Brian Joseph Delaney, 79, of Washington, DC, died in his home at Grand Oaks Assisted Living in Washington, DC on Friday, June 24, 2022, after a nine year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was surrounded with love by his family, his life partner, old friends, and dedicated caregivers.
Brian had a 40-year career as an English professor. From 1968-71, he taught at Memphis State College and from 1971-98 at Blue Ridge Community College where he chaired the Faculty Senate and was a founding member of the Virginia Community College Association. From 1998-2008, Brian taught at Northern Virginia Community College where he was an Associate Professor of English and Assistant Dean of the Humanities and Social Sciences Division. Brian’s knowledge of literature and composition, his quick wit and his mentorship were gifts to generations of students and colleagues, and in 2009 he was named Professor Emeritus.
Brian never missed a chance to travel or check in with an old friend or acquaintance. He was always on the move – long bike trips, competing internationally with the Washington Canoe Club, yearly beach and camping vacations . Brian and his life partner Jan McCarthy loved each other fully and shared each other’s friends, families and their many interests for the last 22 years. Those who know him will continue to treasure having known Brian for who he was: a caring teacher, father, grandfather, brother, partner and friend who will remain in their hearts.
Brian is survived by his life partner Jan McCarthy and her family, his daughter, Jessica Catherine Delaney (Blair Wallace); their children, Madeleine and Harrison Wallace; grandson Evan Delaney (Jessica Bourque), and great granddaughter, Lillia Delaney, his devoted brother John Delaney (Jenny) and sister-in-law Jamie Delaney (wife of late brother Michael) and their children Hallie, Luke and Ryan Delaney.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today. The Foundation is the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, with more than $800 million in high-impact research funded to date.
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