Brian Douglas CRAM

1960 - 2022

BRIAN DOUGLAS CRAM November 15, 1960 - July 18, 2022 "His paddle will always be clean and bright; flashing with silver." Brian died peacefully in Vancouver following a challenging short illness. He is survived by his six siblings, Christine (Alex Binkley), Bruce (Carolyn Neale Cram), David (Alison Beames), Dorothy (Greg Clark), Claire (Richard MacLaine) and Brenda (Matthew Little); 14 nieces and nephews; and 11 great-nieces and nephews. He was a devoted caregiver to his parents, Douglas and Beverley Cram, in their last years. Brian will be deeply missed, by his family and by his many friends. Brian was many things; most importantly he was always true to himself. He lived life to the fullest, was a great friend, always showed up when you needed him and he really knew how to have fun. He had many passions and excelled at many things - but most notable throughout his life were music, adventure and friendship. Growing up in a large family in Thornhill and Maple, Brian marched to his own beat from a young age. "Where's Brian?" was a common question as six siblings waited in the car to go downhill skiing, swimming, horseback riding, or any number of other activities that Brian would continue to enjoy over the years. Trumpet player and singer for the Toronto bands GUH, Gesundheit and Do Make Say Think, Brian had a deep love of music and played many instruments. He also composed music, including writing music for the bagpipe. While not bearing the stereotypical hallmarks of an academic, Brian enjoyed learning. After completing his high school education at Thornlea Secondary, he studied Industrial Design at Carleton University and then pursued Music studies at the University of Toronto and York University. Many of Brian's longest standing and deepest friendships were with people he met at school decades ago and fellow musicians, many of whom were in close contact with him during his illness. For many years, Brian undertook an annual paddling adventure, travelling along and crossing some of Canada's biggest rivers and lakes. He completed his last canoe trip three days before his admission to hospital. Brian had a great passion for the North. Many of his adventures were done solo but he also shared some of these trips with his brothers and close friends. His stories of walking through the woods for days without supplies after capsizing in a remote area of Northern Ontario is the stuff of legends. Brian's love of adventure also took him overseas to Spain and England, where he trekked The Camino and the Coast to Coast with his brother David. "The coolest person" in his large family, Brian enjoyed spending time at the family cottage in Muskoka. Brian would waterski, golf, practice his trumpet and get his canoe in the lake as soon as the ice went out. Brian also looked forward to an annual ski trip with his brothers and cousins. He was enjoying all that British Columbia offered, including skiing and paddling, in the last several months of his life. While he could not have known it at the time, experiences like paddling on the Arctic Ocean out of sight of land for hours at a time would provide Brian with strength and bravery as he faced a difficult and swift moving change in his health in the final weeks of his life. Brian's family is deeply grateful to the staff and physicians at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, who provided Brian with excellent care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Brian's memory to St. Paul's. There will not be a service of remembrance at this time, but a celebration of his life and love of music and adventure will be held by the family later.