John Dennis Brooke

John Dennis Brooke passed away peacefully in Saanich Peninsula Hospital with his family beside him on August 17, 2016. He died suddenly and unexpectedly from complications of pneumonia. During his stay in hospital, where he was cared for with such loving attention, his strength impressed the doctors and nursing staff. He was a much loved and loving husband of his wife Terricia (Irish) and beloved father of his daughter Joanna. He will also be missed by his brother, Peter, and his family. John was a Professor Emeritus and Chair of the Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences Department at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois from 1999 to 2005. Before that he served for 25 years, initially as Chair, in the Department of Human Biology at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He was a passionate and top-quality neurophysiology researcher, renowned internationally for his frontier research in the field of human biology, and an enthusiastic professor in and out of the classroom. He mentored many students over the years and helped them to develop their own successful careers. Former students have maintained contact with him over the years. He was a kind and gentle man with whom it was easy to talk, always generous with his time - a humanist. John enjoyed many sports pursuits including athletics at which he excelled, basketball, skiing, sailing, fishing, canoeing and camping. He was a Queen's Scout, always a leader. His insatiable curiosity about the natural world was evident to those around him. He had a passion for classical music, jazz, literature and an appreciation of the arts, attending ballet, opera, and painting exhibitions including those by his wife to whom he was married for 56 years. At his personal request, no services were held and a simple cremation was performed. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Palliative Care Unit at Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation, Mount Newton Crossroads, Saanichton, British Columbia, Canada.

Saanich Peninsula Hospital Palliative Care Unit