Page 263 - ShowSight, November 2020

Illustration below by Brian Cordova.
IN MEMORY OF BRIAN CORDOVA
Bruce and I were so saddened to hear about Brian. The last time that we saw him was at Abbe Shaw’s Santa Barbara Kennel Club party a couple of years ago. We hadn’t seen him in some time and were both immediately struck by how much we missed his huge, sardonic sense of humor... Brian was truly one of the funniest people either of us have ever known. Anyone who knew Brian knew how quick witted he was. He was rarely mean, but when he was it was in a Joan Rivers kind of way. Not really mean, but funny mean. He was so entertaining.
Brian grew up in Denver, and at Abbe’s party, Brian proudly introduced me to a number of people as his “First Boss.” I was flattered, but also sobered to realize that I was that old. We sat together at din- ner and it was a memorable time that I now value even more. He readily told stories of working at Shy- lo while in high school, and while Brian loved the Afghans as well as a Saluki that we helped him with, we knew that Brian’s heart was with smaller dogs. Hairy smaller Dogs!! Brian went on to work at the “Pup N’ Taco” (Hot Dogs and Tacos) in Denver, and at one point got into a bit of trouble there. The owner drove up one evening to check on things and Brian was proudly gaiting and stacking his new Shih-Tzu for co-worker and dog lover, Jeanette. “That’s not the kind of Pups we have here, Brian!!”
Brian loved everything dog-related and was prone to drawing and sketching dogs in those early years. I don’t know if this continued as he got older. Shown above is a sketch of our Dog “Rowlfe” that Brian did and signed in 1981; almost 40 years ago. I’m afraid that I couldn’t find the original, but only this copy that we used as background for an ad in the 1982 Stud Dog Issue of the Afghan Hound Review.
If ever there was a person who loved Dogs, Dog Shows, and Show Dog People, it was Brian. With much love and appreciation, Brian.
STEVE FISHER & BRUCE CLARK
Tammy Gincel, Brian Cordova and his very special friend, Kathy Bilicich Garcia, pictured above at Morris and Essex 2015.
We were a dynamic duo for 15 years – Brian knew dogs and I understood advertising. We taught each other the fine points of our craft, but I soon discov- ered there are traits that you cannot teach a person. Brian had an innate kindness and a generosity of spir- it that knew no bounds. He loved attending shows and introducing me to his friends! I will miss my dog show husband!
TAMMY GINCEL
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 2020 | 259