‘There is nothing more he wanted than for everyone to be happy.’ Loved ones remember Brownburg’s Brian Rice after cruise ship accident. (Photos priced by Chelsea Stuart, sister)
The 32-year-old Brownsburg man died last weekend after falling four stories from a cruise ship balcony to a lower deck while vacationing with his wife on the Carnival Horizon. The ship was returning to Miami.
The Miami-Dade County medical examiner’s office told the Hendricks County ICON that Rice died of blunt force trauma and the death has been ruled an accident.
Brian Rice or “Bee-Rye” as loved ones called him leaves behind his wife Diane and the couple’s 3-year-old twin sons.
Brian walking his boys to classroom, first day of pre-school.
His large circle of family and friends was heartbroken after learning about the accident and are stepping up to help out the family he leaves behind.Loved ones describe Brian as a loving dad who was kind, generous and had a zest for life.
“If you needed the shirt off his back he would give it to you. His heart was in his family,” said Chelsea Stuart, Brian’s older sister.
“There is nothing more that he wanted than for everyone to be HAPPY. He thrived off of the smiles and laughs of his boys and any children he met.”
Stuart has started an online t-shirt sale fundraiser for Brian’s wife. The shirts come with messages #lifeisgood and #justlivingthedream, two of her brother’s favorite sayings.
“When asked how he was doing he replied, ‘just living the dream!’ and he would end all of his Facebook posts with #lifeisgood because he knew his life was not only good but GREAT.”
She hopes the shirts will not only help his wife and sons financially but also keep her brother’s memory alive.
The GoFundMe site has been set up with approval from Brian’s wife, Diane with all proceeds going back to her. Donations have reached more than $16,000. The community continues to show their support and condolences.
