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Carla DeSantis posted a condolence
Monday, September 23, 2013
My heartfelt condolences on the loss of Brian. I was a graduate student at U of T in the 1990s, and Brian was an instrumental member of my thesis committee. As I was working on medieval grammatical texts, he was always eager and willing to discuss, help, and provide me with any materials necessary. He always welcomed and greeted me as if an old friend, and his generosity of spirit and warmth will be truly missed.
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Sima Farsandaj posted a condolence
Monday, September 23, 2013
Words seem inadequate to express the sadness I feel about Brian’s passing. I still can hear his calm voice with sense of humor in departmental reception last year: “I am a lucky man and bring luck for others. Some of my students sent me an email and quickly after they got a good job abroad”. It was not only luck but positive thoughts and kindness; he touched so many lives with his passion in life, those which will always be remembered of him. Please accept my deepest condolences.
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Jeff Fawcett posted a condolence
Sunday, September 22, 2013
I was greatly saddened to learn of Brian's death. He was so helpful to me during his years in Simcoe Hall when I held an administrative position at Erindale ( UTM). He managed to make budget cuts and faculty position cuts seem like a blessing in disguise. We had numerous conversations on UTM-St.George relations in the 1980's and discovered several mutual acquaintances at University of Otago where I had spent a sabbatical - including the Coombs and Williams families. We continued these brief conversations sporadically, often at the Faculty Club, over subsequent years and it was always a great pleasure to see his smiling face. Please accept my sincerest condolences on your great loss.
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Leah Shopkow posted a condolence
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to Brian's family. He was a wonderful teacher. I profited enormously from his erudition, delivered with a sense of humor, pointed but not biting. He allowed me to take his class when I was officially post-program and could have easily said no but instead he was generous and quite as demanding of me as of other more traditional students. He will be missed.
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Henri Mitterand posted a condolence
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
J'offre mes condoléances émues à la famille de Brian, et tout particulièrement à Pat. Je vous ai rencontrés tous les deux à Toronto autrefois. J'admirais les travaux de Brian, qui faisaient de lui un de nos grands médiévistes. Et j'aimais sa cordialité chaleureuse. Il m'honorait de son amitié. Sa disarition me fait une vraie peine...
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Barbara Havercroft posted a condolence
Monday, September 16, 2013
Dear Pat, Pascal and I were both extremely saddened to hear of Brian's sudden passing and offer you and your family our deepest sympathy. I first met Brian in the early 1980s when he was Chair of the French Department. I was a graduate student at the time, doing my doctoral studies in Comparative Literature, but my teaching assistantship contracts were in the French Department. Brian was very welcoming, helpful, and friendly with me when I first arrived at the University of Toronto, and remained genuinely interested in my well-being over the past 30+ years. To me, he was always the incarnation of kindness, generosity, and good humour. A world-renowned scholar who had that rare combination of keen intelligence and humility, he was a shining example for others to emulate. I am very grateful to have known him and will cherish fond memories of him. He will be sorely missed indeed. Barbara Havercroft
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Lorna Marsden posted a condolence
Saturday, September 14, 2013
What an exceptional person Brian was and what pleasure he brought to everyday work of the university. I was so happy to see him on Bloor Street a few months ago and we promised to have lunch, alas, not to be. All my sympathies to the family. Brian will be long remembered and missed. Lorna Marsden
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Peter Allen posted a condolence
Friday, September 13, 2013
I was deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Brian's death. He was the most able and amiable of my colleagues and a major inspiration to those of us who are trying to keep as fit as we can in our old age. He seemed to have an endless supply of energy and good will; he won our respect and love and will be sorely missed. With my deepest condolences, Peter Allen
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David Trotter posted a condolence
Friday, September 13, 2013
Brian's death has prompted universally-shared comments about not only what a great scholar and teacher he was, but what a nice man. Probably you can't be a good scholar and teacher without being a nice man. Brian proved that they go well together. He was all these things and his loss is a loss on all fronts. I am just glad to be able to have known him, and proud that he was my friend. Sit ei terra levis. We'll miss him, hugely.
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Francesca La Marca posted a condolence
Friday, September 13, 2013
Professor Merrilees was, without a doubt, one of my favourite professors. From the moment I first walked into his classroom and throughout the years that we were colleagues, he always displayed the same level of kindness, warmth, respect and humour toward me. No doubt he was a great scholar but I will always remember him, not for his academic achievements but rather for his profound humanity, a warmth and sensitivity that he displayed toward everyone with whom he crossed paths. I was shocked and saddened to learn the news of his passing. Brian, you were one of a kind and will be missed. My deepest condolences to you, his loving family.
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The Codrington family posted a condolence
Friday, September 13, 2013
Dearest Pat, Please know that we share with you in your grief just as we were privileged enough to share in Brian’s life. Although we’ve only been neighbors a few years, Brian always made us feel like old, dear friends. His passion for –and love of- life was both enviable and contagious. His love for you, his girls and his grandchildren knew no bounds, but he also loved his work, he loved his adopted country as much as his native New Zealand, he loved France, he loved golf, he loved (sadly) the Leafs, he loved all sport, he loved a good conversation; he was a man who not only drank deeply from the cup of life but warmly and enthusiastically asked if you’d like to join him. He will be missed as surely as he will be remembered. My family and I hope that your deep sense of loss will be softened by the knowledge of the impact Brian’s “joie de vivre” had on all he encountered; the pebble may be gone but the ripples remain.
