Brian Mackarous (July 11, 1962 – August 29, 2026), a lifelong Montrealer, passed away peacefully at the age of 64.
Brian was immensely proud of his service with the Canadian Grenadier Guards, where he served from 1981 to 1997 and attained the rank of Colour Sergeant. His years with the Guards remained an important part of his identity throughout his life, and the friendships, traditions and sense of service he found there remained with him long after his time in uniform. He received the Canadian Decoration, and in 2026 was deeply honoured to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his service to his country.
Brian earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University in 1987 and a Bachelor of Education degree from McGill University in 1994. He went on to devote more than three decades of his life to education, teaching from 1994 until 2025. His final teaching position was at Saint-Lambert International High School, where among his favourite subjects to teach were Secondary I Mathematics and Secondary V Contemporary World History. Over the course of his career, generations of students passed through his classrooms, and teaching remained an important part of his life until his retirement.
Outside the classroom, Brian embraced an active and adventurous life. An avid cyclist, he spent countless hours on his bike and enjoyed the camaraderie and competition of dragon boat racing as a member of a racing team. His adventurous spirit also took him far from home, including two trips to Japan and two climbs of Mount Fuji.
Brian was fiercely independent, strong-willed and determined, with a character that was unmistakably his own. He valued his independence deeply and lived his life on his own terms. He brought that same determination to his years in the military, his career in education and the many interests and adventures he pursued throughout his life.
Brian was predeceased by his parents, Angeline (Habib) Mackarous and John Mackarous. He leaves behind his brother, Philip Mackarous; his sister, Jo-Anne (Mackarous) Roggin; and his nephews, Andrew and James Mackarous, along with extended family, friends, former colleagues and students whose lives he touched over the years.
We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the many healthcare professionals who cared for and supported Brian throughout his illness, particularly the teams at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, the McGill University Health Center (MUHC), and the Benny Farm CLSC. Their extraordinary compassion, guidance and dedication provided Brian with dignity, comfort and as much independence as his illness would allow, while also providing invaluable support to us throughout an extraordinarily difficult journey. We will always be grateful for the kindness and humanity they showed Brian and our family.
Funeral Arrangements
Visitation will take place on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Urgel Bourgie Funeral Complex, 1255 Beaumont Avenue, Town of Mount Royal.
At 1:30 p.m., members of the Canadian Grenadier Guards, with whom Brian proudly served, will formally escort his casket into the funeral home. Family and friends will then have an opportunity to pay their respects and share a final moment with Brian.
A religious service will be celebrated at 4:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that those wishing to honor Brian's memory consider making a donation to the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) or the McGill University Health Center (MUHC).