Clyde Hertzman 1953 - 2013

Clyde Hertzman March 24, 1953 - February 8, 2013

1 This book is a compilation of tributes complied by staff at UBC’s Human Early Learning Partnership from the many e-mails, social media and newspaper clippings received in memory of Dr. Clyde Hertzman.

2 It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Clyde’s influence in the fields of early child development, population health and epidemiology has been significant within B.C., nationally and internationally.

We have lost a dear friend, an inspiration to all of us and a leader whose shoes can never be filled. Our thoughts are with his family, Marcy, Eric, Emily, Amos, his mother Eileen, and his brother Owen.

Staff and Faculty at the Human Early Learning Partnership

3 Sorry that this one is long ... but it’s heartfelt.

I didn’t work closely with Clyde but that does not mean that I wasn’t inspired by him. Three memories of him are with me at this time ... and probably forever. Clyde was, of course, an intellectual giant. I have met few people who could think at his level and even fewer who were as able as Clyde to understand and meaningfully integrate ideas from a wide range of fields. I remember once having lunch with Clyde and two rising stars of economics and medicine from Princeton and Berkley. (Having just written that, I am pretty sure Clyde would pick up on the fact that it sounds a bit like the start of a joke, “An economist, a scientist, and Clyde walk into a bar...”) Anyhow, as was often the case, the subject of conversation was the impact of early years on child development. The energy level was remarkable -- as was the role that Clyde played in the conversation. It was as though he was an interpreter who, by way of some interdisciplinary Rosetta Stone embedded in his grey matter, would hear each participant’s contributions to the discussion. He would then rephrase the ideas, work with them, add his own, and integrate things for the rest of us. Thanks to Clyde, the conversation spanned econometrics, physiology, sociology and policy in a way that made the whole truly greater than the sum of the parts. It was one of the most memorable hours of my academic career. On another occasion, I sheepishly asked Clyde if he would stand in for Fraser Mustard, who had become ill just days before being a keynote speaker at CHSPR’s 2009 annual health policy conference. The request was a big one in part because Clyde’s calendar was unimaginable. Not only did he have travel commitments of an academic superstar, he was also committed to meeting with people in communities throughout BC to discuss the pioneering work he was doing on early learning and with development indicators that required their support. Freeing up his schedule would not be easy! But Clyde was a loyal friend of the people and the purpose of CHSPR. So he moved things around and stepped in for us. And he blew the audience away. His talk was every bit an inspiration and listened to here along with slides: Slides: http://www.chspr.ubc.ca/sites/... Audio: http://www.chspr.ubc.ca/sites/... Finally, the memory that I will hold on to most of all was from a brief hallway conversation with Clyde just a few weeks ago. It was my first opportunity to congratulate Clyde on becoming an Officer of the Order of Canada. I told him that I thought the honour was great and thoroughly deserved. What struck me was Clyde’s story about it. Looking at me, like always, making eye contact that made it clear he really did care about the conversation he was having with me at that moment, Clyde said that it was an exciting moment to get the call and to hear the official on the other end of the line say, “Dr. Hertzman, in recognition of your service to your country...” He paused for a moment and smiled. It was clear to me that what stood out for Clyde about being an Officer of the Order of Canada was that this was not recognition of some inherent attribute of his. It was not an award for being one of the greatest scientists of his time -- though he was. It was not an award for being able to transcend disciplines like nobody else -- though he could. It was an award for making the lives of Canadians better -- which he did. His smile on that day (and likely on many other days he had surely been enjoying recently) spoke volumes about Clyde. It said to me that, whether in the way he talked to colleagues and students on a day-to-day or in the way he marshalled scientific evidence to affect policy change, Clyde found joy in helping others. That smile said everything and will be an inspiration to me always.

Steve Morgan

4 I have been thinking a lot about Clyde over the past few days. I can’t believe it. Between his relative youthfulness and boundless energy it is hard to understand and feels incredibly untimely, unfair, and just not right at all. At first I was numb but have been deeply sad and can’t put him out of my mind. I also find myself remembering the old days working with Clyde. Remembering his energy, his enthusiasm, his support and the deep way he affected and helped me. I keep remembering all these good things about him. I graduated with my masters degree from the department in spring 1986. I didn’t meet him at that stage. I graduated and went off and did some consulting for the Ministry of Health. It was in 1987 when I began to work with Clyde on the sawmill cohort. I was 35 years old. At this time in my life I was craving the need to find good and progressive work to do and a team of people to work with. I really needed a place to be and I needed a work identity. The need for place and identify became even more intense, just a few months after I had begun to work with Clyde as I got divorced and felt completely depressed and shattered for some time. I worked for about 3 years managing the study. I felt useful, skilled, and encouraged by Clyde. I think he understood what I was going through. He was very important to me in this stage of my life. He reached out to help me in other ways too. At work I learned so much from Clyde. He was a great teacher and the format was perfect for learning from him. It was a small research team and discussions were intense, focused, and we were designing new ways to gather information and to link complex information on workers to health data. It was a real feeling of a team engaged in creative intellectual pioneering and Clyde’s creativity and intellectual leadership in all this was really something to be a part of. One of the best things I’d see and participate in during these meetings was the creative adaptation of complex methods to new problems. This was not textbook stuff that we were doing. It was kind of new, especially the data linkage work, and being in these meetings talking through the problems was exciting and intense. It was a huge intellectual adventure. Another things I really liked about the way Clyde thought is that he would stay focused on the basic idea in such a clear sighted way. He had an amazing gift of understanding the essential, the foundational dimension of a problem, a concept, method in order to move an idea forward. Clyde had a way of simplifying complex issues, by stripping them down to their essential dimension so that the next step would be clear. Such a clear thinker. To me at the time he seemed so intelligent and accomplished, at times a bit intimidating, and yet part of his charm was that he had a kind of vulnerability and he wasn’t perfect. He would sometimes be quite volatile. He’d get upset about things, about people, or situations. He’d rant a little bit unreasonably at times about these things. He’d get worked up and passionate. Sometimes he’d take himself a bit too seriously but sometimes too I’d feel like bursting out laughing (just feel like it but never actually do it). It was his theatrical side. To me he had a strong Jewish spirit. Part of this was obvious in his sense of humour and his irreverence. Part of it was his ethical sense –so very strong. I’ve never worked with anybody with such a strong sense of intellectual integrity. By that I mean he was, not overtly or obviously but, fundamentally (it was part of his soul) always concerned that the idea under consideration was the right one, that it was framed in the right way, that all reasonable aspects of its operationalization had been considered and discussed, and that after honest open assessment, appraisal, and debate that in this way with this kind of intelligent rigour the right course of action was being taken to bring it to fruition. This intellectual rigour, excitement and intensity, this creativity, and its linkage with progressive ideas and good ways of being in the world is what I most remember about Clyde. As well, he didn’t have a cynical bone in his body. He was always positive, always moving forward in positive ways. Nothing seemed to discourage him. Everything was doable. He was always intense, always thinking, and always ten steps ahead of everyone else. But, the intensity had a joyful dimension to it and always a strong sense of purpose. Absolute dynamism. This positive dimension in his outlook and way of operating was wonderful. It was refreshing to me to meet an intellectual person like Clyde with the same excitement about ideas. He lived and breathed the idea that you could move the world ahead, solve its’ problems and make real change by rational consideration of the evidence. That things were amenable to improvement in a steady and clear reasonable and purposeful way. This is also why his death doesn’t make any sense to me. How can this very good life propelled by an overwhelming strength of will and purpose be thwarted so suddenly and implacably and so long before it has run its natural course? How can this vital energy not be with us anymore? It is not easy to make good changes in the world. Many of us struggle or fail to effectively marshal all our skills, our personality, our resources to wage an effective fight to do the right thing. Clyde was somebody who knit his personality, his skills, his soul together in a powerful and purposeful way and applied all of this in a singular way to effect real change. I haven’t worked with Clyde for a while now. But, I always

5 kept my eye out for him because I would come across articles about his work on the internet or in the paper. Occasionally I’d get an email about one more sawmill cohort paper that got published. I would always feel really good when I’d run across his name in this way. Just knowing that he was “out there” doing his thing and doing it his way. It is gratifying to realize how much he did and so hard to imagine he is not with us now doing what he so loved to do and what he did so well.

Aleck Ostry

Many of us are still in shock over the news about Clyde. My first memories of Clyde are from the days when were undergraduates at SFU. Before class, he would sit on the floor outside the classroom, crocheting; holding forth on a variety of topics with classmates in a most animated engaging manner. Unforgettable, and he continued to be every bit as animated and engaging throughout his illustrious career. His death comes as a huge loss to his family, friends, UBC and a global community of scholars. Condolences to his family and colleagues.

Ray Copes

In my work as an elementary school vice principal I held Clyde’s work as gold. I spoke about it with all of the staff. I want to thank him for the courage he gave us to build new communities of learners in Saanich, BC.

Sonya Emperingham

Thinking of family and colleagues as you celebrate tomorrow. An inspirational leader. If we listen to what Dr. Hertzman said, I would challenge us all to talk about early human development, not early childhood development.

Vicki Donoghue

Every person at The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts this afternoon feels the loss of Clyde Hertzman. Countless people in British Columbia, across Canada and around the globe feel the loss of Clyde Hertzman. And more than anyone else, his beloved family – you, Clyde’s children, Eric, Emily and Amos, his mother Eileen, brother Owen and three grandchildren, Bennett, Posey and Pascal, plus the extended family – feels the huge loss of Clyde. Even several weeks later, the shock of his sudden death still pervades our minds and hearts, plus reminds us that life is much too short… Clyde and I shared a mentorship with Fraser Mustard, who sold us both on the importance of early child development and population health decades ago. Since it was our great cause, we often met at conferences across North America to deliver speeches on our favourite topic for many years. Because I was primarily making the business case for support, Clyde’s research findings were always pertinent and insightful. I must say that while reading Healthy Child Manitoba’s description of Clyde as “a force of nature – the lightening to Fraser’s thunder”, I couldn’t help but smile out loud as it was and is so right on. Early child development was a calling that consumed Clyde for the rest of his life. He brought new meaning to the phrase “tireless advocate”! Passionate, brilliant, relentless, incisive and energetic are some of the words that you’ll hear at today’s celebration of life – words that will always be synonymous with Clyde. He and his work altered the early child development landscape immeasurably, leaving an indelible mark and legacy in the field. Clyde will be

6 regarded and remembered as one of Canada’s strongest voices for early child education. When Premier Christy Clark issued a statement, calling Clyde an “inspiration” and a “leader whose shoes can never be filled”, I reflected on his appointment to the Order of Canada in January – how fitting and timely an honour – the country’s way of saying “thank you” Clyde. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers,

Charles Coffey

I am devasted to hear that the world has lost Clyde Hertzman. I had the good fortune of meeting him when I was looking for a research position 1.5 yrs ago. He invited me to meet his lab, and I had the honor of having some fascinating conversations with him. I was struck by his brilliance, enthusiam but most of all passion and compassion for helping children. He was an incredibly forward thinker, and he took my ideas seriously which takes great courage and confidence on his part! I was also tremedously inspired by how he conducted the meetings of those he worked with, and how down to earth respectful he was of everyone’s ideas. In my 15 years in academia, I’d never met anyone who inspired me as much. I’m so sorry to hear the world has lost such a gifted, brilliant and compassionate leader!

