Dr. Richard F. Spark

To Debra and Dr. Spark's whole family,

I met Debra in the late 70s at Belvoir Terrace camp. A lifetime later, in 1994, I came to Beth Israel Hospital, and met Dr. Spark. I remain there and know of his impressive reputation.

My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

Dick was my great roommate at Yale for three years. We had much in common including backgrounds from metropolitan New York, Dick from Brooklyn and me from suburban New Jersey, detailed knowledge about routes 5 and 5A to Northampton and Paradise Pond. We both had intense interest in medicine, a passion that remained forever. Dick's distinguished academic accomplishments regarding male sexuality are well known. At Yale he was the photography editor at the Yale Daily News. He loved track and field and one of his pictures was published in Sports Illustrated (not the swimsuit issue).
His course on the History of Art under Vincent Scully was a source of great pleasure to him as it was to so many other undergraduates and, of course, he had much admiration for Professor Trinkaus. Two weeks ago, I was at a dinner dance in Southampton and thought about Dick because they were playing Lester Lanin-style music, which always amused Dick adn which he called "hootchkie" music, a term that I understood but could never spell. He had a most imaginative sense of humor. I was with him when he met Barbara (Bibs), the love of his life, and to whom I offer my most heartfelt condolences and also to their children and grandchildren. He was a great guy and made the world a better place.
Don Frank

Dear Laura and family,

Allow me and my wife pass our condolences on Dick's death.

Dick was my first and very well remembered teacher in Endocrinology, when I came to his lab in 1976 and worked there for two years.

His clinical and basic knowledge, smartness and outstanding sense of humor, guided me all the time since.

Though I met him since only casually in Endocrine meetings, I will always remember him as a person, endocrinologist and teacher, who helped me a lot in my way in Endocrinology.

Sincerely

Gabe and Ruth Dickstein, Haifa, Israel

P.S. Gabe is the nickname he gave me, which goes with me since.

Dear Laura and the Spark Family;

I've just learned today of the passing of your father, as I was on vacation last week. I am so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Laura and Family

My condolences for your loss. Your collegues at CACCI have you in our thoughts and prayers.

To Barbara and family,

Dr. Spark was like family to us. For 14 years, he gave his utmost in treating a complicated medical case. I can say with assurance that, without his care and guidance, our lives would not be as they are today. He was a brilliant professional and an extraordinary human being whose sense of humor, kindness, commitment and love of life set him in a class by himself. We share your sorrow, and we are holding you in prayer.

Peter & Jennifer Smollett

To Laura and the Spark Family,

My condolences for your loss. I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. I know your father was a great man and will be missed by many, especially those closest to his heart.
Take good care!
Jen Matias

To Laura and the Spark Family,

Please accept our condolences. May the memory of your father, husband, grandfather - and the difference he made in so many lives, including your own - bring comfort in the days ahead.

May you also find consolation in Psalm 23.

Sincerely,
Loretta and Jesse Kemp

Dear Laura & Family,
Deepest condolences from your friends at CAPIC. Our Prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Bob Repucci

We started together at Beth Israel in 1967. He was always a loyal and phenomenal friend. Dick was an outstanding physician. He was an outstanding presence in our endocrinology division. I will miss him but have a lot of great memories. My condolences to Barbara, his children and their spouses and their children. Love, Johanna Pallotta