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Brendan Vaughan Girdler-Brown

April 19, 1949 - January 1, 2023

Prof Brendan Vaughan Girdler-Brown has been a staff member for more than 29 years at the University of Pretoria. He continued to serve the University as an Extraordinary Professor after his retirement. Professor Girdler-Brown held numerous degrees and/or fellowships from various South African and International institutions including the University of Natal (MBChB), the University of Rhodesia (BSc Agriculture), Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Edinburgh, Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (Now retired status), University of Cape Town (both an MMed in Public Health as well as an MBA), UNISA and the Royal College of Physicians, UK (now retired status). He served as the President of College of Public Health Medicine from 2002 - 2008. Brendan has taught several modules since the start of the University of Pretoria’s SHSPH, including Biostatistics and Epidemiology. He was the supervisor or mentor for most of the current academic staff at the SHSPH. He has also previously worked at the National Department of Health, Cape Provincial Administration, Natal Provincial Administration, Namibia, as well as the Zimbabwean National Army. Professor Girdler-Brown played a huge role in the management of the academic programmes at the SHSPH and was instrumental in setting up the Epidemiology and Biostatistics modules of the first and only fully-online integrated course for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (PGDipPH). During the COVID-19 pandemic he was instrumental in providing the Faculty of Health Sciences management teams with weekly updates on the interpretation of the surveillance data shared by the NICD. Brendan will be sorely missed by his family, colleagues, alumni, his students, and the public health community at large. The memorial will be on Friday 20 January at 10am at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Parish, Victory Park, Johannesburg. In lieu of additional flowers, people can donate in Prof Brendan's memory to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The church’s address is available at https://saintcharles.co.za/ May his soul rest in peace.

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  • 2023-01-18 08:34:06 View / Comment (0)

    Jacqueline E Wolvaardt

    Prof BGB was a true gentleman who although he might have seemed out-of-time and out-of-place was in the right time and the right place to influence so many of us. He had a wicked sense of humour ( you had to watch for that sly smile) and was self-deprecating. There was no better story teller and his grand adventures in Paris, Namibia and Zimbabwe came to life in his narratives. Even the little adventures of working with students online or going for a medical procedure was coloured in in equal measures of humour and satire. He had the ability to teach a difficult subject in ways that students could understand and appreciate and he never displayed any disdain towards staff or students even after explaining something for the hundredth time! I always hoped that Prof would turn up to work in a kilt one day (we thought he would be the one most likely to) and although we missed this, we have so much else to remember. I will buy that Sangiovese that had together and toast your eternal rest.

  • 2023-01-13 14:32:12 View / Comment (0)
    Memory Masora

    Memory Masora

    Memory Masora

    My sincere condolences to the family. Death is really a thief, I will always live to remember you Prof Girdler Brown because of the impact you made on my Public Health journey. You were such a soft-spoken, enthusiastic and humble man who had a passion for unlocking the greatness in us. I remember in one of my bio stats classes where l was on the verge of giving up and you revived my hope again when you told me that l could do it. You will forever be remembered. Wherever you are, know that l hold that Master of Public health degree with high esteem because l know there was a great man who transferred wealthy knowledge to it. Rest in Power, my Prof

  • 2023-01-12 07:44:22 View / Comment (0)
    Astrid Turner

    Astrid Turner

    Astrid Turner

    I will miss Brendan. It felt like an unspoken rule that one did not ask him a question, start a conversation, include him in an email or enter his office without being prepared to spend a LONG time talking/reading the response! And it would be incredibly detailed and factual (statistically significant Brendan may add..) but also peppered with anecdotes from a life that was truly lived. He was well versed in public health medicine and health professions education and his gentle soul, academic curiosity, attention to detail and cheeky/witty but rational responses will be missed in our SHSPH discussions. Rest in peace Prof.

  • 2023-01-11 20:46:41 View / Comment (0)

    Cheryl McCrindle

    A colleague I always admired his knowledge and expertise . He was an expert on Statistics and maintained exceptionally high standards. A top researcher whos advice was heard and followed. His full research outputs can be found on Research Gate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brendan-Girdler-Brown). His findings have been of great benefit to practitioners and patients in Public Health. Farewell esteemed colleague - you will remain in our hearts and minds although we will no longer be able to listen in awe of your knowledge and skills...

  • 2023-01-11 19:48:38 View / Comment (0)

    Arabang Letebele

    Prof had the patience and the knack for teaching. A rare combination of intelligence and people skills. I remember the first few PGDIp online townhall meetings when we had not learnt that with Prof, you come to the meeting with your ears and your brain; you listen and internalise the information. He would be momentarily annoyed at the interruptions and then quickly continue as if nothing happened; deliver his introduction and explanation..until we got used to it! He replied to every email. He would come back again and again with feedback! Medical, Biostatistics and Public Health communities are poorer without him. May his soul find eternal peace.

  • 2023-01-11 11:32:40 View / Comment (0)

    Khensani Matjabela

    I will always remember his passion and patience with students, his commitment to ensure that students understood the concepts of Biostats in Public Health, and his overall contribution to the profession. He was very pleasant and always replied to all my emails. May his soul rest in peace.

  • Cheryl McCrindle 2023-01-11 20:47:43 wrote:

    Sincere condolences to his family, colleagues and students

    Cheryl McCrindle 2023-01-11 20:47:43 wrote: Sincere condolences to his family, colleagues and students

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