Obituary of Brian Curtis Short

Brian Curtis Short, 50, of Middletown

Loved Special Olympics, Philly sports and all thing Elvis

Brian Curtis Short, 50, of Middletown Township, died peacefully at home on October 13, 2023. A happy soul who gave the best hugs, Brian embraced many activities with enthusiasm including Special Olympic sports, travel by bus and plane, dining, dances, music, theater and everything Elvis. Born in Drexel Hill on May 9, 1973, Brian was the beloved son of Karen Johnson Hatzell of Middletown and Will Short of Thomasville, Pa. He was a student in the Upper Darby School District special education program and graduated in 1994 from Upper Darby High School.

After graduation, Brian worked at Elwyn' s Kevin Dugan Center and the Bridgewater Occupational Training Center in Aston for 26 years, retiring in 2020. For the past two years he attended Active Day of Clifton Heights.

Brian was a member of St. Timothy's Lutheran Church in Aston where he took great pride in serving as an acolyte for many years.

He participated in Delaware County Special Olympics for 43 years, training and competing in soccer, basketball, bowling, track and golf. In 1999, he competed in the Special Olympics World Games in North Carolina, earning a bronze medal in soccer. He was also honored with the Special Olympics Award from the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. No matter what the sport, Brian gave his full effort to all events. He never let his challenges stand in his way, and he exhibited great team spirit.

He was involved in many activities hosted by such groups as the Delaware County Down Syndrome Group, Villanova Best Buddies, the Child Guidance Social Group and the Delaware County Advocacy and Resource Organization. He was one of the original members of the Media Theatre State Street Miracles and performed with this troupe for 16 years, doing an amazing rendition of "Hound Dog" including all of Elvis Presley's signature moves.

He loved to travel, including bus trips with his mother and her friend Florence Silvey, especially a trip to Graceland in Memphis, Tenn. He flew to Sweden to meet the relatives of his great grandfather, Anders Johnson. He went to Bermuda, Florida, the Bahamas, Busch Gardens and many other destinations, always making friends along the way. He also enjoyed time spent at Camp Innabah in Chester County for Challenger camp sessions.

His family and friends will always remember him for his smile, infectious laugh, hearty enjoyment of food, especially crabcakes, and his joyful attitude toward everything he tried. Thanks to his mother's devotion, Brian's rich lifetime of participation in so many activities stands as a great example of how individuals with intellectual disabilities can lead meaningful lives and have wonderful relationships in our communities.

Survivors:
Brian is survived by his mother, his stepfather William T. Hatzell, his father, his stepmother Janet Short, and his aunt, Linda Hubbard of St. Augustine, Fla. He is also survived by Grace and Pete Cortellini of Wallingford, Ronnie and Jack MClung of Annapolis, Md., other stepfamily members, cousins, dear friends and dedicated caregivers.

He is predeceased by his grandparents, Herman and Fay Johnson, Willard C. Short and Virginia Phillips.

Memorial Service will be held on Monday, October 23^rd at 10:30AM at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 535 Lamp Post Lane, Aston, PA 19014, Visitation will be from 9:30-10:15AM at the Church, Interment Arlington Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions in Brian's memory may be made to the Special Olympics of Delaware County, Box 1202, Havertown, PA 19803, or the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research, FDR Station, Box 220, New York, N.Y. 10150.