Utica Reptarium owner Brian Barczyk passes away

UTICA — On Jan. 14, the Barczyk family and the entire team at the Reptarium announced the passing of founder Brian Barczyk at the age of 54.

After finding out about his pancreatic cancer, which quickly became a stage 4 diagnosis, a year ago, he began his dream of building another attraction across from the Reptarium called LegaSea. The LegaSea Aquarium is scheduled to open in mid-March across Van Dyke Avenue from the Reptarium.

Tyler Kranak, the general manager at the LegaSea Aquarium and the Reptarium, said Barczyk was an incredible man and the Reptarium and LegaSea will do everything they can to keep his legacy alive for decades to come.

“We are all #BrianStrong here at LegaSea, and we always will be. His dream is in good hands. I promised him that we would never let him down, and he told me that he believed it. He passed away knowing the dream and the LegaSea will move on. Brian will always be with us; we honor him and his message in every word, in every step and in every guest who visits us at LegaSea,” Kranak said.

Kranak said Barczyk was with family when he died.

“He passed away comfortably at home, surrounded by his loving wife, Lori, his ever protective Great Dane, Phoebe, as well as many family members,” he said.

A memorial service and public walk-through were held Jan. 17 at Heritage Church in Sterling Heights. In lieu of flowers, the family requested digital flowers in honor of Brian to support the LegaSea Aquarium’s opening. More information can be found at thereptarium.com/pages/brianbarczyk.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network released a statement after hearing about Barczyk’s death.

“We are tremendously saddened to hear the news of the passing of Brian Barczyk from pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a tough disease with vague symptoms and is often diagnosed too late when tumors are inoperable. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will continue the fight to improve patient outcomes by investing in early detection research and more effective treatment options,” Kandi Wood, co-chair of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Michigan affiliate, stated.

Pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States with a five-year survival rate of just 12%, according to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Pancreatic cancer is the 10th-most commonly diagnosed cancer in America. Pancreatic cancer may cause only vague symptoms that could indicate many different conditions within the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract. Because of this, most people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at a late stage when tumors are inoperable and the cancer has already spread, according to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Gus Calandrino, the mayor of Utica, said Barczyk always expressed his love for the city of Utica.

“Whenever he was proposing something new and exciting, he’d end the conversation with, ‘Mayor, is this good for the city?’ Of course, everything Brian touched was good for Utica and the entire region. Brian lived life to the fullest and his message of love and kindness to others, and of course animals, will be his legacy. Utica will miss Brian, but we’re fortunate to have his family, crew, and the Reptarium and LegaSea Aquarium to keep his legacy alive forever,” Calandrino said.