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.