On February 16, 2024, Brian Spare passed. His sister Cat was by his side. He was 64 years old.
Brian was born in Sudbury to parents Peter and Kitty Spare.
When Brian was in Grade 8, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and treated with new radiation therapy. He survived, but was left with hearing loss, facial paralysis and balance issues. During his recovery, the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board sent a teacher, Olga Gernat, to his home to help him keep up with his studies and succeed at those studies, he did!
Brian achieved a HBSc and MSc in Biology/Chemistry from Lakehead University and a PhD in Health and Human Services from Columbia Pacific University. He operated Tara Scientific Laboratories for many years.
He left the sciences behind to explore his creative side. He wrote a self-published book, The Hunt for Moby Dick (Translated) and was developing his memoir, The Boy Who Couldn’t Smile. His articles for Bayview Magazine were favourites with readers. He was a long-time Toastmaster and traveled to conventions with good friend,
Dave Goldsworthy. He was a TED Talks coach, a digital storyteller and coach with Age BIG and Story Center Canada.
Brian is survived by his sister Cat Prouty and nieces Sarah and Tessa, nephew Matthew and cousins from Ireland, England and France.
He is predeceased by his parents Peter and Kitty Spare.
Brian faced challenges but they never wore him down. He inspired everyone he met with a grateful wave and words of encouragement. Brian wrote, “You have to go out and make things happen.” That he did and the people who were fortunate to have Brian as a friend were truly lucky. When he was learning to walk again after his brain surgery, he found that the words of the Desiderata, a poem by Max Ehrmann, inspiring and they continued to be his inspiration throughout his life. “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.”
The family would like to invite friends to a memorial service on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. noon at Sargent & Son Chapel, 21 N. Court St. Interment will take place at St Andrew's Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Brian’s memory to Canadian Hearing Services at https://www.chs.ca/give-now would be appreciated. Online condolences may be expressed at www.sargentandson.com.
