BELOVED YouTuber Brian Barczyk has died of pancreatic cancer at age 54, just days after sharing a gut-wrenching goodbye video where he announced he entered hospice care.
Barczyk, who owned The Reptarium - a reptile zoo in Utica, Michigan, about 28 miles north of Detroit - died on Monday, his team announced.
"On behalf of the Barczyk family and our entire team at The Reptarium, it is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Brian Barczyk," the heartbreaking Instagram post read.
"More than the guiding light of our organization, Brian’s fervent passion for reptiles and wildlife, along with his steadfast dedication to education, has touched innumerable hearts and minds globally.
"Our deepest sympathies are with Brian’s family, his friends, and all those whose lives he has touched.
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"We’ve lost an exceptional individual – a visionary, mentor, and friend. For those of us who had the privilege of working alongside him, Brian’s absence leaves an immeasurable void.
"As we navigate this difficult time, we find comfort in the memories and the lasting light of Brian’s work. He will be deeply missed but indeed, never forgotten."
The reptile enthusiast was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer nearly a year ago, in February 2023.
'I FOUGHT AS HARD AS I COULD'
On Friday, he shared the video This is Goodbye to his 5 million YouTube followers as he signed off for the final time.
"Hey guys, good morning, and welcome to the vlog. It's been about 2,000 times that I've said that or something similar," Barczyk told his fans, known as the Reptile Army.
"It's been an amazing journey and one that has changed my life. Each one of you has changed my life like you can't believe.
"I'm a few weeks into chemotherapy now, it's been a rough ride."
"If you guys are watching this, that means things didn't turn out very well for me, and I apologize. I fought as hard as I could," he added in the teary video.
"You never die until the last person speaks your name. My hope is that the LegaSea Aquarium, my legacy throughout everything, is going to last a long time."
The 16-minute video included a montage of past videos featuring him with his beloved animals, his family, and his team.
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"I'm ready, guys. It was a tough year. It was so painful, the pain was incredible, the sickness was incredible, the treatment was incredible, everything about it was so bad," he said, fighting back tears.
Barczyk informed his followers that his team would continue to upload content on the channel and his social media accounts even after his death.
He owned the third-largest collection of snakes in the world, amassing over 30,000 serpents.
His latest project, the LegaSea Aquarium, is still slated to open in March.
Barczyk is survived by his wife, Lori, and their two children, Noah and Jade.
