Irma victim died as he lived — helping out
Brian Buwalda known for his giving nature
WINTER PARK — A tree branch crashed through Barbi Knowlen’s French doors early on Sept. 11, bringing Hurricane Irma’s pounding wind and rain into her Winter Park home.
Unsure of what to do, she said she called the man who was always there to help: her ex-husband, Brian Buwalda.
He offered to walk over, but Knowlen demanded he not. Buwalda threw a garbage bag over his body to stay dry, grabbed a tarp and a flashlight and headed to her anyway.
About halfway through the 1½-mile walk, police say he stepped on a metal storm-drain cover electrified by a downed power line, killing him. He was 51.
Friends were stunned to hear of his death, but his selfless act fit the profile of the accountant known for his giving nature and philanthropic efforts.
“When you really know who Brian was and how generous Brian was … that’s entirely his character,” said Judge Rand Wallis, a
friend of Buwalda’s for 22 years. “The fact he was going to help somebody in need, that is consistent absolutely with his personality.”
Buwalda, one of five Irma fatalities in Orange County, was humble and believed in giving money to local churches and charitable organizations, friends said.
While he typically attended large churches, such as Longwood megachurch
Northland, A Church Distributed, Knowlen said Buwalda preferred to make donations to smaller churches where he could have a bigger impact.
Friends say the longtime principal at CliftonLarsonAllen, a national accounting firm with an office Orlando, used his financial skills to aid charitable organizations such as the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and the Florida College System Foundation.
He served on boards for both organizations as treasurer.
“He used to say ‘to whom
much is given, much is expected,’ ” said Scott Bridgman, a principal at the firm. “A lot of times he did it anonymously.”
At the firm, he was one of the head educators and trained co-workers in tax law and complicated tax issues, Bridgman said.
When Wallis, an appeal court judge in the 5th Judicial Circuit, ran for re-election, he trusted his friend to be treasurer of the campaign.
Buwalda didn’t often speak about his giving except to those he knew best, Knowlen said.
He was especially proud of donations he made to an organization called Esperanza, a group that collects donations to help entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic and Haiti start small businesses.
Knowlen said Buwalda would show her online how his money had helped businesses there get off the ground.
“He wanted to make sure his money would grow and make a difference,” Knowlen said. “He never wanted to enable anybody… he wanted to enrich them.”
After the couple divorced
in 2005, Buwalda attended a divorce recovery group at Northland, A Church Distributed.
Upon completing it, he went on to lead several such groups at the church.
Melanie Confusione met Buwalda about eight years ago after attending a church meeting together. Over the years, they worked together with several non-profits and a free children’s clinic in Orlando she was involved with.
They were fast friends who enjoyed attending Broadway shows and Orlando City games. He was a season ticket holder each of the soccer club’s three seasons.
At the club’s game Sept. 27 against the New England Revolution, his photo was posted on an in-stadium video board for a moment of silence.
“[He was] just one of the nicest, giving, compassionate people I know,” Confusione said. “He ultimately died doing what he did so much, and that’s helping others.”