Brandon Arthur Perkins

Brandon Arthur Perkins, 44, the gentlest of spirits joined the angels in heaven on May 9, 2024. Brandon was a gift to everyone who knew him; his kindness showing through his whole life. Even in nursery school, teachers would say how caring he was and would stick up for others who were picked on. Brandon was everyone’s ‘best friend’; he could be trusted 100% and always put those around him before himself.

‘B’, as family knew him, was an adventurer and always looking for the next one. While in college at The University of Puget Sound, he was able to secure semesters abroad in Costa Rica and Kenya. He fell in love with the rainforests of Costa Rica and his CR “mom” treated him like a second son and loved him deeply. In Africa, he lived in tents protected by Massai on the savannah; sometimes lions would come through the encampment and he loved the thrill of living in the wilds of Kenya.

During summers, B worked in Glacier Bay, Alaska on a day boat. On days off, he would kayak up the bay to his favorite place, McBride Glacier, and camp out in the wilderness, often encountering grizzly bears. Once after kayaking 20 miles, he was chased by a mom grizzly, barely making it to his kayak in time. On other occasions, it was B’s quietness and gentleness that made him one with his environment and saved him no matter what dangers he faced. Once, just after dawn, on his way to the bay, carrying his beloved Djembe drum, he encountered a grizzly head on. Brandon stopped and the bear stopped. B gently put his Djembe down and started tapping it; the grizzly stood up, looked at B once more and ran off. Brandon never panicked and instinctively knew how to act in the face of danger. Another time when his mom visited GB, they were in a kayak in a shallow area and a humpback whale breeched on one side of the boat and then on the other. The whale knew where to surface because Brandon sent him signals by gently tapping his paddle. Brandon was also a gifted writer, sharing his Glacier Bay solo adventures in a riveting blog. Being in the wild was where Brandon was the happiest and felt most free.

Brandon graduated with a BS in Biology with honors and worked in West Hollywood as a bartender at Here Lounge for many years, collecting close friendships that would last his life. B and his fellow bartenders lived the high life of LA and were sought out by regulars at this nighttime spot. They served many celebrities and Drag Night was always a big hit. His LA buddies enjoyed their time away from Here, too: camping, pool parties, Vegas, white water rafting, Knots Berry Farm. Oh, the stories they could tell! Always the outdoor guy, B started a hiking club in West Hollywood and lead hikes in the Hollywood hills. After living the LA life for a few years, Brandon felt a need to get back to nature, so he sold all his belongings and spent the next year traveling to Alaska, Shenandoah Park, VA and St. Thomas. He also lived in Billings, MT and Denver, CO where he loved snowboarding in the Rockies with friends. Brandon’s travels across the US also opened his eyes to a harsh reality. He was not able to be his authentic self as a gay man in some places he lived. This fact made his life challenging and was difficult for him.

Brandon and his mom loved their adventures together. They had several trips to Italy, and more recently to the Grand Canyon and Iceland. Brandon loved hikes in the GC and walks on glaciers in Iceland viewing the many natural wonders there: waterfalls, active volcanoes and northern lights. Brandon also had many memorable trips with his dad, including Glacier Bay, AK, and Durango, CO. Father and son shared a wonderful sense of humor and they spent many happy Thanksgivings together in Denver.

B headed home to Concord to pursue a career in nursing in May 2023. Over the past year, Brandon excelled in a very challenging RN program at the Tech and received glowing reports from professors.

He loved his family deeply: his parents, 2 sisters, 5 nieces and nephews and cousins. For 20 years, he lived away from Concord but would come back every summer and many Christmases. B’s sister, Erica, also lived away but traveled back in the summer so the whole family could be together. It was the one time of the year Brandon could spend time with his nephews and niece all together.

Brandon was predeceased by his beloved nephew, Miles Murray. Brandon is survived by his mother and kindred adventure spirit, Pam Peterson, of Concord, NH; his father, Chip (Arthur) Perkins and Tricia Marden, of Concord, NH; his sister, Amanda Perkins and Kevin Murray, his nephews Tylen and Eli Murray, of Henniker, NH; his sister Erica Carpenter and Greg Carpenter, his niece and nephew Liza and Jake Carpenter, of Tampa, FL; his cousins, Kendall Perkins of Portsmouth, NH; and Candice Perkins of Concord, NH; as well as aunts and uncles, Bill Peterson, Mary Peterson, Joe Peterson and Karen and Raymond Perkins. Brandon also leaves his best friends, Michael Donahue, Cory Aaron Scott, and Jude Tade.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date at the convenience of the family.

In honor of Brandon and his passion and love for the outdoors, and in an effort to conserve his beloved McBride Glacier, we ask that any gifts be made to the Conservation Fund. Gifts can be made using the link:         https://www.conservationfund.org/projects/conservation-for-culture-alaska-s-glacier-bay-preserves-more-than-a-park        Please acknowledge his name, and feel free to send an ecard message to Pam Peterson at: pap1818@yahoo.com.