Tina Huang

I will always remember the tremendous vision, dedication and creativity that was expressed in Clyde’s work. I am grateful for the opportunity to have learned from him, and will greatly miss his leadership in the field of early childhood. I send my condolences to all who worked with him, and especially to his partner and children, whom I hope will be comforted a small bit by knowing how much he was loved and appreciated.

Abbie Raikes

I didn’t have the opportunity of meeting Dr Hertzmann in person, but after reading his work I felt only admiration for him and hope in the future. A truly champion of social justice based on early intervention... As a pediatrician who believe that a better world is not only a utopia, I am deeply saddened by this terrible loss...

Mario Ynga Durand

Dr. Hertzman was a visionary scholar with limitless energy. I remember meeting him when at UBC. He invited me at HELP and introduced me to people and practices there. We had been in touch and had plans for comparative work on early learning between Canada - India. He will be missed.

Aditya Raj

7 I was very sad to learn of Clyde’s passing. My deepest condolences to Clyde’s family and colleagues.

Jane Balance

Clyde was invited to speak to the Community Services Committee of the Vancouver Board of Trade in 1998 to talk about early child development and child care. His clear and convincing presentation motivated me and other committee members to research and prepare a policy paper calling for a national Early Child Development and Childcare program funded by our federal government. The policy was approved by the Board of Trade in July 1999. The paper motivated YWCA Vancouver and YWCA Canada to take public policy advocacy roles on the issue of child development, care and economic return to society when funding is provided to support excellent care. He educated and influenced so many individuals and organizations to understand the critical importance of the early years and we are grateful to him and his work on this issue. My condolences to his family and his workmates. We will miss his leadership.

Lois Hollstedt, Former CEO, YWCA Vancouver

On behalf of the Fraser Region Aboriginal ECD Network, we would like to pass on our condolences to Clyde’s family. The amazing work that Clyde had accomplished will live on forever in our children.

Gina Gibson

Clyde you are missed. You have done so very much and had so very much more that I know you would have accomplished. That’s what makes this all seem so hard. We go back a long ways -- when Fraser and Bob set up the population health group at CIAR. You were one of the young kids on the block. You came up with some of the best ideas of the group, and eventually led it. I didn’t always agree with you – but I always respected your achievements, your commitments and you. You have accomplished so much these last many years – I just want to say thank you. And I am so very sorry to know you are gone.

Noralou Roos

I had the pleasure of knowing Clyde in my youth in the hallways of Churchill high school in Vancouver. he was older by a few years but I still remember this tall nice fellow. My father and Dr.Hertzman’s father Victor were both doctors at VGH many years ago, so I remember meeting him a number of times. My thoughts are with the family, at this time. I must say what wonderful comments, he really had impact on a great number of people and isn’t that a great way to be remembered!

Steve Mowat

8 Our community of Kelowna and the Central Okanagan have benefited from your wisdom over the years in our planning towards a region of healthy children. We will miss your expertise very much as we move forward in our collaborative approach as the Community Action Towards Children’s Health (CATCH).

Sharon Shepherd, Chair

I have had the pleasure of hearing Dr, Hertzman speak on two occasions here in Nova Scotia. I was very impressed with his knowledge and research and viewed him as champion for research and child development. I was very saddened to hear of his passing. I hope his good work will live on. He certainly made a great contribution. My condolences to his family and friends.

Lisa Smith, Executive Director, Pictou County Early Intervention

Clyde performed so brilliantly at my retirement Festschrift last April and I had hoped that he would be the leading speaker at our Festival of Ideas this year in Melbourne. I would love to have said this to Clyde’s colleagues : “the world has prematurely lost one of its greatest researchers and advocates for children. When someone so young dies suddenly we are robbed of the opportunity to say thank you and acknowledge what they have done. Clyde Hertzman brought rigorous science to child development in the most caring and passionate way. He and his team have influenced the world of early childhood and in Australia we are where we are (with the Australian Early Development Index now rolled out nationally every 3 years) because of his work and his advocacy. Our children and future children will be grateful to Clyde. We are thinking of ways to honour his name and work permanently and we will let you know of our suggestions. We offer our deepest sympathy to all of you – family, colleagues and friends – collectively we grieve one of our best. We just would have liked Clyde to know how much he was loved and appreciated internationally.”

Fiona Stanley

Clyde’s death has shocked and saddened so many including those of us, Board members and staff, of the BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. This great man touched us with his warmth and inspired us with his brilliance and profound commitment to transforming our communities into places where children and all people can thrive.

Liz Whynot, BCCEWH Board Chair

How could this happen? This dynamo of energy, ideas, passion and inspiration has been stilled way before his time. When I first met him, with some trepidation representing a metals company seeking guidance and an independent assessment of the health risks of lead exposure, I was impressed by his willingness to trust and to bring people together around a common objective, to quickly identify the issues and to get things done. Dynamo is an appropriate metaphor for Clyde, not only reflecting his own ‘boundless energy’, but for the energy and enthusiasm he instilled in others. This, I am sure, will live on through the actions and achievements of all who have been influenced by this remarkable man.

Graham Kenyon

9 One early cold winter morning several years ago, I walked into the White Spot in Fort St John, and there was Clyde. He was up north to report back the results of the latest EDI. It was not enough for Clyde, as a dedicated community researcher, to simply send the data. It was important to share the findings in person, offer people the opportunity to ask questions, and explain, in as much detail as they wanted, what the findings meant for their children. Fort St. John was not the only community that Clyde visited to report back, he went to all of them. And, as a result, he created a network of people within and between communities who went far beyond understanding research results to launch widely varied and creative programs to help their communities’ young children and families succeed. In schools, daycares and literacy organizations, these people, and many more, are still working to improve the chances of our children and keep the light of Clyde’s vision alive. Clyde understood community - that people matter and it made a difference. He was brilliant, and he was also compassionate and very, very generous. I was lucky to know Clyde, to have heard him speak, and to have rubbed shoulders with some of the people working in community that were impacted and inspired by him. We have lost one of our true heroes. To Marcy, and all his family, friends and colleagues - I share your sorrow.

Valerie Hunter

Clyde has been the driving force behind the research in our province, across Canada and internationally, that has provided the foundation for our work in Early Years Community Development. To say that this is a loss to our field is a huge understatement. Clyde was not only a gifted researcher, presenter and academic, he was a caring compassionate individual and one of the most accessible people I have known. Although his legacy will live on and we will all make sure that the work continues, our field has lost an amazing champion and an amazing human being.

Susan Foster

An incredible legacy, an incredible loss…. Condolences first to Clyde’s family, colleagues & many friends. Clyde was instrumental in so many ways to so many positive changes and he was always able to address the present while looking forward to the future with incredible enthusiasm. He could speak with and engage any group in sharing and contributing to a vision for healthy childhood and healthy public policy. A true transcendent leader! Working with him in very different contexts from community to policy perspectives (bringing the government ministries together…learning sites that seeded community expertise) to continuously sharing his research and innovation demonstrated for me the level of energy and reach of an amazing individual and yet he always made time to answer an email question or prompt inquiry in a new direction! The world is a better place because of his efforts and innovation and because his work was always moving forward there is yet more for all of us to do!

Ann Little

I had the privilege to hear Dr. Hertzman speak many years ago. As a child care provider to many young children, it was so inspiring to hear him speak about the importance of early learning. Yes, what I was doing mattered!! His passion was contagious and I have carried it with me ever since. I think he has changed the world with his work. I hope that we can continue to improve and build upon his teaching.

Suzanne Schlechte

10 On behalf of the Trail Area Health & Environment Program, I want to express our deepest sympathies on the passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Clyde was involved in the first lead health study in Trail BC in the early 90s and he returned to Trail in 2011 as the featured speaker at our Family Action Days. Clyde has been a huge source of inspiration for us as we dedicate ourselves to children’s healthy development and well-being. Clyde had an amazing way of describing the importance of children’s healthy development so that anyone could understand. He also went out of his way to reply to our phone calls and emails very promptly, even in the midst of his busy schedule. He went above the call of duty to make sure we always got the information and support we needed. We are all huge fans of Clyde’s. We will continue to link with the wonderful people at HELP and we share your sorrow at this difficult time.

Ruth Beck, Manager, Trail Area Health & Environment Program, Trail BC

The BC Association of Child Development and Intervention (BCACDI) is very saddened to learn of Dr. Hertzman’s passing. His research is invaluable to our advocacy efforts, and I’m confident his colleagues at HELP will continue to move forward research in the area of children and families. His passion and commitment helped to keep children and family needs in the public discourse. We must continue to use the knowledge and understanding he provided to move public policy to meet the needs of our children. Our condolences to Dr. Hertzman’s family and colleagues.

BCACDI

Dear Clyde, Your laughter, your warmth, your openness, your joy, all hallmarks of a spirit that will never really leave me. I have so many memories of discussions, and explorations of indicators and health, and health promotion and equity at our October Group offices, back in the day. This month for our family has been a time of goodbyes and the news of your death is another reminder of how fleeting time can be. But your gifts dear, dear man are timeless. Thank you for sharing the walk with us with such delight. You and yours are in my prayers.

Shannon Turner

Saddened as I was to hear of Clyde’s passing, i was moved to recall his strong voice for children, his tenacious mapping of what early years need in order that kids and neighbourhoods can thrive. His formidable presentation skills brought to life why we all must care about the irreducible needs of early childhood. His advocacy will be hugely missed. We must redouble our efforts to carry forward the promise of Clyde Hertzman’s pioneering work. With my love & sympathies to his family.

Raffi Cavoukian

I first met Clyde as a fellow Grade 8 student at Sir Winston Churchill High School in 1965. We were in many classes together up until 1971, when we graduated. He was an exceptional student with a great sense of humour. For a teenager, he was remarkably self-possessed and articulate.

I’ve just retired after 30 years as a primary teacher, primarily of kindergarten and Grade One children. Many of my colleagues had the good fortune to attend conferences where Clyde spoke about the important of early childhood experiences, something we knew intuitively was critical to children’s success. How marvellous to have solid data to support what public health professionals and educators have always known--that much more investment is needed

11 by our whole society in order for children to succeed. The research Clyde and his colleagues have done has been pivotal in bringing attention to the importance of good nutrition and early learning opportunities for all children, and particularly for our most vulnerable children.

I would encourage everyone who knew Clyde to advocate for the needs of young children in Canada and around the world. Press your local, provincial and national politicians to address the needs of our children. Imagine the difference we could make it in generations to come if we had a strong commitment to eradicating childhood poverty. There is no better way to remember a remarkable man. To Clyde’s family, my sincere sympathies.

Virginia Brucker (Ginny Goldney at Churchill) Nanoose Bay, BC

I first met Clyde in 1984 when he and Michael Hayes were investigating community health concerns over a toxic waste dump in Ontario. His work challenged accepted thinking then and he continued to challenge, to innovate, to inspire, to teach and to lead. We are all better off because of his passion and his work. I wish there could have been more.

