Brian Calistro Obituary

BRIAN TAN CHU CALISTRO Formerly of Honolulu, Hawaii, Brian Tan Chu Calistro, 42, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2023, at his home in Happy Valley, Oregon after a nearly 4-year battle with Glioblastoma. He was surrounded by family, fur babies, and love. Brian was born in Cebu City, Philippines on November 28, 1980. At 6 years old, he immigrated to the US with his family and grew up in Flushing, New York, graduating from St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens in 1998. Brian attended a summer session at the University of Hawaii, realizing a long-held dream of living in the Islands, before transferring to Cal State Northridge. He eventually received his B.A. in English Literature and Cultural Studies in 2006 from Binghamton University, State University of New York. He also lived in Chicago and Las Vegas but eventually returned to Honolulu to set down roots. Brian worked in the food service industry at several Honolulu restaurants, including Sansei Seafood Restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory, Il Lupino, and the Honolulu Museum of Art (formerly, Honolulu Academy of Arts) Café, where he found his second home and spent the last 8 years of his career, until being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2019. Brian was passionate about traveling and exploring diverse cultures; if he wasn't on a trip, he was planning one. His extensive travels included kayaking New Zealand's Milford Sound, trekking Iceland's Laugavegur Trail, climbing Mount Everest, and summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. Brian was happiest in a hut, hostel, or overwater bungalow, though his preference leaned toward the bungalows later in life. In 2015, he took on his greatest adventure and married his soulmate, Dean. In 2020, the pair moved to Happy Valley, Oregon to fulfill his dreams of continuing to travel, despite his illness amid a pandemic. Brian is survived by his husband of 8 years, Dean Calistro, his parents Vicente and Judith Chu, his siblings Marjorie (Anthony) Montalbano and Galen (Ellen) Chu, and his nieces Kylene and Emery Chu. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements Provided By: Oregon Cremation Company