Brian was seventh in a family of nine children. Originally from Yonkers, New York, he began attending Unitarian services at age 17. With his wife, Fumiko, whom he met at Cornell University, he attended First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington, Massachusetts, and joined the Olympia Unitarian Fellowship in 1978, which later became the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation. With Rev. Roger Kuhrt, he planned worship services for the Fellowship, and with OUUC he has taught RE, helped establish the OUUC columbarium, participated in Dinners for Eight, served as parliamentarian at congregational meetings, and provided piano music at OUUC events.
Professionally, as Assistant Attorney General, Brian has represented the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and the Department of Corrections in disputes relating primarily to civil service employment and state regulation of hospitals and nursing homes. In private law practice, he provided legal services relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights, contracts, wills and probate, family law, guardianships, personal injury, and employment discrimination. Brian received a B.A. degree from Cornell University (mathematics), a Ph.D. degree from the Division of Biological Sciences of The University of Chicago, and a J.D. degree from the Boston University School of Law. Brian did postdoctoral research in cell biology at Yale University and Massachusetts General Hospital prior to law school. He was a co-founder of Thurston Community Television (TCTV) and served on its board and as its president in its early years. Now mostly retired, Brian occasionally serves as an arbitrator for the Superior Courts and as a volunteer attorney for Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services. Brian enjoys conversation, travel, hiking, biking, cinema, opera, PBS television specials, playing piano, and readings in science, technology, law, philosophy, and history. Brian and Fumiko have two daughters and three grandchildren.