the 2020 Academy Class. Though his time with the Unit was short, he truly embodied the SAR spirit and mindset. From donating protective equipment to help his fellow SAR members during COVID, to joining the Technical Rescue Team and hanging off cliffs, he was never afraid to step up and offer his help. Brian will always be remembered as affable and dependable, and living the SAR motto — These things I shall do: So others may live.
He was, and remains, deeply loved by his friends, and family, who remember his humor, his love of duct tape, and his enthusiasm for the Fourth Amendment. We miss him terribly.
A memorial service for Brian will be held at 10:00 am CDT on Saturday, June 12, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 818 Franklin St., Michigan, City Indiana, followed by a reception/lunch at his parents' home, 52 Magnolia Trail, Michigan City Indiana.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Brain's name may be made to Us Too International-Prostate Cancer Support, Education and Advocacy, 2720 South River Rd., Suite 112, Des Plaines, IL 60018, www.ustoo.org, or San Mateo Search and Rescue, Inc., 1300 Industrial Rd., Suite 11, San Carlos, CA 94070, sanmateosarinc.org.
Bay Area friends and colleagues will gather to celebrate Brian’s life on Sunday, June 6 at Noon in Flood Park, 215 Bay Road, Menlo Park CA.
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