In Loving Memory
​
​Brandon “Bear” Tyler MacCallum
(By Dugan MacCallum)
​How does a parent sum up a child’s lifetime
in a few words? How do we encompass all
that Bear was, is, and could have been,
in a few short sentences?
Bear is the first son, nephew, brother, grandson
and the light of so many people's lives.
Yet, somehow that light was physically
extinguished in 2023.
Born in Woodbridge, Virginia,
Bear's smile, kind-hearted nature
and green eyes told a story of happiness
and untold greatness.
Loved immensely by his family near and far,
Bear was destined for greatness.
From early on Brandon showed an
easy-learning ability in all things.
He became a great basketball player,
lover of animals, people pleaser and avid Eagles fan
(GO BIRDS!).
​
Once he graduated high school and hit the work force,
all of these remained true.
Each director, manager, supervisor or peer
that worked with Bear all shared the same perception of him.
“Great worker, good person to know, and always helping.”
He truly was and is loved everywhere he went.
Yet, underneath all of this, Bear fought demons
that could not be seen.
Finally diagnosed with Bipolar disorder,
things started to make a little more sense.
Given prescriptions that hardly helped
to subdue these demons,
Bear turned to something more potent -
Percocet and Xanax.
Finally, he had some relief from the demons.
However, one demon relief led to another
rearing its ugly head.
Addiction and all of the devastating things
that you have heard and read about that comes along with it.
Bear was admitted to detox and behavioral health
in Richmond, Virginia.
Here he got clean, learned some early coping mechanisms
that did not involve the use of drugs.
Clear-headed, he made the decision to move away
from the people, places and things
that were daily reminders of his struggles.
In Connecticut, Bear got a good job, had support
from his family in Virginia and Florida
and seemed to be doing well.
Unfortunately, this was not the case.
As a parent, you never think about
when you will have to visit a funeral home
for your children. It’s not the natural order.
On December 13, 2023, when the call came,
the knock on the door in the middle of the night;
we knew it was not a good thing.
Every parent's worst nightmare came true for us.
Our Bear....was gone.
Brandon “Bear” Tyler McCallum
September 6, 1999- December 13, 2023
Forever 24
We love you!
Bear's Story
(By Tamara MacCallum)
​