Perry Kendall

Clyde made a huge impact on how we focus our energies on young ones here in BC. He’ll be greatly missed, but I’m happy to hear his work will continue as a legacy to this great man.

Barb Henderson, RN

My heart goes out to Clyde’s family and everyone at HELP during this unbelievable time of grief and sadness. Clyde will be remembered not only for being an incredible academic and advocate for children, but as a person who brought legitimacy to the field of early childhood community development work. Clyde leaves a legacy of hope and commitment that we promise to maintain in our relationship with HELP.

Val Janz, Kamploops, BC

I’m so very sorry to hear about Dr. Hertzman’s passing. Although I only met him once at a scientific meeting, I had always followed his work and his research program. He truly was a leader in his field. My condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Katherine Russo

12 Dr. Hertzman’s death is a great loss to society. His contribution to the understanding of the importance of early childhood development is invaluable. He was a wonderfully articulate spokesman and advocate. He will truly be missed.

Marguerite Ford

I am so sorry to hear of Clyde’s death. He has made an enormous contribution to our fundamental understanding of child development and the application of this knowledge to practice and policy from local to global. Clyde had much more to contribute - he was excited about taking an increasing interest in the global challenges of early child development and we were working with him on a strategy for his engagement in a new Institute For Human Development that the Aga Khan University recently established to focus on the challenges of supporting child development in the low income countries of Africa and South Asia. His work lives on and remains the foundation of what many will take forward - but his absence will be greatly missed. My condolences and best wishes to Clyde’s family.

Barb Armstrong

Both of our boys are happy HELP PhDs with the t-shirts and paper work to prove it! ;-) We are saddened by this great loss but grateful for Clyde’s life’s work, compassion and humility. Thank you for making such positive contributions which will be continued on by your team and in practice to help make happier and healthier young people and families.

Tarek Haji

The way I will always remember Clyde, is of him standing on a podium at a B.C. Central Credit Union Annual Convention, and of me wondering how he got there. Usually people at the podium talked about Finance, Real Estate, Marketing and other Credit Union/Banking topics. Having come from an education and teaching background, my interest was immediately aroused. He spoke about subjects which were dear to my heart and therefore, I thought that he was speaking directly to me. However, when I looked around the convention floor, at mostly men in dark tone suits, I encountered the same look of interest, admiration and respect from the entire assembly as I felt for him. His humility, passion, knowledge and sincerity were rewarded by a depth of understanding which resulted in B.C. Central Credit Union choosing his research for its annual philanthropic project. So, without sounding as if he were pitching for funding, he achieved resources for his work by being an excellent communicator to an unlikely audience. What a magician, I thought!

Reva Kanner-Dexter

The Canadian Paediatric Society was privileged to work with Clyde Hertzman over the last three years. He was enlisted by one of our board members to help with our early childhood development strategy, and he quickly became not just an advisor but the heart of our working group. Clyde’s ideas, his energy, and his generosity gave a sense of urgency to our task. His skill at demystifying complex systems, and his ability to see the strengths in others, helped us define the most appropriate and potentially effective role for our organization.

13 Last year, Clyde spoke to delegates during a symposium at our annual conference. “Magical,” was how one participant described it. “The best research presentation ever,” said another. Isn’t that how most of us felt when we heard him speak? Once the shock has passed, we will redouble our efforts to contribute to making Clyde’s vision a reality. It’s the least we can do to honour him. He contended that there is a better way to support young children and families in Canada. Indeed, the future of our country depends on our ability to get it right. We are saddened by the loss of a brilliant mind, an articulate and passionate advocate, a man not afraid of taking on the big questions. Our deepest sympathies go to his family, his colleagues at the University of British Columbia and around the world.

The Canadian Paediatric Society

New Zealanders are saddened by the passing of Clyde. His work, his vision, his enthusiasm, as well as his careful research and tool development has influenced more than just Canada and Canadians. Such a loss is felt around the world. My deepest condolences to the Hertzman’s families and hope that our continued reference to Clyde’s work will keep his legacy alive for years to come.

Judith Duncan, University of Canterbury

As an Infant Development Consultant, I had the pleasure of attending several of Dr. Hertzman’s presentation over the years....He was so visionary and passionate about the great work that he and his group were doing that listening to and learning from him was an energizing and empowering experience. I know that in my community, the response to the EDI and its results has been positive and pivotal in the work that our Early Child Development committee does. I am so sorry to hear of his passing and my heart goes out to his family and colleagues. The difference that his work and insights made for those of us in the field of early intervention and the families we see will endure....

Penny O

Clyde was a luminary and his light shone worldwide. When we learned of his death a week ago, here in the U.K., it seemed as if a bright light had been extinguished. But he has left an amazing legacy and now it fall to us, as family, friends, colleagues. and students, to pick up his torch and ensure his light shines on. Clyde’s energy not only illuminated - it radiated a warmth, which so endeared him to all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. With his brilliant analysis of data, his infectious enthusiasm, his down-to-earth way of communicating, and his determination to level the playing field, he provided such a compelling, evidence-based argument for why we must make investment in the early years a major priority. There could be no finer tribute to Clyde than making that happen. Embracing Marcy and family with sympathy and love,

Lois Yelland and Archie Campbell Edinburgh, Scotland

14 On behalf of PLAY Victoria, I would like to express the depth of our sense of loss at Clyde’s passing. Dr Hertzman’s gift to us, was his belief in the strength of local communities. He knew that we could make the difference in children’s lives. He gave us the language to describe, explain and convince our non-traditional partners about the importance of this precious time of life. His commitment, knowledge and passion have given our field credibility. We have so much to be grateful for and I have faith that we will all carry on his vision. Our sincere condolences to his family, friends and co-workers.

Colleen Hobson, PLAY Victoria

I am truly saddened by this sudden loss. Dr. Clyde Hertzman contributed so much to our understanding of children’s development and the inequities across communities in child support in BC and elsewhere around the world. I hope we can contribute to a foundation in his name for student scholarship and further research and faculty/student learning opportunities.

B. May Bernhardt

Like so many others I first heard Clyde speak in the mid ‘90s. I still remember his inspiring words and was encouraged to pass on his message about the importance of early brain development. I have had the good fortune to hear him often since and always have been spurred on by his energy and his commitment to community and children. This is such a loss.

Rhian Piprell

This is such a loss for so many reasons. Clyde was a mentor and an inspiration. I think what struck me most about Clyde was that he always, always had time for you. It was this ability and constant willingness to connect and reach out to those around him that was so impressive to me. Aside from his passionate and tireless advocacy, Clyde also brought much laughter to the world with his great sense of humour. Thank you and you will be missed. My deepest condolences to the Hertzman family.

Darryl Quantz

He was a friend, a colleague and one of the brightest Public Health minds of the late 20th and early 21st century. A true loss to UBC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and the world. My heart goes out to his family for the loss of this wonderful person.

John Blatherwick

15 I was so sad to hear of Dr. Hertzman’s passing. My condolences to Clyde’s family and many close colleagues. Clyde had so much more to offer to the children, families and society. This is a huge loss. He has shone the light on some very pressing issues, and the possible solutions. His many followers will continue to be inspired by his legacy as they continue along the path he charted.

Sandy Meidlinger

I first met Clyde when I was working at the Family Centre in Kelowna. He came to speak to service providers and others about the growing body of research to do with Early Childhood Development. That was in the mid to late 90’s and he was promoting the concept of establishing a baseline as part of a longitudinal study on what factors promote healthy development in children. In so many ways Clyde was the greatest advocate for early childhood development British Columbia has so far produced. Between that first exposure to his work and now I have had the pleasure to listen to Clyde describe on a number of occasions the development of the EDI, its deployment across the province and the mapping that resulted. The establishment of HELP resulted in bringing together other researchers and a vehicle to disseminate the evidence that will eventually convince all of us and the governments we elect that significant investments in Early Childhood Development will pay dividends. Despite Clyde’s best efforts and the scientific evidence he and others have amassed our governments remain unconvinced and truly committed. It is up to all of us to continue Clyde’s work to advocate for quality services that promote the healthy development of children.

Kurt Pederson

It is with deep sorrow that we learned of the sudden passing of our esteemed colleague, Clyde Hertzman. He was a pioneer and a leader in social epidemiology and his work on health inequality and early childhood development is influential on many of us at the Institut de recherche en santé publique de l’Université de Montréal (IRSPUM). Those of us who have had the pleasure of working with him, or sharing membership in one the numerous committees he participated in, will remember his extraordinary energy and generosity. Clyde was able to make things happen in a way that few can. His openness to new ideas, and curiosity, enabled him to push for the transdisciplinary in public health that few have been able to do. And he always had time for the “next generation”, willing to nurture and assist those he felt might further carry the torch towards a more equitable society through the science that we practice. We will miss him deeply. Please accept our condolences and sympathy for your loss.

IRSPUM’s researchers, students, and personnel

Clyde Hertzman’s work on early childhood made a global impact. He will be remembered for building the evidence base, and for his warmth and enthusiasm as a human being. Thank you Clyde!

Franklin White, Pacific Health & Development Sciences, Victoria BC Formerly Chair, Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University

I have known Clyde for over 35 years – and he has been a great inspiration for me for my entire career. Clyde had a unique combination both of insight and wit as well as compassion and a steadfast commitment to social justice to be an extremely effective agent for health equity. At McMaster Medical School, Clyde was the first medical student I knew who chose Community Medicine as a career path – and his choice was an inspiration for me to follow suit.

16 His work in establishing a high quality occupational cohort study also set the scene for others to do similar work. I attended many talks Clyde gave – and note the impact his clarity of thinking had – for my work and many, many, many others. He will be sorely missed.

Annalee Yassi

Dr. Clyde Hertzman was changing the world for young children and families. His brilliant and passionate message about the importance of the early years in shaping a person’s health, well-being and life potential was and will continue to impact the world by inspiring people to improve early life experiences for children everywhere. His ability to explain complex statistical and academic information in ways that everyone could understand was inspiring! Dr. Hertzman motivated everyone who heard his message and he helped develop a sophisticated and highly effective research team at UBC. Politicians were starting to listen and I believe the future looks brighter for young children because of the work he and his team have begun. I heard him speak a two weeks ago in Kelowna and he was his usual brilliant self and I felt like jumping up and cheering for him as he finished. His passing is a shock and to say he will be missed is a huge understatement. It is a privilege to know his work and to be impacted by his vision. The vision will live on.

Michelle Miller-Gauthier

It was with wonder and awe that I first heard Clyde speak over a decade ago, and to be honest, the wonder and awe never left. He radiated commitment, enthusiasm and vision for a society that values children and embraces the responsibility of creating environments that best support healthy child development. He was a brilliant man who, without an ounce of pretention, combined his genius research understandings with his deeply human compassion to spark insight and change. Clyde was a great man who could rub shoulders with foreign presidents AND stay genuinely connected to community. He was never above driving to “small town” British Columbia to engage front line service providers in intelligent dialogue about the “differences that make a difference.” He connected with people in a most authentic way. I am grateful to have known him and my heart aches for his family, friends and team at HELP.

