Byron Rourke Obituary
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58 Entries
Sean
November 14, 2018
Dr Rourke,
You are still and always will be living in my heart and countless others. I had the pleasure of seeing one of your students who now has her own private practice. The dedication you put in can never be expressed with words. Thank you
Vitor Haase
September 1, 2011
Dear folks from Byron Rourke,
I am writing from Brazil. We all felt deeply sorrow, as we became aware of Prof. Rourke's passing away.
We are great admirers of his work, who helped us to clear the difficulties found by families in children with nonverbal learning disability and to develop more effective assistance concepts.
Sincerely,
Vitor Geraldi Haase
Associate Professor
Developmental Neuropsychology Lab
Psychology Department
Federal University of Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte
Brazil
John Anton
August 18, 2011
Aunt Carolyn, Phil, Sean, Damon and Bernie,
Sorry about your loss. I am also sorry that I wasn't in the city to be in attendance. All of you are in my thoughts.
Sincerely, John
Melva Croes-Yanez
August 17, 2011
Dear Carolyn, Phil, Sean, Damon and Bernie,
Words cannot express my sorrow for your loss. I am deeply saddened by Byron’s passing away.
I have valued him a lot for his sense of humor and being straightforward and concise.
A golden heart stopped beating, Hardworking hands at rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us, that He only takes the best!
Please accept my sincerest condolences. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerely,
Melva Croes-Yánez (Neuropsychologist Aruba)
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Jason Smith
August 17, 2011
Carolyne
It saddens me to hear of the passing of such a great man and character. His contributions to his profession and life in general were huge. To all the boys, I'm learning of Byron's passing late as I was off camping with my own son. My condolences on the loss of your amazing father. He often related to me how proud he was of you all.
Sue and Brent Hayman-Abello
August 15, 2011
Carolyne, Sean, and the rest of the Rourke family, please accept our condolences on this loss.
Steve Donaghy
August 15, 2011
Dr. Rourke was truly one of the great figures in neuropsychology. Many years ago, one of my fellow students once said that he leads from the front and challenges us to keep up. This was very true, as was the fact that not many could. My condolences to the entire Rourke family.
Kevin Clement
August 15, 2011
Damon and Family,
My deepest sympathies on the passing of your father. It sounds like he was truely a remarkable man.
August 14, 2011
Dear Caroline and family members. Members of the Windsor University Retirees Association, its Executive and I personally extend our sincere condolences on the loss of Byron at such a young age. Byron was the pride of this University,with his achievements - Fellowship in Royal Society, Order of Canada and several other honours and medals. He put the University on the world map in terms of his expertise in clinical psychology. We all are very proud of him and wish to celebrate his success and achievements.
Datta Pillay
August 14, 2011 On Behalf of WURA
Ron Frisch
August 14, 2011
Dear Rourke family,
Byron was a wonderful colleague for over 40 years and fine teacher. His brilliance will be missed and his memory will stay with us all.
Michael Kral
August 14, 2011
To Carolyne and family, I wish you all much strength through this loss. I emailed Sean that Byron was a great psychologist and a great man. He was a wonderful and supportive colleague at U Windsor. I will always have very good memories of him.
August 13, 2011
Carolyne - I am so sorry for this loss suffered by you and your family. Thinking of you.
Luica Mandziuk
August 13, 2011
I am very sad to read of Byron's passing. He was instrumental in creating the child clinincal program in psychology at the University of Windsor. I have fond memories of my time in that program. Sincere sympathies to the family.
jana Dame
August 12, 2011
Carolyne Our deepest sympathy to you and your family From all of us at Dr.Kupeyan's
Lorelei Walsh Park
August 12, 2011
My sincere condolences to the Rourke family in the loss of your beloved husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather. He was a wonderful professor and his tremendous contributions to teaching and research will continue to have an influence for many many years to come. Your family is in my thoughts through these difficult days and in those to come.
August 12, 2011
CAROLYNE THE PRAYERS OF THE KEANE FAMILY GO OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN THIS SAD TIME.
August 12, 2011
dear carolyne: we were saddened to hear of the unexpected passing of byron.It seemed like only last week that we had a visit after a WSO concert.We send our prayers for strength to deal with the pain of your loss and to carry on with the turmoil of tomorrows.patrick & Annetta Dunnion,kingsville
Diane et Nelson Loubier
August 12, 2011
Our sincere condolences to Caroline as well as to all her family. It is with the big sadness that we learned the death of our friend Byron, it is the man that we consider by it's big simplicity it's joy of living a lot which he spread around him.
We are assured that he will continue to stay up you.
Diane and Nelson
The Baird Family
August 12, 2011
Deepest sympathies to the Rourke family. Together may you find the strength and love to enable you to get through this difficult time and find solace in the loving memories of Byron that you share.
Diane Russell
August 12, 2011
Dear Carolyne and Family:
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you at this time. This is such a loss for all of you. I have so many memories of my time at the University of Windsor and I will always be grateful to Byron for the education and guidance I received. His legacy will live on through his family and his students. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this very sad time. With love and sympathy to all of you.
