Brian J. Lazorishak, 46

Brian J. Lazorishak, 46, of Whitefish, passed away Tuesday, March 27, 2018, while saving his oldest daughter Elena Lazorishak from drowning at Olivine Pools in Maui, Hawaii.

Brian was a devoted and loving husband, father and godfather. He loved his wife and daughters fiercely, and everything he did was for them. He was a selfless, generous man who would help anyone in need. Brian took care of many people in different ways during his life. Everyone who knew him would say he was a man of his word.

Brian was born Aug. 11, 1971, in Pittsburgh and grew up in Guys Mills, Pennsylvania. He was an avid Steelers fan who “bled black and gold.” He held a Bachelor of Science degree in business and psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Market Technician (CMT) designations.

Brian and his family relocated to Whitefish from Charlottesville, Virginia, in December 2015. He was a senior portfolio manager with Stack Financial Management (SFM). Brian had a strong work ethic and loved working at SFM where he felt valued and connected to everyone there.

It was Brian’s dream to live in Montana. He often traveled from Virginia to Montana just to fly fish. Living in the Big Sky brought him joy. He loved fishing, hiking, rafting and boating, and enjoyed being on the water.

Brian was easygoing and rolled with life. He looked at challenges as learning experiences and would often be heard saying, “It builds character,” when things were tough.

Brian is survived by his wife Christine Lazorishak, and daughters Elena and Karina Lazorishak, of Whitefish; mother, Janice Jacklett and stepfather Jack Jacklett, of Guys Mills; father, Frank Lazorishak and stepmother Debbie Lazorishak, of Fort Meyers, Florida; and brother, Jay Lazorishak, a federal law enforcement officer, of Parker, Colorado.

Friends will be received from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at Christ Lutheran Church, 5150 River Lakes Pkwy., Whitefish, MT 59937. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 6, also at Christ Lutheran Church.

Memorial contributions may be made, in lieu of flowers, to N Kama Kai (https://nakamakai.org), an organization in the process of establishing an ocean safety fund in Hawaii to prevent future tragedies; or to Shepherd’s Hand in Whitefish (http://shepherdshand.com).

When traveling to Maui, please be safe. A beautiful sight is not worth a life.

Austin Funeral & Cremation Services in Whitefish is caring for the family. To send condolences, please visit his tribute page at www.austinfh.com