鈥淩adio Brian,鈥� a man described as an Aldergrove neighbourhood icon, has passed away.

While his actual name was Edward Lawrence Rehn, most people in Aldergrove knew him by his nickname, for his habit of always carrying a radio tuned to any station that played his kind of music.

Brian was 74 when he died in hospital, sometime between Friday Oct. 13th, and Saturday. He lived in Aldergrove for more than 40 years, and continued to make regular visit after he moved into an extended care facility in 91原创.

Long-time friend Dino Bonetti said Brian was a 鈥済entle soul鈥� with a 鈥渓ittle bit of autism in him.鈥�

鈥淗is photographic memory was incredible,鈥� Bonetti recalled.

鈥淚 would pick him up every week in the last few years at the extended care in 91原创 and take him to Aldergrove for lunch at the seniors centre. He would tell you all the way down Fraser Highway, [about each store], who owned it, what year [it started].鈥�

They got to know each other decades ago when Brian was renting from Bonetti.

鈥淭here used to be a restaurant years ago in the bottom of our building called the Lugano cafe. Rita [who ran the place] brought him in there and gave him a job.鈥�

After Rita passed away, Brian spent more time with the Bonetti family.

Bonetti learned Brian had a tough childhood, with his father leaving, then his mother dying in a car crash some years later, and being separated from his sister when he was put into foster care.

鈥淗e had no family.鈥�

Despite that, Brian was 鈥渁lways smiling, always happy, always kind,鈥� Bonetti recalled.

鈥淗e had a kind word for everybody. He was a great guy, an absolutely great guy鈥�

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During the pandemic, Bonetti stood with a sign that said 鈥渉onk for Brian鈥� in the former parking lot of the Alder Inn in April of 2021, drawing dozens of people who stopped by 鈥� keeping their distance and wearing masks 鈥� to give Brian best wishes, while he sat under a tent and enjoyed the warm weather.

鈥淚 feel like crying right now,鈥� Brian said of the experience. 鈥淚鈥檓 so happy.鈥�

Deb Gray, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Aldergrove branch, described Brian as an 鈥渋con,鈥� recalling how he 鈥渨ould walk through town with his radio, like a ghetto blaster, on his shoulder.鈥�

He was a regular at the Legion, even when his health was failing.

鈥淓ven before he went into the home, he still would come to the legion for meals and [he would] remember people that I couldn鈥檛 remember 鈥� I couldn鈥檛 believe his memory was so good,鈥� Gray remarked.

鈥淣ear the end, he was using a walker, but he always made it to our barbecues here at the legion,鈥� where people would cut up his meat for him, Gray said.

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Gordon McIvor said he got to know Brian, when he was living near his home.

鈥淗e used to walk daily up to three times a day, two miles from our place, to downtown Aldergrove and he used to do that round trip anywhere from two or three times a day with his little radio,鈥� McIvor reminisced.

鈥淎nd one time he was doing it late at night. I saw him walking, it was dark and all you could see was the little spark from his cigarette. So I pulled over to talk to him. He walked right out in the road and it was foggy, and I was yelling at him to get off the road, and a car came and knocked him in the air and all I saw was the spark from his cigarette flying through the air. It was pitch dark and raining and the only way I could find him was [because] his radio was still going and there he was. Other than [his] scalp being pretty much torn off, he was alive and well, I got the ambulance there and took him to the hospital.鈥�

Brian liked 鈥渆arly 60鈥檚鈥� music, McIvor recalled.

鈥淗e was always talking about Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Steppenwolf and [groups] like that.鈥�

鈥淗e always had a habit of taking fast, almost like Tourette鈥檚,鈥� McIvor said.

鈥淭alking really fast, so you only really got about 50 per cent of what he was saying, sometimes, when he got excited.鈥�

In later years, despite serious health issues, McIvor said Brian remained positive.

鈥淗is body was really in rough shape. He had arthritis and you name it, he had it, right? But he still had a pretty positive outlook and was happy any time anybody came and saw him.鈥�

Among many online comments mourning his passing, Seastar McKay described Brian as a 鈥渘eighbourhood icon.鈥�

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Aldergrove branch. Originally slated for Sunday, Nov. 26, it鈥檚 been rescheduled to Dec. 3. All are welcome.