Tracy Smyth

I am so deeply saddened to hear of Dr. Hertzman’s passing. Years ago when we first launched the EDI in our community, I called Dr. Hertzman to introduce myself and our small organization, in order to get some pointers on where to begin with analyzing the data. Before the conversation was over, Dr. Hertzman had offered to have his team (including his son Eric who I worked with) analyze our results for us, and he indicated that he would come to our small town to present the results. Never did we expect that, especially when we were located in Northern Ontario. His generosity and willingness to help were evident, not only in his work, but also in his demeanor. He was so down-to-earth and genuine. I’ve never known anyone that could make data so approachable and understandable to the masses, and rally communities to mobilize and take action. Please extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and co-workers. He was a very bright light that will be deeply missed.

Karen Malench

17 My name is Linda King and I work for the Pacific Post Partum Support Society. I was shocked and saddened by the news of Clyde’s passing. I had the opportunity to hear Clyde speak on a number of occasions and was always inspired and enlightened. He showed such passion for children and families. I learned every time I heard him speak and felt hopeful that challenges were being addressed. I did not know Dr Hertzman personally but have the greatest respect for him and for the work he has done and that will be carried on. My condolences to his family and friends. We have lost a great man.

Linda King

My name is Scott Wallace and I am the proud former principal of Chilliwack Central Elementary Community School. Clyde’s work at HELP had a significant impact on our school. Countless children and adults have had their lives changed because of initiatives like StrongStart, Supported Child Development, Family Resource and Literacy programs to name just a few. Clyde’s passing is a tremendous loss for the early learning community but his work and that of the HELP team will continue to benefit families for years and years to come. My sincere condolences to Clyde’s family and friends.

Scott Wallace

In the last two years I attended HELP conferences and got a glimpse of who this amazing man was and the impact he had in the field of research. I came out of the conferences not only feeling more informed but also more hopeful that change in how early childhood education is valued in our society is possible. We lost a great man!

Edna Leyland

I arrived breathless into the second year of my graduate degree in public health – thrilled to be, finally, exactly where I wanted to be and amazed to find I was sort of good at it. But it was at a small symposium of northwest public health schools and faculty in 2008 when the light truly went on – Clyde Hertzman’s keynote blew my mind. I remember the UBC professor, medical doctor, and public health researcher showing, unequivocally, how a social safety net including universal public healthcare had pushed Canada’s childhood health indicators to near the top – and conversely, the wide economic disparities had been pushing US childhood health indicators down for years. But before the Canadian professors in the room could puff up their chests, he offered this warning: The tide was turning in Canada – and had started turning when healthcare was short-funded during lean times in the early 1990′s, and it had never been returned to the system when the economy rebounded. We would see a similar decline in the health and intellectual capacity of our children if we didn’t correct the problem, and fast. I had never experienced such a clear, eloquent and urgent argument illustrated so well with public health statistics. Clyde made me excited and proud to be going into a career where we joke that if you do your job right, nobody noticed. His presentation was narrative, his figures were clear and inspiring, and his delivery was folksy but knowledgeable. I admit to a pretty big science nerd crush on Dr. Hertzman. I entertained thoughts of doing a PhD with him one day, long before economic considerations diverted me from further study. Clyde died far too early – 59. I can’t help but wonder what caused his death. What would he have said about a death like his? Age, vulnerability to chronic disease, stress, workload… who knows. His research assistant quoted some of his last words to her, soon before his death: “Ziba, life is good.” All I can think is, what a loss – potentially 20 more years of brilliant research, teaching, and policy development, lost prematurely in perhaps an ironic statistical aberration. A great mind lost too early. I don’t have many science

18 heroes. Marie Curie, Louis Pasteur, Norman Bethune, Nikolas Tesla. But Clyde Hertzman is certainly among them – for applying his work for good every step of the way, never ceasing to ask good questions and be unafraid of stating the implications of his research for public health and public policy; for showing what an enormous impact early childhood health and wellbeing had on later health and intellectual ability. Because of Clyde and his Human Early Learning Partnership, a generation of BC kids probably will grow up smarter and stronger than we did. And we can do no better for Clyde’s legacy than making sure that public policy is informed by his discoveries for generations to come.

Jocelyn Tomkinson, Research Developer, ICORD (UBC), www.researchgirl.ca

Being fairly new to the field of early childhood education and development I can’t say that I had a real working knowledge of Dr. Clyde Hertzman or the work done at the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP). I came out of college having attended only one presentation about the Early Development Instrument. I remember my first meetings with the Aboriginal Steering Committee (ASC) and attending a research day with the HELP staff and thinking, “I am so out of my league.” There were presentations and I was a little overwhelmed but a voice came through the haze of academia and said, “Now explain that to me like you just came around the corner and ran into me and needed me to understand it.” That is my first memory of Clyde and how, without knowing it, he made me comfortable in a place that I have now come to cherish and opened me up to a group of brilliant, passionate, and dedicated people who have now become very important parts of my circle – my family. I got to travel back to my home town of Hazelton with Clyde and other members of HELP and the Aboriginal Steering Committee where we did two days of presentations and, more importantly to me, everybody got to meet my mother and other members of my family. I believe that in order for people to understand the work that we do, we have to bring it to them, meet them where they live, and show them who we are and what we have for them. Clyde not only bought into this ideal but also the Indigenous ideal of creating relationship and the strength of emotional transference. One of my favorite memories will always be the evening that HELP and the ASC came together to honour the Indigenous relationship staple of the sharing of a meal. I was very fortunate to be allowed, along with other members of the ASC, to help in the preparation of this meal. We sat and ate, and laughed, and shared, and we came together – I believe that it was our leader that brought us to this place. There have been many things written, and many more to be written, about the important work that Dr. Clyde Hertzman has done. Work that the folks at HELP will carry on and move into the future and maintain the journey. There are many words that will be used to describe Dr. Hertzman – brilliant, dedicated, passionate, innovative, trail- blazer, visionary. For my part, a newbie early childhood educator from the northwest coast, from Gitxsan territory, I’m going to go with gentle, humble and respectful, but mostly, Clyde was my friend, is my friend, my circle remains unbroken…but I miss my friend.

Duane Jackson

On behalf of Langley Child Development Centre Staff, the many children and families whom Clyde’s work supported, we mourn the loss of an incredible children’s advocate. Clyde’s challenged all of us who work in the industry to strive for the very best for each and every child, in each and every community. Clyde’s leadership, passion, compassion and dedication to children is unsurpassed. We have been blessed these past years and a new star in the heavens will shine all the more brightly for his presence. To Clyde’s family: thank you for sharing Clyde with us, our sincerest condolences

Lynne, Langley CDC.

19 Thank you God for allowing us to know, work with, and be friends of this brilliant, generous, and caring man. We are all better for it. Let us keep his spirit alive in our time here – to make the world a good and ever better place.

Stuart Hart, International Institute for Child Rights and Development

I work in the early childhood & community development field through the Success By 6 initiative in the small rural town of Clearwater, BC. I am able to do the work I care so deeply about, and our community’s services for children and families have grown and been enhanced, due to the sheer brilliance, vision, leadership and research that was given to us by Clyde Hertzman. I have turned to Clyde’s work and that of HELP’s continuously in my career in this field over the last 8 years. I consider myself very lucky to have heard Clyde speak in person twice. I can still hear his charismatic voice in my head when I go to present an idea or project in my community. He was that impressionable for me. I can only imagine what it would have been like if he was a constant presence in my life, as he was with his colleagues, friends, and family. He was one of the greatest minds of our time, not to mention one of the biggest hearts, to have dedicated his life’s work and gift of intelligence towards improving childhood health & well-being on both a local and global scale. My deepest condolences are with his loved ones as they grieve the loss of this most incredible man.

Heather Adamson

I was very shocked and saddened to hear of Clyde’s passing on the weekend. He was one of the most insightful and dedicated people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. My condolences to his family and many close colleagues. Clyde had so much more to offer to the children, families and societies of BC, Canada and the world - it’s a huge loss. But, he has shone the light on some very pressing issues, and the possible solutions. His many followers will continue to be inspired by his legacy as they continue along the path he charted.

Steve Hilts

This is so hard to write. My heartfelt condolences to Marcy and his family, and all Clyde’s wonderful colleagues at HELP. I first met Clyde at a CIAR conference at Emerald Lake in the mid-1990’s. In all the years that I have known and worked with Clyde -- he hadn’t changed..... except for his growing contributions to the field of human development. He was always such a fun, young-at-heart, and humble guy, which is one reason his sudden death seems so very out of place to me. We usually managed to get together for dinner when our paths led us to the same city. I thought these wonderful meals and conversations would go on for years..... Clyde will continue to inspire me to be the best that I can be, and to live with integrity. When things got hard or personal politics were at play, Clyde always rose above the fray and took the high ground. Part of his success, I think, is that he surrounded himself with like-minded, intelligent, and visionary people; giving them wings to rise up to their potential -- at work and in life. I am certain that the accolades for Clyde’s academic and community-based work will continue to pour in. I gave up trying to keep abreast of his published articles and travel commitments long ago. For now, what stands out for me, is that Clyde was such a good-hearted colleague and friend.

Kathleen Guy

20 I have attended a number of meetings devoted to children and youth since I heard the news of Clyde’s passing and at each meeting people have been dismayed by Clyde’s loss. We’ve had the opportunity to look at where we are, and what we’re doing and where we’re going and reflect on how Clyde and his work made it all possible. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy remains strong. My condolences to his family and co-workers.

Karen Abrahamson

I remember the first time I interacted with Clyde. I was a researcher at Dalhousie University and we were putting together a (what seemed to us monstrous) Canada Foundation for Information (CFI) grant. I knew Clyde had previously successfully completed one and so with no introduction I cold-emailed him to ask if he had any advice or lessons we could learn from. He generously sent back the whole grant he had submitted and a few pointers. I was remarkably impressed with his generosity and willingness to share with a complete stranger, and for his lack of pomposity. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time. He will be greatly missed.

Mark Smith

My condolences to Clyde’s family, friends and to the team at HELP. Dr. Hertzman’s work has been integral to our early childhood community in the Sea to Sky Corridor, stimulating initiatives and helping to shape much of our strategic direction in early childhood development. (Sea to Sky Putting Children First ECD Initiative) Clyde had visited our communities in the corridor on a number of occasions over the past 11 years and we are deeply saddened by his loss. Julia Black

Clyde was the type of leader who used love and respect to inspire excellence. Every day I boarded the ship we call HELP, I knew I was part of a crew who were dedicated to charting a course towards a better world for children and their families in BC and around the world. Today I know the course Clyde set for HELP is clear, and I trust the passionate crew will hold his course with all hands on the tiller. I will never forget you Clyde, my prayers are with you.

Anthony Smith

Every time I met with Clyde, he inspired me to do more. He continues to be an inspiration and has done so much for generations to come. I think he would like this quote: “Every tree, every growing thing as it grows, says this truth, you harvest what you sow.” - Rumi My condolences to all that were close to him.

