Condolence: 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.

Condolence: 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.

Condolence: 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.

Condolence: 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.

Condolence: 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...

Condolence: 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

Condolence: 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

Condolence: 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

Condolence: 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.

Condolence: 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.