Brian Shay, a beloved fixture of the Lawrence, Kansas community, passed away, leaving behind a profound legacy as a passionate environmentalist, devoted family man, and the driving force behind The Re-Cyclery. His dedication to keeping bicycles out of landfills and empowering his community continues to echo through the streets of LFK.
Brian’s life was deeply rooted in a shared love for family, friends, and cycling. He is survived by his two sons, Morgan and Devin; and wife Kristie and her children.
To Brian, the local bicycle community was an extension of his own family. He will always be remembered for his tireless efforts to save and repurpose thousands of Bikes including the famous VEOs after they were abandoned at the local junkyard in 2020. That monumental effort—rescuing salvageable bikes and ensuring they were repurposed for the community—remained one of his many achievements. Seeing those saved bicycles being pedaled around town brought an enduring smile to his face. He spent his life ensuring that cycling remained accessible and affordable for everyone in the area. His legacy of turning old bikes into joy for kids and adults alike highlights the true spirit of his generosity.
Brian’s spirit, ingenuity, and passion for all things on wheels will be sorely missed, but his mission of community service and sustainability will pedal on through the lives he touched.
I was fortunate to meet Brian through our late friend Braden. He was a warm caring presence and he will be deeply missed.
Devin and Morgan, I was sad to read that your dad died. He did so much. I’m sorry that you have to be without your dad now. I am proud of you two and thanks again for helping me with the ice cart downtown.
Brian’s one of the most loving caring people, I’ve ever had the honor of knowing. Love you Brian, Morgan, Devin, Cali
Brian was a good man who treated bike dummies (like me) with respect and true service. I always enjoyed visiting the Re-Cyclery. I will never forget the efforts to recycle KU bikes during the pandemic.
Brian was so helpful to me and my family in keeping us in bikes new used and repaired. We miss him. My grandson Cedar especially admired him.
In January 2022, Brian helped my boyfriend Joe purchase his first road bike from The Re-Cyclery: a barely-used red Trek bike. Joe’s old hand-me-down bike had been stolen from his college house, and Brian so generously helped Joe find his dream bike at an incredibly accessible price. Joe rode this bike to campus every day, competed on it in his first triathlon last summer, and now uses it to commute to work. We often talk about how generous Brian was, and how amazing The Re-Cyclery was. Joe and I are both saddened to hear about Brian’s passing, and we send our condolences to his loved ones. Though we only met him once, I can truly say he left a mark on Joe’s life through his kindness.
My name is Ron used to give him rags to clean bikes developed great relationship miss him dearly