Brian Munro McGillicuddy, a 64-year-old Harrison man and experienced mountain climber, is presumed to have passed away during a February hike in the Scottish Highlands.
McGillicuddy, who grew up in Rye, was last seen Feb. 19 at a base camp on Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain, prompting a large-scale search when he failed to return as planned.
“Prophetically (though not intentionally), Brian’s middle and last names are linked to mountain ranges, with Munro being his paternal Scottish grandmother’s name,” said an obituary posted online Friday. “Living up to his name, his passion for mountain climbing was lifelong – his parents needed to put a net over his crib to keep him from climbing out. He developed actual climbing skills at age 9, when he was a camper at Adirondack Camp for Boys on Lake George, a place he remained close to. Over the next 50-plus years, Brian became a masterful and experienced rock climber, with a special focus on ice climbing. It was in pursuit of this passion that Brian is now presumed to have lost his life. He failed to return from his ascent of the Orion summit at Ben Nevis in Scotland, where unpredictable weather and avalanches likely took him from us.”
McGillicuddy retired on Jan. 30 from his job at Gibbs Metal in Armonk, N.Y., and was celebrating with a two-week climbing trip on a mountain he had previously summited. Mountain rescue, coast guard, drone pilots, and search-and-rescue dog teams joined the search in challenging winter conditions. The Police Scotland Highland & Islands Facebook account posted that he, “was last seen around 8.30am (Feb. 19) at the CIC Hut. He may have also been on Orion Face Direct.”
The Charles Inglis Clark (CIC) Memorial Hut is a base camp on the north face of Ben Nevis that provides shelter for climbers and access to winter routes. The Orion Face Direct route is one of the mountain’s most difficult climbing routes.
McGilluddy became a hiking legend in the New Paltz, N.Y., area for his treks in the Shawangunk Mountains, earning the nickname “White Jeans Brian,” for his unique choice of climbing attire.
“Several first ascents in the Hudson Valley region were his to name,” McGillicuddy’s obituary said. “The most recent, called Tres Retirees, was blazed with two other recently retired climbing friends in early February.”
He became a devoted supporter of the para-climbing community after an injury to one of his good friends’ sons.
“White Jeans Brian was so much more than a legendary climber,” said one friend, quoted in McGillicuddy’s obituary. “Brian was an inspirational force, a tremendous wind of support, and a kind, loving and enthusiastic soul; his effect on his friendships and the climbing community as a whole will last forever.”
McGillicuddy’s sister, Faith Benoit, currently lives in Rye. Harrison High School’s football stadium is named after their father, John. Brian McGillicuddy lived with his wife of 30 years, Kym, in the same Harrison house John grew up in. They have one child, a son named Conor.
“There are not enough superlatives to describe Brian, and if you were lucky enough to meet him, you know it’s true!” the obituary said. “You would also know he had an affinity for Guinness and the Grateful Dead and could talk to anyone and was as happy to hear your stories as tell you his. The outpouring of love from everywhere, and especially from the climbing community, has been a tremendous comfort in these difficult days. While Brian will be missed by so many of us, he was in his bliss on Ben Nevis and is now in the loving hands of God.”
A Mass in Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. March 14 at the Church of the Resurrection in Rye.
