Brian G. Palestis ’95

Brian died Jan. 28, 2020, at home in Union, N.J., after a 14-month battle with brain cancer (GBM).   

A native of New Jersey, he was the valedictorian of Pompton Lakes High School. At Princeton Brian majored in ecology and evolutionary biology, was a member of Colonial, and was sabre squad leader on the Ivy League champion fencing team. Brian earned a Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from Rutgers University in 2000 and taught at Wagner College on Staten Island, where his research focused on common terns. 

He remained active in fencing after college, serving as a licensed referee and as the volunteer assistant coach for Wagner’s fencing team. Brian met his wife, Meghan (Sullivan) Palestis ’96, during our senior year, and they were married in 1997. He enjoyed traveling with Meghan and doing research along the Jersey shore.  

Brian is survived by Meghan; their children, Connor and Caitlin; mother Elizabeth Kattak; father Ernest and his wife, Monica; brother Paul; and sister-in-law Alexandra.