It is with great sadness that NASBP announces that Brian E. Wilcox, 56, a former partner of HMS Insurance Associates of Lutherville, Maryland, passed away on July 18 in an automobile accident. Brian had been an active NASBP member during his career representing HMS and providing surety expertise to clients and his colleagues.
Brian began his business career in 1978 in at the Syracuse, NY office of Fidelity & Deposit Company of Maryland. He transferred to the Baltimore office in 1980 and later joined Alexander & Alexander for several years. In 1986, he joined his wife, Eileen Q. Wilcox, and embarked on his 24-year surety career with Hartman, McLean & Schmidt (later to become HMS). Brian became manager of the Bonding Department in 1989, working closely with Carl Schmidt and Gary Pyne to service the surety needs of many of the company’s larger construction-related accounts.
In 1992, Brian along with Eileen joined Gary L. Berger and Gary A. Pyne to form a partnership that would reorganize Hartman, McLean & Schmidt under the new name of HMS Insurance Associates, Inc. From the outset of this new venture as Secretary and Treasurer, Brian would continue as an equity partner until his retirement in June of 2010. Following his retirement, Brian enjoyed traveling, playing golf and visiting colleges with his children.
Upon hearing the news of Brian’s death, Steve Anderson, President and CEO of NAS Surety Group, said, “We celebrated Brian’s life on July 23rd 2012. For those of you who had the privilege of knowing Brian, what you saw is what you got. Be it business or personal, Brian lived with integrity and always was a solid business partner. What was most special about Brian was that he treated everyone the same…family, clients and underwriters…with a warm smile and respect. He fought hard for his clients but never at the expense of his credibility with his underwriter. Brian walked the walk and Heaven is a better place now that Brian has gone home.”
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Christopher, Timothy, and Michael, of Lutherville; a daughter, Mary-Sean of Lutherville; his father Paul of Homer, NY, and two brothers, Robert Wilcox of Cortland, N.Y., and Gary Wilcox of Homer.
Memorial services were held in Towson, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Brian E. Wilcox Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Boys’ Latin School of Maryland, 822 West Lake Ave. Baltimore, MD. 21210. To learn more about Brian, click here. To express condolences, online guestbooks have been posted by Ruck Funeral Homes and by the Baltimore Sun.
