Harry Stewart Ferguson of Oakville, Ont., remembers Brian Sparkes, who died on Dec. 18.
Brian and the late Lister Sinclair (of CBC fame) were my friends; we had many lunches and dinners together. It was usually a three-hour lunch. The topics could be history, mythology, physics, astronomy, Darwin to Dickens and anything in between. You rose from the table with a full stomach and a richer mind. Brian Sparkes had a very catholic mind and so did Lister, therefore the conversations were bright and challenging.
The compassion that Brian had for his fellow human beings and the deep care he had for animals were legend among his friends. He had a profound and wide understanding of biochemistry, which was awesome and which he used in the service of his fellow human beings and dogs.
The obituary pointed out that he was nearly always at odds with the medical community, little wonder. He thought that doctors had disgraced themselves by selling out to Big Pharma. He was a perfect example of speaking truth to power and he did not care what his colleagues thought of him for doing this. Would that we had more like him.
He loved poetry - especially that by his countryman Dylan Thomas - painting and music.
My wife and I threw a dinner party for him at our home in Oakville a few years ago. He entertained the whole group after dinner by giving a verbal tour through the human body, its functions, structure and self healing, answering questions and describing his life work. It was top-notch after-dinner entertainment. He finished, rose from the table to the piano and lulled us by dipping into Ravel and Debussy.
He was a remarkable human being with a large heart, and he never turned anyone away who sought his help. He would spend hours writing highly detailed e-mails, filled with advice on research for particular complaints. This was done on his own time, ignoring other deadlines for conference papers he was preparing for presentation, in order to help some poor cancer-stricken person who had approached him. He never asked for money for any of these services, which in many cases saved lives.
His beloved dog, Ruby, gave him great joy. He fed her homemade soup, which he lovingly prepared laced with vitamins. He called her his noble animal; when she died he was grief stricken.
I think most of us would agree that in a lot of cases cancer can start shortly after a loss. I think the reason for Brian's cancer may have been the loss of Ruby. Like Ruby, he also was a noble being. The last time I saw him he was at the front door of his house. He came to wave me goodbye after a delightful lunch. I turned and returned his wave. His eyes were bright; they are dimmed now. I will miss him.
And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, that one small head could carry all he knew.
Oliver Goldsmith