Mitesh Patel

21 When I wake up in the morning, I am quietly confident because: 1. Of my understanding of the world after seeing it through Clyde’s eyes. A secret only fully viewable after pause and reflection, I know most people haven’t had the opportunity to see the world this way. To understand this and to be able to protect myself now and my family in the future I am eternally grateful. 2. I know that I live in a community where we have someone like Clyde looking after the social well-being of our children. When I heard of Clyde’s passing I was shocked, and thought “who will look after his vision?” Clyde is simply irreplaceable. To compare others to Clyde wouldn’t do him justice. However, I know that the team at HELP, enriched and motivated through Clyde’s careful mentorship, is the perfect organization to keep Clyde’s dreams and ideas alive and growing.

Cory McPhail

Dr. Clyde Hertzman will be missed by all of us who had the privilege of working with him at the community level. He gave selflessly to local initiatives, travelling throughout the province, contributing his energy and expertise to a framework that melded developmental research and the practice of early childhood education. I consistently marveled at the strength and validity of his message, as he shared his wisdom, his research and his overriding message: the early years matter! Thank you Clyde!

Linda McKinlay

My work on the Sunshine Coast in education has been deeply influenced by Clyde. The information he gathered, fueled by his sharp wit and powerful delivery inspired me to delve into the years before a child enters the formal school system. His voice rang through in the messages we gave of the importance of the early years. Clyde gave us our data, and the language of ‘neighbourhoods’ and ‘trajectories’. He was the credible voice that fired us up to speak of the ‘nurturing qualities of our environments.’ I am deeply thankful for the work Clyde did. Our condolences to his family and everyone at HELP. He will be greatly missed.

Kirsten Deasey

It was with great sorrow that I learned about Clyde’s passing. Clyde was too young to go. The first time I attended a presentation of Clyde’s was in Penticton at the Convention Center. I was mesmerized by his skill in public speaking, but also by his research and influence in Early Childhood research. I have attended two other presentations since, and I learned new things every time I listen to him. His dedication is a model for us all and his voice in the field will be missed for a long time.

Brigit

22 My sympathies are with Dr. Hertzman’s family and colleagues. I deeply regret that I did not have a chance to meet this great man myself.

Shirley Giroux

We are all saddened. To his colleagues in HELP and to his family I send my personal sympathy and also that of the Centre for Early Childhood Research and Policy at the University of Victoria.

Myer Horowitz

Over the past decade at CFRI, I have been awestruck by Clyde’s intelligence, energy and passionate commitment to improving the lives of children. His light shone brightly but far too briefly. Deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

Dawn McArthur

Clyde had an incredible ability to foster a work environment that nurtured creativity, brought different points of view together and created energy. Clyde was a strong, compassionate and respectful leader who saw the best in people, encouraged them to excel and always remembered the individuals’ needs. It was an honour to work at HELP and to have met Clyde. My thoughts are with his family and friends and colleagues at HELP at this very difficult time.

Genevieve MacMillan

Across Canada, the early childhood education and care community owes so much to the work that Clyde has done and for his staunch and passionate advocacy. The work he has done fuels the day-day work that we all do with children and families and added so much to the incredible importance of quality early childhood experiences and learning. His passion, knowledge and advocacy will be sorely missed, but as Paul Kershaw says, it is up to all of us to continue where Clyde has left off. We were honoured to work with him and to have learned so much because of him. Our deepest sympathies to Clyde’s family, his colleagues and friends.

From everyone at the CCCF

Clyde was a committee member on my dissertation committee, and I got to know him as a person who truly cares! He was an incredible mentor to me in the dissertation process, always asking deep and thought-provoking questions, while also being supportive, caring, and encouraging at the same time. I feel honoured for having met him and having worked with him; he will be truly missed in the research community. The world still needs Clyde.

Eva Oberte

23 Clyde had an indelible impact on my career, when, after one of his presentations, I realized I needed to do more as an educator to support the early years... My “K-12 very important programs” were nowhere without children who were properly supported before coming to Kindergarten. Our work in Revelstoke is the direct result of Clyde’s influence. Clyde, I am saddened to my core losing you. Somehow you made me feel that the work we were doing was truly special - but not nearly as special as you. God bless your family and colleagues at HELP, I can only imagine how difficult it must be for them right now.

Anne Cooper

Forty years ago Clyde and I did a joint research project in our first-year biology lab at SFU. The pleasure of interacting with his quick mind and warm enthusiasm is one of my favourite memories, and one of the reason I became a scientist.

Rosie Redfield

I worked with Dr. Hertzman for only a few short months but even through our brief interactions, his quick wit, passion and dedication shone through. I’m saddened to think of all the brilliance he still had to offer. He’s the most brilliant and inspiring man I’ve ever had the privilege to work with and the legacy he leaves is unparalleled. Rest in peace.

Jessica Pan

We were so glad to have Dr. Hertzman’s support. We used his research about how poverty impacted children’s health to educate service providers, to lobby the government, and to inspire and politicize parents living on a low income. He will be remembered with fondness and gratitude. Linda Jones, former organizer - End Legislated Poverty. We will miss Clyde greatly but pray that his soul can continue to influence a peaceful future for all children.

Janet Cundall

I admire and follow the wonderful work of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. I have never had the opportunity to meet him personally, however I will continue to share his work with others. I hope that by sharing his work, his presence will be with the early childhood community. My sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Naznin Dhanani, ECE Resource Coordinator, ELSA Net

24 In small and large communities where people are fearful to speak up due to fear of funding cuts, Clyde was a brave and valiant hero for our families, communities and our children. While I was being criticized for rocking the boat, Clyde came to town and he rocked the boat, too. I knew i was not alone as an outspoken leader for children and families. I was so relieved that Clyde was “on my team”. He gave me courage. As does his extremely valuable team at HELP. Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Shan Lavell

From the Board and staff at Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre, we share your grief and your shock at losing such an inspirational advocate on behalf of children and families. He was truly a dynamic spirit. Remember him well and in peace.

Pam Preston

Dear Clyde, Thank you for coming to my class to talk about the work you and your team were doing at HELP—it clearly pointed me where to start my career. Thank you for stopping by and saying “Do I know you?” on my first day of work at HELP. Thank you for asking “Are we challenging you enough?” during the holiday party. Thank you for recently trusting me that you were tired and wanted to rest… You now are, dear Clyde. Thank you for being you, for that authentic, loving and caring way to challenge and stimulate those working around you. Hats off. You’ve only left to see how far we take your work. Much love.

Christine Klerian

Clyde Hertzman, MD, MSc, esteemed member of our Editorial Board, and editor/organizer of this volume’s symposium, “Developmental Origins of Adult Disease,” died suddenly and unexpectedly in February 2013, at age 59, while in London to work with colleagues. He was Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia; founding Director of UBC’s Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP); and Canada Research Chair in Population Health and Human Development. Some scholars bring intellectual acuity and insight to the table, some bring intellectual energy and forceful presentation, some bring breadth of factual knowledge. Clyde Hertzman brought all three. He was a scholar’s role model in all these dimensions and sprinkled these with a wry sense of humor, a sense of urgency for action and social justice, and an international perspective. As an Editorial Board member for the Annual Review of Public Health, as in his other research and publishing ventures, Clyde Hertzman made the effort to blend evidence from various scientific disciplines and sources of theory and research to construct a fuller and more robust understanding of complex phenomena. His most abiding and passionate scientific and policy commitments were to the proposition that early intervention on childhood development “socially, nutritionally, educationally, and medically” would yield the greatest benefits to the health of populations. His work demonstrated that children’s early experiences in life influence their brain and social development, their genes, and their ability to thrive. He showed through various sources of evidence how disadvantage has profound effects on lifelong health. He set out to test on province-wide studies in British Columbia how day care, schools, and communities could compensate for such disadvantages and, with his colleagues, developed the Early Development Index (EDI) to measure a child’s readiness for school. Just two months before his death, Clyde’s contributions were recognized nationally with his appointment to the Order of Canada. Two years earlier he was designated Health Researcher of the Year by the Canadian Institutes

25 of Health Research. He was also a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Royal Society of Canada. The Dean of Medicine and Vice Provost Health at his university said, “While it is sobering to contemplate how much work he had left in him, we must take solace in how much Clyde accomplished—not only as a scholar, but also in his personal dealings with friends and loved ones. His energy, enthusiasm and irrepressible spirit were so great as to become an integral part of the Faculty of Medicine’s very identity, and it will leave a permanent imprint on us as individuals, and on our institution”. We can say the same for the Editorial Board of the Annual Review of Public Health.

Lawrence W. Green, Jonathan E. Fielding, and Ross C. Brownson

Dear Marcy:

Every person at The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts this afternoon feels the loss of Clyde Hertzman. Countless people in British Columbia, across Canada and around the globe feel the loss of Clyde Hertzman. And more than anyone else, his beloved family – you, Clyde’s children, Eric, Emily and Amos, his mother Eileen, brother Owen, and three grandchildren, Bennett, Posey and Pascal, plus the extended family – feels the huge loss of Clyde. Even several weeks later, the shock of his sudden death still pervades our minds and hearts, plus reminds us that life is much too short…

Clyde and I shared a mentorship with Fraser Mustard, who sold us both on the importance of early child development and population health decades ago. Since it was our great cause, we often met at conferences across North America to deliver speeches on our favourite topic for many years. Because I was primarily making the business case for support, Clyde’s research findings were always pertinent and insightful. I must say that while reading Healthy Child Manitoba’s description of Clyde as “a force of nature – the lightening to Fraser’s thunder”, I couldn’t help but smile out loud as it was and is so right on. Early child development was a calling that consumed Clyde for the rest of his life. He brought new meaning to the phrase “tireless advocate”!

Passionate, brilliant, relentless, incisive and energetic are some of the words that you’ll hear at today’s celebration of life – words that will always be synonymous with Clyde. He and his work altered the early child development landscape immeasurably, leaving an indelible mark and legacy in the field. Clyde will be regarded and remembered as one of Canada’s strongest voices for early child education.

When Premier Christy Clark issued a statement, calling Clyde an “inspiration” and a “leader whose shoes can never be filled”, I reflected on his appointment to the Order of Canada in January – how fitting and timely an honour – the country’s way of saying “thank you” Clyde. Marcy, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers,

Charles S. Coffey

26 I’m sorry about the passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. I never knew about him before, but the more I read about his work and dedication for improving life of others, the more I feel that it was a great loss – not only for your organization – but for many more that were touched or affected by his achievements and leadership.

Ashraf Mahmoud Data Analysis Coordinator Department of Education, Government of Yukon

I am completely stunned.. Frankly, I can’t remember being so shocked - I truly admired Clyde. He was rare, exceptional, inspiring in his achievements for us all.

Gerard Bremault, MSW, RSW Chief Executive Officer The Centre for Child Development & Child Development Foundation of British Columbia

Hello all, There are no words. I am assuming we will attack our work with increased vigour even as we have lost our North Star, to keep his light going on an issue so dear to him.

Jean Clinton

Just wanted to let people know that his loss is keenly felt in Nova Scotia; I’ve spoken to many colleagues who remember his many important trips to promote ECD & the EDI here.

