Brian T. McGraw

Brian Thomas McGraw, age 81, of Saint Louis Park, Minnesota and prior Canton, Michigan, passed away at his home on January 10, 2026. Born in Detroit to William James Patrick and Marian Grace McGraw (Loomis), Brian was the fifth of six children. He graduated from Our Lady Gate of Heaven in 1958 and then Detroit Catholic Central High School in 1962. He attained his Bachelors Degree in Education from University of Detroit in 1966 and a Masters in Education from University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1978. Brian had a 30 year career in the Detroit Public Schools, with the majority spent at Miller Middle School on DuBois Avenue in Detroit’s East Side. As a social studies teacher he taught American History, Geography, and spent much of his time teaching Civics in Room 222. Mr. McGraw was adored by many of his students and revered by his colleagues, so much that he represented them as Building Rep for the Detroit Federation of Teachers for many years. Brian played hockey growing up and was a star goalie at Detroit Catholic Central. After high school, he remained active playing softball, golf, racquet ball, and wally ball. Most notably he took pride in participating in the Ben Brown Open, often placing last. At family gatherings he was known to participate in a raucous game of volleyball. His biggest passion though, was trivia. From Trivial Pursuit with family and friends, watching Jeopardy! while cooking dinner, or playing bar trivia with his legendary team who were often weekly champions at Sheehan’s on the Green in Plymouth. Brian was a voracious reader and a great conversationalist, always taking an interest in other’s artistic and literary endeavors. Brian is survived by his three granddaughters Katherine Penelope, Shannon Elizabeth, and Lily Grace McGraw; his sons Dylan James and Brett Thomas McGraw (Laura Gruye and stepchildren Emma and Dylan); daughter-in-law Michelle Lee Chrastek (Andy); younger sister Kathleen McGraw-Verdejo, older brothers Robert (Mary), Michael (Marylyn), and sisters-in-law Nancy and Barbara. He was preceded in death by siblings William and John, parents William and Marian, and brother-in-law Frank Verdejo. Visitation will be Saturday, February 7th from 1 PM until 3 PM followed by a Celebration of Life from 3 PM to 4 PM at Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Home, 46401 Ann Arbor Road West (between Sheldon and Beck) Plymouth, MI. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions be made to Alzheimer's Association Ride to End ALZ Team Imagine no Dementia https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk?team_id=1028513&pg=team&fr_id=19386, American Civil Liberties Union https://www.aclu.org/, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind https://www.guidingeyes.org/ To share a memory, please use the share a memory tab on this webpage.

Brian T. McGraw

September 17, 1944 - January 10, 2026