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Pascal Michelucci posted a condolence
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Dear Pat, Katherine, Elizabeth and family, I am deeply sorry for your loss and share in your grief of losing the company of such a wonderful and kind man as Brian. Always a gentleman, genuine and upbeat, he was a also very dear and reliable colleague. You could always count on Brian to provide advice and help, you could always count on him to bring levity to the most challenging tasks. Fond memories of him will remain with us always.
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David and Sheila Cook posted a condolence
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Dear Pat, We extend our condolences to you and your family. It seems only a short while ago we were chatting with Brian about the grandchildren and how proud we all were about them extending to having an Owen in common. It was so typical of Brian to be such a sincere feeling individual who always shared his joy about life. As a colleague Brian was an incredible person to work with and a real mentor. I knew him the days when he was Chair and had a wonderful time with him when we were both in Simcoe Hall. If anyone knew how to ease the stress of the Hall it was Brain. I can recall many times when Brian would be with Joan or Frank or for that matter any of us an he always had the wonderful ability to listen with true empathy. Brian was also incredibly supportive of everything at Victoria and was a great friend and counsel to both of us at the college. In many ways he is still with us as a great University citizen and a truly inspirational human being. David and Sheila
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Angela Cozea posted a condolence
Thursday, September 12, 2013
I was so very deeply saddened to hear of Brian's death. We have been colleagues for a few short years and office neighbors at Victoria college. When I arrived there, about ten years ago, Brian showed me warm friendship from the very beginning. He made me feel welcome and less lonely than I would have without him, who, always in good spirits and always smiling, knew how to make one look beyond the present moment's difficulties. We regretted together his soon to be retirement even if Brian had so many wonderful traveling plans. We celebrated his being awarded an important research grant on the threshold of retirement, which meant he was going to keep being involved with his students, for whom he cared so much, and who cared so much for him in return. When he received that grant, he came to my office and said, let me kiss you, I must celebrate this, I need to share this moment. That's how he was, and that's how I will remember him: a warm, kind man, who needed to share his happiness, accomplishments, joy. Who made you feel important, part of some worthy togetherness. Brian will be so much missed by all those who were the thankful receivers of his generosity.
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Annice Blake posted a condolence
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
This is very sad news. Please accept my deepest condolences.
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Ian Anderson posted a condolence
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
As a colleague of Brian's at the University of Toronto, I enjoyed Brian training on the pole vault runway or assisting with the officiating of various indoor meets. He was such a positive influence on the Varsity athletes over the years and many of them have already sent notes to me saying how much he meant to them. My trip to New Zealand was so much better because of the suggestions from Brian. To Pat and family, my thoughts are with you. He will be missed.
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Harriet Sonne & Miguel Torrens posted a condolence
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
We are deeply saddened at the loss of a friend, mentor and colleague. We will miss Brian's vitality and good humour, his profound knowledge of the University and all its nooks and crannies, the shared dottiness over grandchildren... Our sincere condolences to deat Pat and the rest of the family. Harriet & Miguel
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Alan Davies posted a condolence
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
As a Victoria colleague for many years, I was deeply saddened to learn of Brian's passing. I liked and admired him greatly, and always found him helpful and congenial. My profound condolences to his family. His presence will be missed.
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Emanuel and Christina posted a condolence
Friday, September 6, 2013
Emanuel and Christina made a donation to Plan Canada - Because I Am a Girl Campaign
In loving memory of Brian and in honour of the strong women who blessed his life. Pat, Liz and Katherine, we are deeply sorry for your loss. Our love always.
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Sian Meikle posted a condolence
Friday, September 6, 2013
Sian Meikle made a donation to Plan Canada - Because I Am a Girl Campaign
In loving memory of Brian, and with deep sympathy and sincere condolences for your loss.
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Bob and Joan posted a condolence
Friday, September 6, 2013
Bob and Joan made a donation to University of Toronto Athletic Department
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Bob and Johanna posted a condolence
Friday, September 6, 2013
Bob and Johanna made a donation to University of Toronto Athletic Department
Dear Pat and family, Even though we have shared the difficult last months with you, we will treasure all the good memories and fun moments we also shared over the years. Bob is certainly going to miss his good friend Brian at Vic and Johanna will miss him and his smile at the Athletic Centre. With all our sympathy.
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Cam and Kay posted a condolence
Friday, September 6, 2013
Cam and Kay made a donation to University of Toronto Athletic Department
Our deepest condolences at the loss of dear Brian.
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the Cameron family, Wendy, Susannah, and Claire posted a condolence
Friday, September 6, 2013
the Cameron family, Wendy, Susannah, and Claire made a donation to Plan Canada - Because I Am a Girl Campaign
In memory of a wonderful friend who will always be special to us
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Carol Percy posted a condolence
Friday, September 6, 2013
Carol Percy made a donation to University of Toronto Athletic Department
I am so sorry about your family's great loss - to me a sudden and unexpected one, but I understand that Brian had been struggling with setbacks for a few months. Brian was a wonderful colleague and easy, friendly mentor: I am a U of T colleague of Brian's from the English Department, and I know him because he was on the committee that hired me. I realize I didn't really know him very well, but because he was so warm and friendly (as well as being darned sharp), we always had great conversations when we ran into each other. One of those places was the athletic centre, where I'm sure he spent much more time than I did! I still smile thinking of him leaping out of a little car, carrying his vaulting pole into the gym. I am so sorry about your family's loss.
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Heather Jackson posted a condolence
Friday, September 6, 2013
Heather Jackson made a donation to University of Toronto Athletic Department
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Marny posted a condolence
Friday, September 6, 2013
Marny made a donation to Plan Canada - Because I Am a Girl Campaign
Dear Pat, I am pleased to be able to support this charity in Brian's memory. What a wonderful man he was!