John C. LeBlanc, MD, MSc, FRCPC, FAAP Associate Professor Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Community Health and Epidemiology Dalhousie University

Dear friends, I’m thinking of you daily, trying to figure out how you can feel and live through this very sad transition. I wish you all the courage and strength needed in this hardship. Clyde has provided so much to the ECD world: we all want to pay him back by contributing to pursue his goals and dreams.

Claire Gascon-Giard

27 Please accept my sympathy to those who worked most closely with Clyde. His passing was a shock to us all and it will have resonated deeply with the team with whom he worked on a daily basis. His legacy and commitment to changing lives and disrupting the predictability of issues like childhood vulnerability and life chances is something we must all continue to champion.

Respectfully,

Mike McKay Superintendent of Surrey Schools/CEO

I am so sorry to hear that Clyde has passed. I had the good fortune of meeting him a couple of years ago, and he invited me to his lab and I got to meet his team. I had an incredible amount of admiration for him, he was truly an inspiration on many levels. I am devastated to hear that he is gone. He contributed so much to this world! My heart is with everyone from his family in and beyond the lab. May he rest in peace.

Tina Huang

We are so deeply saddened to hear of Clyde’s passing and send our sincere sympathy to everyone at HELP. I am confident that Clyde’s vision will continue to be realized.

Alison Gear Early Learning Coordinator School District 50 Haida Gwaii

It is indeed terrible, terrible news. Clyde was a brilliant scholar and more important, a gentle, caring man. The world and its children will miss him. Take care and know that you are in my heart.

Dr. Jim Frankish

I am unable to make this deserved tribute to a wonderful man who died much too young. I first met Clyde shortly after he began at UBC, in the late 1970s when he was on the fringes of a group called VANCOSH (Vancouver Committee on Occupational Safety and Health). We sparred engagingly with each other over the years, especially during the ‘health promotion’ vs. ‘population health’ tempests in a thimble. I recall fondly an exchange with Clyde (representing population health) and me (representing health promotion) during one of the federal- provincial working group meetings. Clyde, after my health promotion argument, nodded wisely and said: ‘Now I get it. Population health is about evidence and health promotion is about stakeholder opinion.’ He didn’t mean it disparagingly, and I simply replied: ‘Yes, Clyde, I agree with you if you’ll also agree with me that what constitutes evidence invariably begins with a stakeholder opinion, and that stakeholder opinions constitute a form of evidence.’ Our intellectual partnership was thus forged. We worked diligently together (alongside Trevor Hancock) in an aborted project that undertook the first major health impact assessment of an environmental policy of which we were aware (Ontario Hydro’s 25 year demand/

28 supply plan, tabled in the late 1980s). Clyde’s epidemiological astuteness was invaluable, even if our multi-volume assessment never did make it to the review court when Ontario Hydro suddenly realized its entire plan was undercut by the 1991/92 recession and a wholesale slide in energy demand from the USA. Thus began the push to Bruntland- style demand management (energy use reduction) rather than supply enlargement. Clyde then moved assertively into the domain that has become his legacy, and an impressive one it is. We guffawed and plotted our ways through our work with the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health, respectively heading two different knowledge networks, and I marvelled at the energy, and the humorous kindness, Clyde always seemed to exude. And he has left me with one classic line that I have borrowed many a time. During a talk at a CPHA conference in Vancouver, I believe, perhaps when the CSDH was also meeting there, I can’t be certain, Clyde ranted on about social justice. In his critique of the Fraser Institute’s enthusiasm for tax freedom day (when the portion of annual earnings that goes to all taxes nominally ends, and every now defunct penny earned stayed in one’s personal pockets), Clyde urged public health activists to promote government free day (when, on awakening, one could not use any service that was wholly or partly subsidized through taxation). No electricity, no running water, no use of sidewalks or roads, no public transportation, and on and on.

Brilliant!

He will be missed.

Ronald Labonté Canada Research Chair, Globalization/Health Equity Professor, Faculty of Medicine University of Ottawa

29 It was an amazing gift to listen to Dr. Hertzman present at the Kelowna conference two weeks ago. He was an inspiring and passionate presenter who cared so much for children of all ages.

Janine Roy District Principal of Learning Initiatives Greater Victoria School District

This is so very sad. It is the whole world’s loss. My heart goes out to his family and to everyone who knew and worked with him. Sadly, Nita Connolly

My thoughts go to you, and the rest of the team at HELP.... what a loss, what a shock.... i am so very sorry...... we will redouble our efforts in Revelstoke in support of young children, in Clyde’s memory.

Anne Cooper Associate Superintendent School District #19 (Revelstoke, BC)

30 Clyde was an inspiration to many of us. Will sadly be missed by those in our district.

Jim Insley, School District 53

Clyde touched so many lives and so many communities with his dynamic personality and professional integrity, it is so hard to accept that his energy is no longer with us. I know all of his work is not lost but it certainly feels like a huge void now.

Brenda Sissons Coordinator, Success By 6 Northwest

We have just received this very sad news. Please know our School District #63 sends our heartfelt condolences to his family and his wonderful colleagues.

Marlene Dergousoff School District 63

Our hearts are with you – what a loss to your department and to your lives. I am saddened, so I am sure that all of you are reeling. Take care,

Lorri Fehr School District 8

I am in shock... I am so, so sorry. What an incredible loss to our everyday, and for the community of children everywhere. Blessings, love and hugs...

Gretchen Tolfo North Vancouver School District 44

I just wanted to pass along my condolences to all of you at UBC regarding Clyde’s sudden passing. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but still feel much sadness in the world losing such an incredible man who has given so much to our society. My thoughts are with you.

Janice Paetz Executive Assistant School District 5 (Southeast Kootenay)

31 Words cannot express the devastation I feel at the news of Clyde’s death. My heart and thoughts are with you in this difficult time.

Gloria Cleve Early Learning Project Manager School District 59 (Peace River South)

I am so sorry to hear the sad news about Dr. Hertzman’s passing - it is a terrible loss. Our deepest condolences to his colleagues, friends and family.

Jill Roberts University College London - Institute of Health Equity

32

33 34 Weeping while Standing Tall. Paul Kershaw, February 15, 2013 Dear HELP Friends and Colleagues, Today marks a week since Clyde’s unexpected death, too sudden, too soon. I find myself on this afternoon searching for a reverent way to mark his passing. Some of you will know that I live on a little farm, where the Pitt and mighty Fraser rivers join forces. Today, I plant five trees on the farm. One to mark Clyde’s friendship. A second for his mentorship. The third to remember his ground-breaking intellectual leadership. The fourth, his advocacy. I planted the fifth… to honour is legacy. Three of the trees are Weeping Birch. They mourn, as do we. But amid the birch, I planted two Aspen. They stand tall already. Erect. Ready to grow to greater heights, as I know Clyde would want us all to do. I plant these trees today on the farm, where we are nestled between the Cypress, Grouse and Seymour mountains to the northwest. The sublime Golden Ears range reach taller to the northeast. South, in the distance, we are watched over by Mount Baker. On this bright blue afternoon of February 15th, 2013, they all remind me of the mountain peaks that inspired Clyde’s passion to hike toward the heavens with his partner Marcy, along with other friends and family. Four horses, my horses, stand guard as I shovel dirt over the roots of the first Weeping Birch. But by the time I begin planting the first Aspen, all four canter off, playfully bucking in celebration of the sunshine that a rare February day can bring to Metro Vancouver. I plant these trees at my home to remember Clyde. We never shared a drink or meal together at either of our homes – something that saddens me now. Ours was a relationship at work, intellectually sparring during retreats and research meetings, chatting casually in the hall outside our offices, planning ahead for HELP during many a strategic dinner in some restaurant – most often Enigma on 10th. That ours was not a ‘personal’ relationship does not lessen its meaning for me. Clyde has done more than almost any other to fulfill my nostalgic desire to find the Greek Agoras of days long past where open minds could learn from the wisdom of others in Socratic dialogue. What a gift that’s been. Thank you Clyde. The afternoon’s final shades of blue fade to black as I plant the fifth tree, marking his legacy. On this somber evening I would like to invite all of the HELP team to visit what I now call “Clyde’s trees,” here at the farm, my home – well beyond HELP’s hallways, beyond the Fishbowl and our other meeting rooms. I propose we gather on the solstice. On the brightest day of the year, Friday, June 21st, I propose we bask in all that Clyde has left us – his accomplishments, and the work still to be done. By the solstice, the leaves should begin to bloom on Clyde’s trees. By the solstice, we too may have become more practiced at remembering, and looking ahead. I hope his partner Marcy, his mother, brother, kids and grandchildren may join us. I waited too long to invite Clyde over for dinner. To have more intimate conversations about his loves and pursuits outside of work. This makes it harder now to know how best to support his family in the days ahead as they come to terms with his life and death. I would like to support them. I waited too long to invite a dear colleague home for a meal. Yet another lesson I learned from Clyde. Thank you my friend. So my fellow HELP-mates, please join my partner Andrea and me for a meal in memory of our friend, colleague, mentor and leader. To celebrate and reminisce on the solstice, at our Homecoming Farm. I invite you as the final shades of blue fade to black this evening, but the crescent moon already smiles brightly. Weeping while standing tall,

Paul Kershaw

35 Today I heard of Clyde’s passing. I’m so sorry for all his colleagues at HELP. We are all missing him so much and I can’t imagine what it is like for all of you. Take care,

Jessica Kamphorst Director, Advancement Canadian Institute for Advanced Research

We have lost an incredible champion of child rights, an internationally and nationally esteemed researcher, orator, and inspiration. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who knew him and loved him.

Andrea Lemire Executive Director Society for Children and Youth of BC

I first met Dr. Hertzman when I was a brand new public health nurse in Cranbrook BC. He came to give one of the very early HELP presentations and I was absolutely amazed that such a brilliant mind could be housed in such an unassuming person. He has been an inspiration to many for sure, but he ignited a passion and understating of the critical importance of the early years for me personally that has guided my professional life. I will always be grateful for that. As the early childhood and academic communities around the world mourn his loss, I hope that your family will find peace, comfort and meaning amid the sorrow of the irreplaceable loss of husband and father. Thank you for sharing him with the rest of us.

Claire Bouchard RN BScN Public Health Nurse, Creston BC

My thoughts and prayers are with you and Clyde¹s family and friends. I have been reflecting on Clyde and what a wonderful man and caring person I found him to be. He was always so welcoming, down to earth man who cared about families with a huge heart that was so committed to truly making it better for children. I am so glad that you are committed to carry on with what he so skilfully started. I believe that he knows that he has left his life work in the great hands of you all. Please share to everyone that I wish I had some profound words that could take some of the pain away but I don¹t just my heart felt thoughts and prayers for you all. Connie Deane Member of HELP’s Aboriginal Steering Committee

Interesting, how we all now are grabbing for the piece of Clyde that belonged to us, it’s not the UBC Professor, or HELP Director, but the “famed MD grad”. Every loss is seen through a personal lens, even at the level of a university. Thinking about you all, my friends. People come up to me with condolences and their own stories I accept all of them on your behalf as well as my own. Regardless, it is still impossible to believe. My love and warm hugs, Magdalena Janus Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University

36 It was with sadness that I heard about Clyde’s journey to the spirit world. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and colleagues. He was an intelligent man, who really cared about children as shown by the work that he did.