Diane
Steve Desroches
August 12, 2011
My sincere condolences to the Rourke family during this difficult time. Mr Rourke was truly a great Canadian.
August 12, 2011
To Sean and Kathy and the entire Rourke family, we have all enjoyed the many afternoons sipping wine and visiting with your Dad in your backyard over the years when they came to visit in Toronto. It has been a pleasure on those many occasions and we are all so sorry for your loss. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers, with love Ellen, Jim, Laura and Grace Lowden
Chris Loewen
August 12, 2011
My condolences to the entire Rourke family on your terrible loss.
While I never had the pleasure of meeting him personally, the stories shared by Damon and his brothers gave me the impression that their father was a man of great intellect and humour.
Richard Giroux
August 12, 2011
My sincere condolences to the family of Byron Rourke. I graduated from Asssumption High school the same year as Byron and I can remember cheering my lungs out at every basketball game the year they won all Ontario. Byron was a key player on that team.
We attended Uiversity together and Byron`s academic ability led him well into the forefront in his field of Psychology.
Though I recall his mentioning it many years before, It was at our fiftieth high school reunion that Byron informed me that his mother was a Giroux. This time, by coincidence, I had collected enough geneological information to show our connection and Byron was quite pleased to receive the genealogy of his mothers side back to 1595 in France. Our great grandfathers were brothers.
I was looking forward to seeing him again this fall at our 55th reunion. He will be sadly missed and will be remembered in our prayers.
Rich Giroux.
Anthony Risser
August 12, 2011
Condolences to the entire family and to Byron's very many good friends in neuropsychology.
Martin Loubier
August 12, 2011
Nos plus sincères condoléances à Damon, Jacinthe et à la famille Rourke. Nos pensées sont avec vous malgré la distance qui nous séparent.
Sylvie et Martin
August 12, 2011
I was deeply sadden to hear of the sudden passing of Byron. He had one of the heartiest laughs around. We shared many stories through the years. I'm certain that his memory will live through the beautiful gardens that Carolyne so effortlessly constructs. I miss my lunch time walks. My prayers and thoughts to all your family.
Sincerely,
Reggie Carroccia
August 12, 2011
Dear Carolyn:
OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS
A great man who left his imprint on everything he touched
Frank and Mary DeMarco
We are sorry we cannot come to the Mass. Mary is not well and I can't leave her
Laura, Rob, Meaghan and Rob Wilkie
August 12, 2011
Bernie, Nicky and the entire Rourke family, We are sorry to hear of your loss. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. As your friend it is sad to know that you have you have lost an important and integral member of your family, but you have your memories - he will always be present in your hearts.
As an OT in town, who was privelged to have available your father's talents on many a client file, I can confidently say that Windsor has lost a very talented and knowledged neuropsychologist. Dr. Rourke was one whose work often provided insight from a client-focussed and functional persepctive - he offered a very valuable insight into the processes of the brain and learning. His work has touched many people, allowing them to masterskills they never would have imagined, and achieve dreams they otherwise would have felt out of reach. Forever, thank you Dr. Rourke.
Tony Grange
August 12, 2011
My favorite Prof. He passed too soon.
Raja A
August 12, 2011
My sympathies for the loss of your Father. You will be in my prayers
leo innocente
August 12, 2011
My heartfelt condolences to Carolyne, the four boys and their respective families. What a tragic loss. An outstanding husband, father and grandfather who will be sadly missed by all of you. Yet his legacy will live on forever. Byron and I go way back to 1949 when we initially competed against each other in basketball-Byron at St. Angela's and me at De La Salle. His team always won. He was so tall and so good.Our team was small but slow. We both entered Assumption High School in the fall of 1952 and were teammates from then on winning a WOSSA Junior Championship in Grade 11 and an All-Ontario Championship in Grade 12. I remember meeting Byron at the corner of Parent Ave and Giles Blvd every Saturday morning during the season to walk down to the Knights Of Columbus Hall on Goyeau to clean up and stack chairs for his dad who managed the hall. I never got paid and neither did Byron I believe. Perhaps I should have asked him about that. We then took the two buses required to get to old St. Denis Hall and played basketball until we could no longer stand. We repeated all of this on Sunday.Everyone knows about his academic success but his real legacy is the wife he loved, the four boys he raised, the 4 daughters-in-law that he was so proud of and the nine grandchildren he adored. He will be sadly missed.
August 11, 2011
Our sincere condolences to you, the family of Byron. He was a remarkable man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.
Dianne and Nelson Vandelinder (Class of '56)
Margie DeJoseph
August 11, 2011
Bernie, Nicky and the Rourke family, we are so very sorry to hear of the loss of your dad/husband/grampa. The world has lost a truly gifted gentleman.
