Brian David Raub

Brian David Raub, of Smith Mountain Lake, VA (and previously, Greenville, PA and Wynnewood, PA), passed away on March 10, 2021 after a nine-month battle with rare duodenal cancer. Brian’s unwavering strength of character, Christian faith, and moral insight drove a lifelong insistence on what’s right over what’s easy, on kindness without publicity, and on generosity toward both neighbor and stranger. Born on August 5, 1953, in Grove City, PA, Brian was the third of four sons. He was born into the adept hands of his father, Paul Lester Raub II, D.O., and to his beloved mother, Miriam Geraldine Smith Raub. Brian was a man of many marks: The “iron cradle” wrestler and nationwide top-50 wrestling senior (1971) with an almost unbeatable pin. Leader of his Greenville High School Class of 1971: Student Council President, President of the Varsity Club, and Captain of the wrestling team. A small-town kid with big-world dreams – and his pick of acceptances to Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. He chose Yale (1971-1975), where he was named Outstanding Freshmen Wrestler, Business Manager and then General Manager at Yale Banner Publications. In 1977, he graduated with an MBA from Harvard Business School. In 1972, Brian married his best friend and high school sweetheart, Lisa. She also chose Yale and together, they became the university’s second-ever married undergraduate couple. Brian also became Lisa’s fiercest cheerleader, providing unwavering encouragement throughout a lifetime of academic, personal, and professional endeavors. In 1983, they welcomed their first and only child: a daughter, Erin. As children so often do, Erin became Brian’s greatest pride, deepest joy, and impetus for many future paths. (And also, clearly, the writer of this obituary.) Brian’s pursuit of work-family life balance, paired with his entrepreneurial drive, led him launch the Vacation Villa Referral Center (VVRC), a visionary vacation rental website and predecessor to A1Vacations.com, which in 2005 was sold to HomeAway/VRBO and later acquired by Expedia. In 2001, Brian and Lisa realized a dream and moved to live waterfront on Smith Mountain Lake – Brian’s final home, happy place, and ultimate resting spot. Here and together, they pursued their love of the water and of each other, while Brian developed Smith-Mountain-Lake.com. By 2010, Brian had finally retired, successful and professionally fulfilled. In 2011, Brian embraced a new role: enthusiastic, loving, and wholly giving grandfather to Max, his half-Costa Rican grandson. Brian and Lisa adopted Costa Rica as their second home, spending many months there with their Costa Rican family and grandchild, who Brian taught about wrestling and camping, hiking and photography. In retirement, Brian pursued many interests, including genealogy and photography, hiking and coffee roasting. He took a solo 13,000-mile road trip to 22 national parks; hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail (450 miles!) and up Costa Rica’s Cerro Chirripó; and traveled through Costa Rica, Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada. Husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, visionary, wrestler, moral compass, entrepreneur, Christian, advocate, photographer, humanitarian, ally, genealogist, adventurer – not adjectives, but accolades bestowed by those who knew him best. Brian was a faithful Presbyterian who embraced Jesus Christ as his Savior. He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul Lester Raub II and Miriam Smith Raub, and two of his brothers and best friends, Dr. Jeffrey D. Raub (d. 2004) and Paul L. Raub III (d. 2017). His spirit lives on in those who survive him: wife and lifelong best friend, Annalyse Callahan Raub (Lisa), of Smith Mountain Lake, VA; daughter Erin E. Raub, her husband Fabián Cordero González, and grandson Max C. Cordero Raub, of Santa Bárbara de Heredia, Costa Rica; and beloved brother Dr. Daniel J. Raub and his wife, Linda Riley Raub, of Aurora, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to two causes near to Brian’s heart: the David H. Clelland Scholarship Fund (via the Community Foundation of Western PA) and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. When gatherings are safe to resume, family, friends, and loved ones will gather at his celebration of life service at Trinity Ecumenical Parish – Smith Mountain Lake. For now, messages of sympathy, stories, and photos may be shared on Brian’s Caring Bridge. Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.