Lawrence Spero

Sept. 17, 1942 – Apr. 6, 2023

Lawrence was born in Edgeware (London), England during the Second World War. He used to recall sharing a bedroom with his grandfather and being put under a mattress during the Blitz. He kept a print of Edgeware by the side of his beloved computer for his entire life. He completed his PhD in neuropharmacology at Cambridge and moved to New York City in 1967 where he unknowingly lived only blocks away from his soulmate’s cousins. Lawrence moved to Toronto in 1969 to work at the University of Toronto. Friends set him up on a blind date with Tessa and the rest, as they say, is vodka and history. Lawrence and Tessa dated long-distance for a few months while she lived in Montreal (see, it can work!) and married shortly after. They welcomed children Michael and Claire and dog Rowan and all lived happily in Toronto for many years. When Claire moved to Vancouver to attend UBC, Lawrence, Tessa, Michael, and Rowan moved to Gabriola to enjoy “retirement”. Lawrence was a passionate supporter of the Clinic, leveraging his ‘gift of the gab’ to convince VIHA that Gabriolans are more than just sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Lawrence was a scientist with the heart of an artist: he was a chef with the Men in Whites, a painter, a photographer, a gardener, and a wood worker, active with the boat school and the Gabriola Woodworkers Guild. Lawrence loved fiercely. He was an advocate for autism and Fragile-X research. He was a board member for Adventure Place and HAADD (Homes for Adults with Autism and Developmental Disabilities) and was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Fragile-X Research Foundation of Canada in 2022. He sincerely loved living on Gabriola (Snuneymuxw territory). Lawrence is survived by Tessa, Michael, and Claire (Todd) and was predeceased by his dogs Rowan and Lucky. 

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