What
a tragedy. He was a great and kind man, both on a scholarly
and personal level. I had read his work for years and it was
a model for my own research and publications.
My
family and I have very fond memories of his visit to our
home in Winnipeg many years ago. He had arrived in town to
visit another colleague and called us out of the blue. He
came over, had dinner with the family (all six of us), spent
time talking to each family member no matter how old (or
cranky) they were at the time, asking about their dreams,
desires and goals. We spent time together after dinner
talking about his work at Jewbury, the York Medieval Jewish
graveyard that he analysed many years and the issues that he
encountered while balancing the demands of scientific
inquiry and Jewish religious observances of the dead. His
depth of understanding and compassion were far beyond what I
have often encountered among colleagues. When he returned
home, he sent me a copy of the Jewbury report with a
personal note inside. I still have it and value it, as I
will his memory.
He
was a giant amongst us and will be missed.
Please
convey my condolences to the family.
Sincerely
Haskel
Haskel
Greenfield
Distinguished
Professor
University
of Manitoba
Winnipeg,
MB, Canada
Dear colleagues,
As you've heard from Umberto (and
respective other social media), Don Brothwell - one of the
giants in our and related fields died on Monday night.
His wife Heather and children (Morag,
Shona and Jamie) have just phoned me to provide some more
details to pass onto his colleagues, friends and the wider
bioarch community.
He was diagnosed three weeks ago with an
advanced form of leukaemia. Of course Don being the
stubborn/private man he was he didn't want anyone - even his
own family - to know. However, he'd been losing weight and
becoming weak for a while - which they obviously noticed, so
they eventually prised the information from him.
He finally agreed to self-administered
chemotherapy at home and rallied for a few days before
collapsing and being rushed back to hospital with an
infection. He rallied again (he was stubborn) and then
decided to go home against advice because he "still had
writing to do and another book to finish"! He was
re-admitted for the last time some days later.
He was surrounded by his family when he
passed away and was awake and talking to the end,
Heather and family have indicated that
they will be holding a private family service (date still
undecided as yet), but they will probably organise a
memorial service of some kind soon after and let me know to
pass the information on.
As Umberto said, please do send your
messages, memories, experiences of Don to the list. They've
asked me if I'd compile them and forward at an appropriate
time when they've decided how to properly remember and
honour his legacy. I've warned them they will be deluged!
Please feel free to send this message to
other appropriate lists etc - We've lost another true giant
in the field, who's work and kindness will live on for
decades to come.
I owe him much (as do many others) and
it's truly a sad day for us all.
I have just heard news that make
me immensely sad and I know I will be joined in that
feeling by many of you.
He was great man - kind,
generous, visionary and a truly intellectual. His
contribution to archaeology has been gigantic.
Please do write your thoughts and
tributes on this list.
--
For MSc in
Osteoarchaeology see:
For Zooarchaeology
short course see:
"That's the
standard technique of privatization:
defund, make sure things don't work,
people get angry, you hand it over
to private capital" Noam
Chomsky
The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in
Scotland, No SC013683.
Tha Oilthigh Obar Dheathain na charthannas cląraichte ann an
Alba, Ąir. SC013683.