Brandon David Wuske

Brandon Wuske, age 40, passed away far too soon on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. He had been diagnosed with stomach cancer only five weeks earlier.

It seemed he was just hitting his stride in recent years, becoming a librarian at Mason Public Library in 2018, where he was well respected and loved in the community. He found work as a free-lance writer and was named the chief food critic/reviewer of Cincinnati Magazine beginning in 2020, the fulfillment of another great passion of his. (See his “sign-off” article posted to the magazine’s website: Article.) And he had become engaged to the love of his life, Elma, who had finally received permission to come to the US from the Philippines with a fiancée visa just the day before he died. It all seemed so unfair.

Brandon had always loved the diversity, culture and food scene of big cities. He chose Gordon College near Boston for his undergraduate degree, earning his B.A. in History and English in 2007, where he developed life-long friends. He moved to Chicago and then pursued another passion of his by earning his M.A. in Library and Information Science degree from Dominican University in 2010. He landed a job as librarian at Thomas More College in Northern Kentucky and then decided to follow his dream to try to live in New York City in 2014. After a valiant but disappointing attempt to make it in the Big Apple, he moved back to the Cincinnati area, the place where he grew up, and he eventually came to greatly love and appreciate his home town.

Known as a quick-witted “foodie,” indomitable trivia opponent, connoisseur of art and culture and loyal friend, he was deeply loved by his family, friends and co-workers. He will be forever loved and missed by his parents Terry Curtis and Shirley Ann (nee Smith) Wuske, his brother Jonathan Todd Wuske, his birth mother Rebecca Seay Ford, his beloved fiancée Elma Sapatose Saguman, his loyal band of friends, co-workers and devoted family and countless others he touched through his writings and experiences. His loved ones take comfort in his peacefulness, his good-natured humor, his resolute faith in God, and his unending care for those he loved as he bravely approached his final days. He assured his visitors he would “see you on the other side.”

Brandon requested a "celebration" with “”good food” and an occasion for “people to connect.” To honor his wish for a happy celebration, please join his family (including Elma!) and all his friends - “Brandon style” - for his Celebration of Life on October 12, 2024, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Madtree Brewing, 3301 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45209. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations made in Brandon’s memory may be made to Mason Public Library, 200 Reading Rd., Mason, OH 45040 or Hospice of Cincinnati: Click Here.