Saint Mary’s Hall mourns the loss of long-time faculty member Brian Kaestner, who passed away on April 8, 2025.
“Brian was a beloved and revered teacher,” said Head of School Len Miller. “No one ever heard him utter a negative word. Brian was so full of life, and belief in our students and his colleagues. In his 44 years of service at Saint Mary’s Hall, he positively impacted thousands of lives, and he will be sorely missed.”
Brian joined the Saint Mary’s Hall faculty in the fall of 1981 and faithfully served the School in many roles for 44 years. Throughout his long and meaningful time here, Brian taught AP Environmental Science – work for which he was nationally recognized—as well as AP Human Geography and AP Biology; He served as the Science Department Chair, a trusted student advisor, and received the Saint Mary’s Hall Master Teacher Award in 2016. Brian coached both Middle and Upper School Women’s Soccer, and he was recognized as Texas Coach of the Year four times. Brian led the way on campus sustainability and beautification efforts, creating opportunities for faculty and students to invest in the natural beauty of our Starcrest Campus. And, Brian was a treasure trove of institutional knowledge. His investment in Saint Mary’s Hall students, faculty, history, and physical spaces is part of a tremendous legacy.
“Coach Kaestner was one of those people who cannot adequately be characterized by words alone,” said Alexandra Flaherty ’15. “His impact on the Saint Mary’s Hall community as a whole, and on the individuals within that community, has been felt for decades…walking around the Saint Mary’s Hall campus will never be the same without popping into Coach Kaestner’s office for a Snickers bar and a genuine conversation, but his impact will be forever felt and remembered.”
Brian earned his undergraduate degree from Dickenson College, and his Master of Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Please join us as we offer sympathy and support to his wife, Jane, and their son Branden ’13.
