Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Chris Brown Syed - Obituary

Chris's picture @ Academia:

Short bio at Linkedin and skillpages.com
and obituaries at blogs.curtin.edu.au
Funeral date and details are up @ Facebook:
Extract:
Update:
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be at the Smith’s Funeral Home, 1167 Guelph Line (one stoplight north of QEW) BURLINGTON (905-632-3333) on Friday, March 23 from 3:00- 5:00 and 7:00 – 9:00. A funeral mass will take place at St. Raphael’s Roman Catholic Church 4072 New Street Burlington Saturday March 24 at 10:30 AM, Internment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery 600 Spring Gardens Road Burlington with a reception to follow at the cemetery.

...Unfortunately, Chris's mother died within days of his passing. We will be having a double funeral. The times have not been set but the weekend will be the 23/24 - visitation Friday night and a funeral mass on Saturday. The funeral home arranging all of this is Smith's FH in Burlington
I received the following message, about his departure:
Bio update:

Suddenly at home in Burlington on Tuesday March 6 2012, Chris in his 61st year. Beloved father of Colin and Kiera, dear friend and former husband of Terri Lyons. Cherished son of recently deceased Betty Syed. Much loved cousin of Mark (Maggee) Brown and Melanie (Michael) Robson and nephew of Anne Brown. Chris was a brilliant man with many unique talents (papermaking, Old Norse, playing the bagpipe) that endeared him to many. After taking a first degree in film production, and subsequent master's degrees in librarianship and philosophy, he obtained a PhD, in the area of Library and Information Sciences from the University of Toronto in 1996. Along the way, he spent a few years studying things medieval as a non-degree student, and once traveled overland from the UK to India and back with the Commonwealth Expedition, led by Lionel Gregory OBE. Chris taught at Wayne State, University of Buffalo, Arizona, Seneca College, etc. One of his greatest satisfactions was that he had an impact on many students and future librarians throughout North America. Chris was a strong supporter of the Liberal party in Burlington and canvassed for multiple candidates over the years. His proudest accomplishments though were his two teenage children....


It is with great regret that we inform you that Chris Brown-Syed has suddenly passed away. Chris has been teaching at Seneca since Spring of 2003.

He had been an Editor of the journal, "Library and Archival Security", and author of the recent book, "Parents of Invention: The Development of Library Automation Systems in the Late 20th Century". Santa Barbara, CA : Libraries Unlimited, 2011.

After taking a first degree in film production, and subsequent master's degrees in librarianship and philosophy, he obtained a PhD, in the area of the geopolitics of information from the University of Toronto in 1996. Along the way, he spent a few years studying things medieval as a non-degree student, and once traveled overland from the UK to India and back with the Commonwealth Expedition, led by Lionel Gregory OBE. .
Chris worked as a computer operator for the British firm Plessey, and later headed the North American training group for the Library Systems Division of Geac Computers. This involved much travel - across the US and Canada, and to the UK and Australia.

His areas of interest include the geopolitics of information, library automation and security, history and philosophy. He taught full-time in Michigan and New York, and part-time in Arizona, Illinois, California, and Ontario, Canada.

This is a great loss to our community. He will be sadly missed.
Christopher was a good human being and an intellectual, worth envying. On such sad moments, we are reminded the words of the wise: To God we belong, and to Him is our return. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

On the same shelf:
  • More about Chris Brown-Syed, at his website [PS. The Website Is Down, Now], Try this link, he called it alternate / here





  • Parents of Invention: The Development of Library Automation Systems in the Late 20th Century by Christopher Brown-Syed
  • COMPUTING: An entry from Macmillan Reference USA's Encyclopedia of Communication and Information by CHRISTOPHER BROWN-SYED
  • 7 comments:

    Jon said...

    He was a great professor and an even better human being. I remember having lots of interesting conversations with him about old computers, the state of libraries, Dirk Gently, and Tony Hillerman, and all sorts of stuff.

    He was an inspiration to me, and is to this day. Chris, you will be missed.

    Stef said...

    I'd just had coffee with him in the new A building at Seneca College a week before Reading Week. What a loss, just a few days after my former boss, Steve Kirman of Steve's Music, passed away.

    Stef said...

    I'd just had coffee with him in the new A building at Seneca College a week before Reading Week. What a loss, just a few days after my former boss, Steve Kirman of Steve's Music, passed away.

    Stef said...

    I'd just had coffee with him in the new A building at Seneca College a week before Reading Week. What a loss, just a few days after my former boss, Steve Kirman of Steve's Music, passed away.

    franknak said...

    How sad to hear of his passing. We were roommates at Vanier residence (York University) one year in the 70s. He'd mysteriously vanish in the night, only to return next morning just as I was leaving for class. His two Bob Dylan (Blowin' in the Wind, and Greatest Hits)albums played constantly. He had a Dylan quote for any occasion any time of day. I wish I had kept in touch with him. My condolences to his family.
    Frank Nakashima (York '75)

    franknak said...

    How sad to hear of his passing. I was his roommate at Vanier residence at York University one year in the 70s. Mysteriously vanishing into the night, he would return next morning just as I was about to leave for class. His two Bob Dylan albums (Blowin' in the Wind, and Greatest Hits) played constantly. He had a Dylan quote for any occasion at any time of day. He knew every winner of every Academy Award. As far as I was concerned, he knew everything that anyone would ever need to know. I wish I had kept in touch with him. My condolences to his family.

    Peter Wesoly said...

    My memory of Chris goes back to grade 3 in school. Today is November 25, 2012 and I just learned that he had passed away a few minutes ago reading this obituary online. We tried to keep in touch the last few years by email but a while ago the emails bounced back. When I went to visit there was nobody home. Now I know why. I wish I had known so that I could at least gone to the funeral. Finding out that his mother is also gone is a double blow. She gave us an enamel picture at our wedding that she had created. Still have the picture. I will miss them both!

    Peter Wesoly