Heather Morin

To everyone at HELP, our sympathy with the loss of Clyde. He brought such clarity of thought to the ongoing challenges in the ECD field; let’s keep it going!

The staff at Powell River Family Place

37 Clyde was a professor and my faculty adviser in 1988/89 while I was a mid-career MHSc. student at UBC. He recruited me to participate as a master’s student and future Medical Health Officer in the child blood lead survey and exposure study the Ministry of Health commissioned for Trail. He helped formulate recommendations for community interventions that are still in effect today. This 1989 research began a career long professional relationship. Clyde returned to assist in Trail several times, the last time in 2011. He agreed to help the community to better collaborate and plan for an improved early child development experience for all children in Trail. He was brilliant, approachable and always supportive. He is not replaceable. Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss.

Nelson Ames MD retired MHO Kootenays

I was deeply saddened to read of Dr. Hertzman¹s sudden passing. I had the privilege of being present at a few events where he was speaking about early childhood development and poverty. One such talk mapped the city of Vancouver and where the libraries were located. Every time I attended these events and heard about the Human Early Learning research I was fascinated. So much so that I enrolled in university and earned my degree. Forever grateful for all the work he and The Human Early Learning Partnership have shared and grateful to his kind family for sharing him with all of us. He will be deeply missed. Kindest sympathies to you all ...

Suzanne Barton

I heard him speak first as a novice tutor in the DPAS program several years ago, and never forgot how he presented his insights. I brought him to as many organizations as I could (NCJWC, Richmond Jewish Day School). He was inspirational.

Debby Altow

Clyde Hertzman was my close friend growing up in Vancouver.

We first met in Grade 1 in Miss Goddard’s extracurricular ballet class. I was there because my Mom made me accompany my sister Niki although I have no idea why Clyde enrolled, but we were the only boys in the class hence we developed a kinship in our shared ignominy.

It is noteworthy we both attended Sir William Osler Elementary School, which according to the MacLeans Magazine survey, is the best primary school in Canada (100 percent of graduates attend university). I am sure this may have influenced his research on early childhood development.

We used to play Canadian Football after class (too dangerous to play in elementary school and Rugby was the game of choice on Vancouver’s West Side). We shared a tent for two summers at Camp Decca where we learned to ride and care for horses and to canoe.

Clyde and I were both the same size as kids and won the three-legged race every sports-day...for years!! But although we ran at the same speed, when it came to scholastics, nobody could keep up with Clyde.

Clyde was a genius, pure and simple. As a kid he used vocabulary nobody else would use until they were adults (if ever). His science projects were always scary. He used to correct teachers...and was always right. By the time we were

38 14 Clyde was taking University math and by 15 he was long gone...... high school was kids stuff for Clyde.

Clyde had a social conscience and a rebellious streak. He became a Yippie. . . got arrested with a “lid” of weed while liberating some groceries at a Safeway.

McMaster University accepted Clyde into Med school, and he just breezed through. As a UBC prof Clyde did not accept salary (so he didn’t have to teach and could devote his efforts to research...he paid himself from grant money).

When the Dalai Lama came to Vancouver in 2006 Clyde was chosen above everyone to engage His Holiness in a public dialogue at the Orpheum Opera House. While His Holiness has said he might not re-incarnate, let’s hope Clyde does...the world is a lot better with him than without him.

When I was a diplomatic scholar at UBC in 2OO6 Clyde and I reconnected after many years and he was still the same brilliant but unpretentious buddy, the same down to earth friend I had grown up with.

RIP Clyde Hertzman 1953-2013

Ted Lipman

I have taken some time to send this note to you and others at UBC. It is hard to believe that we have lost Clyde- a person who so kindly mentored me throughout my PhD (2001-2006). I was his RA for about 3 years. I was admitted to UBC without funding and I quickly realized that as a foreign student, I did not qualify for most of the graduate student funding mechanisms. Clyde- not being even my supervisor- quickly acted to hire me so that I did not have to quit the program. He was a wonderful person and has guided me throughout my PhD and my post-PhD career. He provided wonderful recommendation letters when I was interviewed for a faculty position by McGill, Johns Hopkins and UT. I am so indebted to him for the position I am now in.

Hasanat Alamgir, MPharm, MBA, PhD, Associate Professor School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center

Sometimes, there are no words. Sometimes, loss is so immediate and inexplicable that meaning eludes us. When Clyde passed suddenly, at the peak of his form, most of us were struck dumb. There will be time enough for words, for eulogies and for shaping our remembrance. Right now, it’s fine to just feel. I’m instantly missing that wiser voice from across the table, that clear vision of how things can be for our children if we only apply what we know. I sense the loss of what was still in him. And I’m inspired by it, challenged by it and know that we need to rise to it. Yours in grief

David Patrick

I don¹t really know what to say I have been very sad after hearing the news of Clyde¹s passing. It feels the same to me as when we lose a respected Elder from our communities as leaders, mentors, knowledge keepers and each time we lose an Elder, it makes me reflect what do we do? And what it means for me is that we step into the work that we do and take the work that they did and do our best

39 to carry on the work and legacy of that person. We take the teachings and work, we sing our songs and we wear our regalia proudly even if we are not ready, or know it will be hard. An opening has come that we must step into for our work to continue and Clyde¹s work to continue through all of us. My prayers and thoughts are with you all and Clyde¹s family, friends and family of colleagues.

Diana Elliott ~ Provincial Advisor Aboriginal Infant Development Programs of B.C.

Clyde had been in Saskatchewan a few times in the last few years, and we were lucky enough to be able to make some short videos with him discussing ECD issues; there’s a link to them in our website post if you would like to see and share them, or go directly to them at http://www.kidskan.ca/node/413. I remember well how responsive he was to Brinna, our interviewer (also my oldest daughter), who formulated her questions after hearing his Governor General’s Lecture. It stayed with me as I thought at the time he must have answered these kinds of questions hundreds of times but he seemed so lively and passionate about the discussion.

Fleur Macqueen Smith, MA Knowledge Transfer Manager, Healthy Children research team Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit

To the Family, Friends and Colleagues of Dr. Clyde Hertzman, The Board of Education of School District No. 40 (New Westminster) shares in your grief at the loss of Dr. Hertzman, who was an inspiration to all of us. Dr. Hertzman, in his research and in influencing the research of others, sought to find the principles that explain and illuminate the pathways for action. His work has made a difference in the lives of children in New Westminster, and the Board and staff of this district would like to acknowledge that achievement. He is truly an individual who deserved the award of the Order of Canada. Dr. Hertzman’s work on the EDI has allowed our District to place its resources where the need is greatest. The training for teachers in doing the EDIs is a wonderful professional development experience for them, and every time it is done, it creates meaningful discussion about all our children. Because of the work on the EDI, the vulnerability of children in New Westminster has decreased, and we will continue to work in his spirit to always improve the lives of children in this city. The body of work Dr. Hertzman initiated will be carried forward by his many colleagues. The force of his intellect, creative energy, and ability to inspire ensures that this will be so. His legacy will be written in the improved lives of children. We could never thank him enough. Our thoughts are with those who knew him best, and who therefore will miss him the most. Sincerely,

Michael Ewen, Chair The Board of Education of School District No. 40 (New Westminster)

40 I first met Dr. Clyde Hertzman as a graduate student in Special Education at UBC. He was a member of an interdisciplinary Infant Hearing Loss group, which had a primary goal to bring universal newborn hearing screening to British Columbia. I didn’t know at that time how influential these early interactions would be in my own career and life trajectory. During these meetings, I was immediately struck by Clyde’s positive energy, passion, innovative ideas, and drive to create and motivate change. In these early days, I learned from him the value of population-level health databases to monitor the developmental trajectories of children with special needs. We collectively discussed a strategy to develop a hearing loss registry; a prospective database that could be used when a universal newborn hearing screening program was in place, and a historical one for collection of baseline data. Within two years, thanks to the commitment of this group and many others, the government announced support for a universal newborn hearing screening program, which is now widely known as the BC Early Hearing Program. During this time, I completed my doctorate and applied for a postdoctoral award, which enabled me to work under the co-supervision of both Clyde and my former doctoral supervisor, Dr. Janet Jamieson. This was pivotal because it supported my postdoctoral fellowship with the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) and provided me with the opportunity to work at HELP with Clyde on the creation of a population-level database that could be used to better understand and promote the healthy development of deaf and hard of hearing children in BC. At the time, I knew very little about population-based health registries or integrated child health information systems, which was a bit unsettling given that this was the focus of my post-doc! Clyde certainly, as always, provided me with his sage advice, but I really appreciated that he mentored by encouraging me to go out on my own and to put my own stamp on things; find my own way, experience accomplishments, make mistakes, and learn from it all along the way. He showed so much trust in me when I didn’t yet fully trust myself, which was really empowering and a tremendous confidence boost especially for a new scholar fresh out of grad school. I really admired Clyde’s honest, yet encouraging mentorship style, and always appreciated the way Clyde listened. His feedback was always constructive and definitely inspired me to want to do things better, expand my thinking, and take an idea to the next level. Although he had an incredibly busy schedule, I always knew that he would make time for me and support me if I needed it, without hesitation. There was an occasion recently when Clyde needed to write a reference letter for me – and he mentioned to me that it was much more detailed and extensive than he thought – perhaps a bit onerous… When I spoke to him a few weeks later about it, he mentioned that he had worked on it over his winter holiday and said that he had actually had ‘fun’ working on it and putting it together… And I thought, again, as I often did, about how very grateful I was for his support and for the many opportunities he has provided me. He encouraged me not to feel limited by disciplinary boundaries. Even if I had limited or developing knowledge in an area, he instilled in me a feeling of confidence that I could and should explore new areas of study and novel perspectives for thinking of current or prevailing problems and issues. It’s these times of mentorship that I’ll always remember with great fondness and gratitude, but it’s also those fleeting moments or quirky bits that stick in my mind; such as those moments when I learned about Clyde’s love of music; times when he would enthusiastically say something and raise the energy level of the entire room during a meeting because he had an idea that he wanted to share or discuss; times when he would twirl a paper clip or a rubber band in his hands when he seemed to be thinking about something important (I always meant to ask him about this); the smile on his face when he spoke about his children and grandchildren; those occasions when he described his childhood memories in his neighborhood and of his regular trips to the bookstore…. All of these little disconnected memories that stand out, perhaps because I wish there were still chances to learn more… Thank you so very much, Clyde. I have always felt so inspired by you, not only by what you did with all of your remarkable accomplishments and contributions, but also how you did it, with your approachable, caring, and down-to-earth nature; sense of humor, exuberance for new ideas that was infectious, and integrity. You’ve left such an imprint on me and so many others and are thought of often with tremendous admiration, appreciation, and gratitude. Yours, respectfully,

Brenda Poon, HELP

41 It is impossible to believe that this vibrant, energetic, enthusiastic, brilliant man is really gone. I remember sitting around the conference table in Graduate Studies with Frieda Granot, Clyde, and several colleagues, talking about a vision for the founding of HELP. HELP was a unique entity because of Clyde. Clyde’s incredible talents and vision brought HELP from a small local entity to a world-wide force, which has truly changed the landscape around issues of healthy child development. I send my deepest condolences to Clyde’s family. His love for his family shone through everything he did. While Clyde’s passing is a loss to everyone, it is a very special loss to his family, and my love and thoughts are with you.

