Obituary: Brian E. Moretti, 26

Brian E. Moretti, 26 of Olean, New York formerly of Cranston, Rhode Island died suddenly on March 5th in Richmond Virginia.

Brian was the Assistant Sports Information Director at Saint Bonaventure University in Olean and had recently accepted the promotion to Marketing Director of Athletics, a position he was to assume in the coming weeks. He was in Virginia, with the St. Bonaventure Women’s Basketball team as they were preparing to participate in the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament.

Brian was the beloved youngest child of Everett (Corky) and Paula (Tagliaferri) Moretti of Cranston. Born May 4, 1987, Brian also leaves his brother Michael P. Moretti, and his wife Kaitlin of Kittery, Maine and his sister Lauren E. Colagiovanni and her husband Marc of Cranston. In addition to his parents and siblings Brian was the grandson of Marie (Scungio) Moretti and Norma (Casacalenda) Tagliaferri both of Cranston and the late Everett Moretti and Paul Tagliaferri. His aunt and best friend, Linda Tagliaferri and his nieces Addison Grace, Ella Rose and Mia Elizabeth were all loved and adored by Brian. He leaves many aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and friends.

Brian was a tireless person who gave of his time and energy to many groups, organizations and individuals. After years of playing sports he focused his time on hockey and became the only junior chosen as captain of the varsity hockey team in Cranston West’s history.

He shared his love of hockey with many youth through organized leagues in various states, including Armstrong Hockey of Warwick, Rhode Island. A 2005 graduate of Cranston High School West, Brian went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Sports Entertainment/Event Management at Johnson & Wales University in Providence where his was also a member of the varsity hockey team and worked in the Department of Athletics. In 2013 he received his Master of Science in Sports Administration at Canisius College in Buffalo New York. Prior to joining the Athletics Department at St. Bonaventure Brian worked as a member of the external affairs staff at Canisius.

Described by all who knew him as loving, supportive, welcoming and quite the comedian (always entertaining the room) he lived his life by his motto of learning lessons from everyday life and always being true to oneself but never taking life too seriously.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday March 12th in Saint Mary’s Church Cranston. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Brian Moretti Scholarship Fund.