Brian H. R. Gagne of Athens, NY (formerly of Old Chatham, NY) died on June 27, 2015. Born February 24, 1948 in Niskayuna, NY he was son of the late Fernand and Naomi (Gross) Gagne and brother of the late Garry Gagne. Brian grew up and was educated in Niskayuna. After school, he married and moved to Columbia County where he was the operator and co-owner of the Centre Garage in Chatham and Alaric Auto Parts, with stores in both Chatham and Albany. After the birth of his two children, he sold the businesses and became involved in industrial sales before finding his true passion working in emergency services. Brian served at various agencies across the Hudson Valley and Capital Region, including Greenport Rescue Squad, Community Ambulance Service in Copake, and The Chatham Rescue Squad where he served as supervisor. He was past Chief of Tri -Village Fire Company, Columbia County Deputy EMS Coordinator of Education, Training Coordinator at REMO, and QA/QI Coordinator for Alamo Ambulance Service. He taught First Aid, CPR, ACLS, and PALS; he was a NYS CIC instructor teaching the next generation of emergency service providers. Brian's encore career found him working with high school students through Questar III in Hudson, NY and training his TDI-certified therapy dogs (and best friends), H and Rocco. Brian was easily more satisfied with his dogs' training and credentials than his own, and he loved nothing more than taking them for a run at 4-Mile Point, to Stewart's for ice cream cones, or to The Kinderhook Dog Park. Brian was an American history buff — especially Civil War history, and he dragged his family through every last battle field to see every last cannon. Surviving family members include: Lorraine, Darienne, Lee, Ashly, Helena, Michael, Christine, Nicole, Rocco, and H — all Gagnes, plus a plethora of cousins, nieces and nephews. There will be a service to remember Brian's life at the North Chatham United Methodist Church on July 3rd at 9:30 AM. Interment will follow at the Chatham Center Cemetery. After which, all are invited back to the church grounds for a BBQ and time to share memories. Contributions may be made to any civic organization through which you knew Brian (or his dogs) such as: The Tri-Village Fire Company; Everlasting Hope Animal Rescue (www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY1061.html); Out of the Pits (outofthepits.org); The Columbia-Greene Human Society/ SPCA (cghs.org). Arrangements have been entrusted to the French, Gifford, Preiter and Blasl Funeral Home of Chatham, NY. For directions or to leave an online condolence visit frenchblasl.com.