Brian Walter Schostak

Brian Walter Schostak, formerly of Macedonia, Ohio died at his home in Houston, Texas on Sunday, June 28, 2015. He was 52 years old. Brian was the beloved son of Elizabeth and Walter S. Schostak, husband of Susan Smith, and father of Brian Smith. Brian attended Nordonia High School, graduated in 1980 and went on to The Ohio State University where he studied surveying. He graduated with a double major with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Surveying and Civil Engineering in 1985. Brian was hired right out of college by Shell Oil Company where he was employed until his death. He first worked for Shell in New Orleans where he and his team of surveyors received an award for the accuracy of their calculations of the depth of the ocean floor. He moved to Houston, Texas and began to travel the world for Shell Oil, enthralling his family and friends with photos and stories of his adventures. Brian worked in the Geomatics department for Shell Exploration and Production Company and was head of the department from 2005 to 2009. He was Head of Data Management for Shell from 2009 to 2011 and then moved to Geophysical Operations where he became manager in September 2013 acquiring both land and marine geophysical data throughout North and South America. A founding member of APSG (Americas Petroleum Survey Group), Brian served as Chair of Education 1999-2000 and was Secretary Treasurer from 2007-2009. He was Executive Chair of OGP Joint Industry Project GIGS and was given the APSG Meritorious Service Award and inducted into the APSG Hall of Fame because of his work. Brian was fond of surprising his mother on birthdays and holidays, giving her the joy of an unexpected visit. Brian spent the last 10 years married to Susan Smith in Houston, Texas. Together they raised Brian Smith, who initially was her son, but quickly became Brian’s son too. “Big Brian” took great pride in “Little Brian” and his baseball career throughout high school, junior college, and finally Rice University. “Big Brian” also loved spending time with Susan and their dogs Duke, Jack, and Jett. Preceded in death by his father, Brian is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Schostak of Stow, Ohio; sisters, Diana (John Packard) of Florida, Susan of Stow, OH, Sandy (Bob Williams) of Streetsboro, OH and brother Walter (Cynthia) of Silver Lake, OH; as well as nephews, Adam, Andrew, and Ben Wehmann, Ryan Packard, Walter Schostak; and nieces, Erika Packard and Julia Schostak. Memorial service will be held on July 10, 2015 at 1:00 PM at Addison Funeral Home in Spring, Texas. May his memory be eternal.