Brian Hart, 57, of New Port Richey, Florida, formerly of Niles, Michigan, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2025. Born on December 30, 1967, in Niles, Brian was the beloved son of Mary and Richard Berth.

A graduate of Niles High School, Brian began his lifelong journey of service on his 18th birthday when he joined the Niles City Fire Department. His passion for helping others led him to become a paramedic, where he found his calling serving the community he loved so deeply. Throughout his career, Brian continued to pursue excellence, earning his Firefighter II certification and becoming a Critical Care Paramedic.

Never one to shy away from adrenaline and challenge, Brian trained in high-angle rope rescue, confined space rescue, and river rescue. His courage and skill made him a trusted colleague and friend among his peers. Outside of work, Brian’s adventurous spirit continued beneath the surface — he was a Master Diver, and was so enthralled with it, he became a Technical Diver, captivated by shipwrecks, cave diving, and the beauty of the Caribbean and Lake Michigan. Some of his most joyful moments were spent exploring the water with his dear friend Don Hughes.

On May 5, 1997, Brian married the love of his life, Cindy, and together they raised a beautiful family filled with love, laughter, and lasting memories. He was endlessly proud of their three sons — Joey of Niles, Michigan; Alex and his wife Tristin, and their daughter Remi of Davenport, Florida; and Tanner of Niles, Michigan. Remi, his granddaughter, was truly the light of his life, and he considered Tristin to be his “daughter-in-love.”

Brian is also survived by his sister, Christine DeLand, and brother-in-law, Carl DeLand, of Niles, Michigan.

Brian will be remembered for his courage, humor, dedication, and the way he made everyone around him feel safe and loved. His legacy lives on through the family he adored and the countless lives he touched through his service and friendship.

Brian also had a deep passion for astronomy. Many nights were spent studying the stars with his children, peering through a telescope and sharing his sense of wonder about the universe. Tanner may have said it best when he said, “Dad was like a star. The bigger you are, the brighter you burn. He never would have been satisfied being a brown dwarf.”