Brian Regnier

Brian Regnier, a most unlikely pioneer and leader for a world that works for everyone, has died. He died of complications of Parkinson’s disease. His short tenure with us spanned the time from July 14, 1943 to his death on December 6, 2021, at age 78. Brian leaves behind Tobin White, his husband of many years, and quite a number of people who are family or consider him family. Brian grew up in Chicago, with parents Ardath and Horace Regnier, brother Lloyd, sisters Janice and Gail, and surviving sister Cheri Wall. Studied mathematics. The macrobiotic movement, the baths and the gay scene, brought Brian to San Francisco, where he first connected with Werner Erhard in 1971. He immediately went on staff with Werner and his life was thereafter lived in service of a promise for the transformation of what it means for us humans to be human. His trajectory as a staff member began with his managing Werner’s schedule. He went on to become one of, and the leader of, the highly trained group of people in Landmark known as Consultants, whose presence enables the Landmark staff to generate themselves in their work as an expression of the Landmark Forum. He retired as a Landmark Forum Leader; a member of the design team for Landmark’s programs; and the source of the expression of the Landmark Forum known as the Wisdom Course Area. Brian is probably best known now for his creating the Wisdom Course and all the programs that have emerged therefrom. Many thousands of Landmark graduates have participated in the Wisdom Course, a year long inquiry into the possibility of a life of ongoing growth and development. Graduates of the Wisdom Course have invented and provided leadership in countless projects of global scale. Along the way, among others, Brian created the programs of the Landmark Coaching Division; programs altering how people create and interact with their day-to-day schedules; programs for people who provide care for the seriously ill; a program redefining the possibility of aging; and a variety of programs impacting self expression and productivity delivered in vacation settings. Brian had great hearing (and an amazing singing voice), poor eyesight, glasses that made his eyes large with delight, a laugh and a smile that lifted everyone who happened to be around. And there was a quality around him that had people free to be, independent of circumstance. While those qualities might be spoken of someone who occurred like Mary Poppins, Brian was down to earth – he had a clear view of what’s so in any matter under discussion. He spoke the truth, no holds barred. And he also carried a pocketful of “empty and meaningless” to apply liberally, granting freedom for everyone involved to be in effective action. Brian was a prolific reader of a wide variety of writers and thinkers, a palate educated in the matter of fine whiskey, a fan of futuristic science fiction. And Brian is a friend. The best you’ll ever have.