Brett Lear

Brett Wade Lear passed away on September 6, 2023 in Rifle, Colorado. A devoted and loving father, Brett served as a leader in public libraries throughout his career and lived his life with endless curiosity and zest. He was tenacious in his commitments - whether it was to watch 50 new movies in one year, earn a black belt in Tang Soo Do, or find a cultural event within 100 miles every other week to attend with his son Wade. Brett will be remembered for his quick wit, intrepid spirit, loyal friendship, affection for animals (especially strays), deep love for music (especially vinyl), impeccable knowledge of film history, and an enduring commitment to the freedom to read.

Born to Claudia Lear on January 21, 1968 in Elmhurst, Illinois, and raised by Claudia and his grandparents, Alice and Derwood Francis Hester, Brett attended high school in Crystal River and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Florida. He proudly studied under author Padgett Powell, who inspired a gift for short story writing. After gaining his Master’s Degree in Library Science from Florida State University, Brett moved to New York City to work at the New York Public Library, where he began his career and established lifelong friendships. After a brief venture into academic librarianship as a Library Director at Florida State University, Brett relocated to Denver, Colorado to rejoin public librarianship at Jefferson County Public Library. During that time, he authored an American Library Association Editions book, Adult Programs in the Library. As part of a long-time relationship with Robyn Lupa, Brett became a steadfast father figure to her son, Elijah Layer. He met and married Adrianne Peterson and lived in Evergreen, Colorado, while serving as manager of various Jefferson County Library branches. 

Brett regularly participated as a guest librarian at the annual Feria Internacional del Libro in Guadalajara, where he met his second wife, Marjorie Schreiber. They moved to Portland, Oregon, where both worked at Multnomah County Library, and then to Martin County, Florida, where Brett served as Library Director and proudly became a father to Wade Francis in August 2013. The family continued their travels cross country to California, where Brett became Director of Sonoma County Library and provided leadership to pass Measure Y, with 72% of Sonoma County voters approving sales tax support for the 14-library system, to increase hours and expand access, resources and programs. Meanwhile, he earned an Executive MBA from Sonoma State University and became a strategic consultant. Brett later served as Director of Garfield County Public Library District in Colorado, leading another successful campaign to pass Measure 6A, which restored funding levels and doubled the amount of new materials available to the public. Brett finished out his career helping to maximize the number of eligible people connecting to food benefits in his role as Colorado Engagement Manager with Benefits Data Trust.

Being a dad was Brett’s greatest calling. He dedicated his life to sharing experiences with young Elijah, and then years later as a father to Wade. Brett wished to bring into both their lives all the wonders available in the world, including monster truck competitions, whitewater rafting, symphony concerts,  tarantula migrations, horseback riding, dipping in the hot springs of Iceland, the Azores and Colorado, riding the ferry to San Francisco, shucking oysters, making slime, cooking chili - and he had countless more plans in the works.

Brett was honored on Thanksgiving week by close friends in Clearwater Beach, Florida, where many stories were shared - of late nights listening to records together, and of the many adventures (and misadventures) into which we were all drawn with enthusiasm - and from which Brett always bounced back, with his signature scrappy determination to live each new moment to its fullest.

Brett is survived by his son Wade, friend Elijah Layer, and brother Todd.