Nadia Tiseo
August 11, 2011
Dear Carolyne,
I was deeply saddened to learn of Byron's sudden death and I would like to express my sincere sadness and sympathies to you and your family at this difficult time. Please accept my sincere and heartfelt condolences at this most difficult of times and please pass these feelings onto your children and friends. Byron was a remarkable man and we are all better people for having known a man of great honor and strength. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Nadia Tiseo
Karen Soltes
August 11, 2011
I will never allow far from my heart the memory of this great man. His talent, insight & courage bridged the abyss of misunderstanding endured by those challenged by NVLD. I had not had the chance to meet him, nor the opportunity to thank him for helping me to be a better, more informed mother to & advocate for my precious son. My deepest sympathy to all his family, friends, & colleagues. He has touched so very many lives - he has inspired great hope & understanding - for that accomplishment & contribution - find strength and comfort knowing his work, his effort, his life, continues.
Michelle Keiski
August 11, 2011
As a Windsor grad, Byron will always be remembered as an influential and instrumental part of my training and foundation. My condolences to his wife Carolyne, his sons, and his grandkids.
Janine Cameron Galloway
August 11, 2011
To Bernie and the Rourke Family, My thoughts and prayers are for you and your family during this difficult time.
Sabeena Irani
August 11, 2011
Bernie,
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Ken Adams
August 11, 2011
Byron lived to accomplish about as much as a scholar-teacher-clinician could hope for in a lifetime. Still his loss surprises and hurts. He was a marvelous teacher, impresario, and friend to many of us. His family is his legacy to be proud of as much if not more than any of his neuropsychological triumphs. Always mindful of being the "hometown boy who made good", he enjoyed life with unselfconscious Rabelaisian wit and humor. We won't see his like again.
August 11, 2011
Thinking of you and your family, Bernie!!!!! I am so sorry about your dad! So sorry! -Lisa Hazel
Sam Dragich
August 11, 2011
What an awesome professional! Byron was a great teacher and humanitarian. His soft spoken gentle approach always made sense. I always teased him about the way he took that two-handed jump shot (from behind his head) when he played high school basketball. We are all better for knowing him. My cpndolences!
Johnny and Vanessa Basile
August 11, 2011
Dear Bernie.
We wish To send our heart-felt condolences to you and the entire Rourke family...
Dr. Rourke contributed so much to his chosen field, but he was a husband, father, father-in-law, and grand-father first, and it's hard to find the right words to help ease your pain...but please know we are thinking of you and praying that, in time, the fond memories you share will out-weigh the grief you feel today.
If you need anything, please let us know...
Mike Paskus
August 11, 2011
Our hearts go out to the Rourke family as they deal with the loss of Dr. Rourke.
Jin Lee
August 11, 2011
My deepest condolences to Carolyne and family. I was fortunate to study under Dr. Rourke before his retirement.
Geri Brousseau
August 11, 2011
So sorry for your loss. I have always been proud to say that I studied clinical neuropsychology at the University of Windsor in "Byron Rourke's" program.
Barbara Milton
August 11, 2011
Dr. Rourke touched my family through emails. He was kind and generous in assisting us with my daughter's NLD. Blessing to you during this time of mourning.
karen
August 11, 2011
I'm so deeply saddened at hearing this news. My deepest sympathies to the Rourke family and friends, colleagues and us families with children with NLD. We have been greatly impacted by this wonderful man's understanding and explanations of NLD to help our children in all facets of life. Enjoy the rest and peace of God's joy!
Sophie Guellati-Salcedo
August 11, 2011
My condolences to the family. Dr. Rourke's passing is also a true loss for the field of neuropsychology.
Jacobus Donders
August 11, 2011
Byron was very influential in my professional career. I will always appreciate the support he gave me at several critical junctions. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Lillian Baulding
August 11, 2011
My condolences to your family. As someone with NLD, I have read much of Dr. Rourke's work, and was looking forward to reading more. I am truly sorry for your loss.
August 11, 2011
I am so sorry for your loss. I have always been and will always be proud to say that I studied clinical neuropsychology at the University of Windsor when Byron Rourke was at the helm.
Geri Brousseau
Winnipeg, Manitoba
William Barr
August 11, 2011
Dr. Rourke was a true leader in the field of clinical neuropsychology with contributions that will always be remembered and valued. My condolences to the family.
John McSweeny
August 11, 2011
Bryon taught many of us in clinical neuropsychology a great deal. He was generous with his time and knowledge and had a wonderful, albeit mischievous at times, sense of humor. He will defintely be missed by all of us but our memories and the knowledge will continue to guide us.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam - may he be at God's right hand.
Gary & Carrie Langill
August 11, 2011
Carolyne and family, Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all at this most difficult time. Love will carry you through.
Darren Fuerst
August 11, 2011
My condolences.
colin gosselin
August 11, 2011
TO THE ENTIRE ROURKE, My sincere sympathy to all of you in Byron's passing away.I was part of that Assumption HS graduating class and was looking forward to seeing Byron in November. Arel shock
Colin(goose) Gosselin
Jim,Heidi and James Thibert
August 11, 2011
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Rourke family at this very sad time. May all of your fond memories give you comfort.
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