Joanne Weinberg Professor, Dept of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, UBC

When Clyde Hertzman (with Hillel Goelman) created HELP, it was a dream-come-true for me. My pre-HELP career was as a self-employed statistical consultant in Early Childhood Development (including some EDI pilot analyses for Clyde in 2000). The start of my doctoral studies in 2002 coincided nicely with HELP’s birth, and I’ve been fortunate to be a part of HELP from its infancy until today. Not only was there now a place where I could continue my career embedded with like-minded colleagues, it was headed up by Clyde – a visionary and upcoming leader in ECD worldwide, and a distant relative of mine. (His late father’s cousin Alex married my father’s sister. Indeed, two generations back, our two families worked out of adjacent buildings in Toronto’s garment district.) In addition to our kinship and professional interest in children’s development, we were of the same generation - Clyde just two years my senior. To me, he embodied the “agent of change” that I aspired to as a young person in the early 1970’s, but lacked the confidence to be. From my perch at HELP, marveling at Clyde in his methodical, relentless, and inclusive pursuit of a more just world, I’ve been re-inspired and literally encouraged (as we all have been) to speak up, act up, and try to make a difference. Our patriarch is gone, but as members of the HELP family that Clyde made possible, we will keep on keeping on in our holistic efforts to make his (now our) dream come true.

Barry Forer, HELP

I met Clyde for the first time at McMaster in 1978. There are not many people who you can remember when and where you met them for the first time. Even then, Clyde left a deep impression, someone you wanted to get to know better. From that first meeting, I did indeed have the opportunity-first by simply working alongside him in the computer lab at McMaster Medical Centre where Clyde was doing research for his Master’s degree and then, when we both moved from Hamilton to Vancouver in 1985-86, and were both working in the Department of Health Care and Epi at UBC. We also shared the experience of our children growing up and, in particular the joy in their participation in the Jewish Young People’s Theatre at the Peretz Shul. There are billions of people in the world, but very few intersect with each of us and even fewer share parts of one another’s life’s journey.I feel so rich for having had this privilege with Clyde-from McMaster to Health Care and Epi at UBC and then on to HELP. A friend, a leader, a colleague, an inspiration who embraced life with fervor and who left me with greater sense of personal value.

Ruth Hershler, HELP

42 I have tried seating down a few times this weekend to write this email but I find myself incapable to find the right words. Please know that I am thinking of all of you during this difficult time. I share your grief in this time of sadness with deepest sympathy and condolence.

Suhail Marino, Popdata BC

Dear Clyde, On February 9, 2013, the morning after you died, the skies were grey and gloomy in Vancouver, but the light had a silvery quality to it. The one picture was taken that day, looking from UBC campus towards the trees of the UBC botanical garden. The picture of the sun-lit trees of the Pacific Spirit Park was taken on January 10, 2013, days after our Lukas was born. The cycle of life – the most sad and most wondrous side by side …. You saw the light and the forest among the trees, and dedicated your activism, advocacy, and research to ‘creating knowledge to help children thrive’, and I am carrying your energy and generosity in my heart and mind. Thank you for everything

Martin Guhn, HELP

43 44 To many, he was known simply as Clyde. But while he may have been unpretentious and approachable in his casual plaid shirts and khakis – few ever saw him in a suit and tie – Clyde Hertzman had a rare combination of blazing intellect, charismatic personality and fierce commitment to improving lifelong health for children and families around the world. The CIFAR Senior Fellow died in February from a sudden heart attack while visiting friends in London, England, six weeks before his 60th birthday and six weeks after learning he would be made an officer of the Order of Canada for his work in population health. Originally recruited to the Human Development program by CIFAR founder Fraser Mustard 25 years ago, Clyde went on to direct another CIFAR program in Population Health. That spawned two new programs: Successful Societies and Experience-based Brain & Biological Development, now called Child & Brain Development. He was a Senior Fellow in both. Clyde gained worldwide distinction from his life’s work in highlighting what are now called the social determinants of health: the links between the earliest years of childhood and later health, wellbeing and life chances. Early adversity, the physician-epidemiologist found, can raise the later risk of school failure, teen pregnancy, criminality, obesity, depression and a host of other health problems that cost societies in many ways. “Information like this can be threatening, so initially it was ignored,” Clyde said in an interview for CIFAR last summer. “But this is now becoming official health policy and a global priority.” Indeed, his work has contributed to important policy changes in Canada and elsewhere, including full-day kindergarten, longer parental leaves and a stronger focus worldwide on righting social inequities. Successful Societies co-director Peter A. Hall (Harvard) still recalls an early presentation Clyde made on population health more than 10 years ago. “I was immensely impressed by the depths of his thinking about the problem and his capacity to convey complex issues clearly. He was brilliant – and that’s not a term I use lightly – as well as just a charming and engaging person.” Clyde had recently written or contributed to several research studies, analyses and reports in academic journals, including 10 published in 2012 and five in 2013. The topics range from the connection between unemployment and mortality to the amounts of stress hormones found in preschoolers’ hair. He co-chaired an expert panel that published a landmark report in November on early child development for the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. A professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, Clyde founded the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), an interdisciplinary research network based at UBC, 12 years ago. In 2005, when the World Health Organization established an international commission on the social determinants of health, it appointed HELP to head the section on early childhood development. In 2010 the Canadian Institutes of Health Research named Clyde the health researcher of the year. One of Clyde’s legacies is HELP’s Early Development Instrument, a 104-question checklist to assess kindergarten children’s vulnerabilities and identify needed supports. It’s now used throughout most of Canada, as well as 14 other countries. HELP’s deputy director, Joanne Schroeder, says, “Clyde was passionate but very non-egotistical. He was brilliant at getting other people to take leadership, so he has put us on a very strong footing in terms of our intellectual framework and multidisciplinary approach.” She adds that she’s hugely sad at the loss of her fun-loving colleague. “Clyde loved music, and one time when he and I were travelling from one presentation to another, he suddenly decided to stop and buy a CD for the long drive. So we spent the next two hours singing along to Tony Bennett.” Clyde leaves both scientific and interpersonal legacies, says Child & Brain Development co-director Tom Boyce (UBC). Clyde coined the now-popular term “biological embedding” to explain how early childhood experiences get under the skin and interact with genes to affect future health and longevity. Boyce adds that Clyde’s ideas and approach transcended disciplines and generations. “Clyde influenced an entire generation of young scientists, from undergrads to post-doctoral fellows.” Arjumand Siddiqi, a former CIFAR Global Scholar, first approached Clyde when she was a masters’ student in Boston 15 years ago. “I was nobody, just a random student, but he made me feel as though I mattered,” she says, “and he did that with everyone.” He became her mentor and friend, and the two recently collaborated to write a chapter of the forthcoming CIFAR book, Social Resilience in the Neo-Liberal Era. When Siddiqi, now an assistant professor at

45 the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, last saw Clyde in January, she told him she had begun to mentor an economics student in the nurturing, cross-disciplinary style in which Clyde had mentored her. He was delighted. “We’ll all miss Clyde’s contributions deeply, but in large measure we’ll draw on his inspiration,” says Hall. “He laid the foundations for our continuing interest in social and health inequities, and we fully expect to be able to continue in the spirit of his work.” To share the profoundly important insights that have emerged from Clyde’s work and that of his CIFAR colleagues, CIFAR is planning to hold an international symposium in Clyde’s honour on February 6, 2014 in Toronto, Canada. “We all agree that Clyde would want us to work hard to ensure that the important societal messages of his research reached a broader community,” says CIFAR President Alan Bernstein. “We look forward to working with all of our B.C., Canadian and international partners to celebrate his leadership and vision.” More details to come.

By Marcia Kaye

“It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way”: A Tribute to Clyde Hertzman

“It doesn’t have to be this way.” These words were widely attributed to Clyde Hertzman at the recent celebration of his life, and they capture the essence of someone I had the privilege of working with and for at UBC’s Human Early Learning Partnership. The passionate scientist in Clyde knew that “it doesn’t have to be this way” because he studied the effects of early experiences on children’s development. His research results were clear and compelling: by surrounding young children with nurturing, sensitive environments – at home, and in the community – Clyde showed that we could measurably improve children’s lives today, and over the long term. The passionate, equality-seeking humanitarian in Clyde explained that “it doesn’t have to be this way” because his research also showed that most inequalities in children’s development could be avoided - if only we worked collaboratively to prioritize policies and programs for families with young children locally, provincially, nationally and globally. These two passions came together holistically. Clyde could, for example, discuss both the evidence showing that well-trained Early Childhood Educators help children and families thrive, while simultaneously recognizing that providing ECE’s with appropriate compensation and public respect was essential if we actually hoped to recruit and retain well-trained professionals. Moreover, by combining these two passions Clyde pushed the envelope of our understanding of human development. As parents and Early Childhood Educators know, healthy social and emotional development is key to building both confidence and competence in young children. Yet, Clyde took this concept even further, showing that no other aspect of children’s development impacts so deeply on their life course. Clyde was obviously frustrated at society’s inability to move from words to action when it came to making young children and families a public policy priority – especially in a wealthy country like Canada. And yet, he never gave up. His love for science was contagious, and his eternal belief that what we know should shape what we do inspired countless supporters of his work. Clyde Hertzman the passionate scientist and humanitarian seemed unstoppable as he travelled continuously from small communities in northern BC to Geneva and Chile and beyond, sharing the latest research findings with gusto and an ever-present bounce in his step. And yet, Clyde’s remarkable life and career did come to a sudden stop on February 8, 2013. He leaves us with an enormous legacy - rich with research and evidence - and a big challenge. Now that we all know “it doesn’t have to be this way,” our challenge is to change it.

Lynell Anderson

46 the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, last saw Clyde in January, she told him she had begun to mentor an economics student in the nurturing, cross-disciplinary style in which Clyde had mentored her. He was delighted. “We’ll all miss Clyde’s contributions deeply, but in large measure we’ll draw on his inspiration,” says Hall. “He laid the foundations for our continuing interest in social and health inequities, and we fully expect to be able to continue in the spirit of his work.” To share the profoundly important insights that have emerged from Clyde’s work and that of his CIFAR colleagues, CIFAR is planning to hold an international symposium in Clyde’s honour on February 6, 2014 in Toronto, Canada. “We all agree that Clyde would want us to work hard to ensure that the important societal messages of his research reached a broader community,” says CIFAR President Alan Bernstein. “We look forward to working with all of our B.C., Canadian and international partners to celebrate his leadership and vision.” More details to come.

By Marcia Kaye

“It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way”: A Tribute to Clyde Hertzman

“It doesn’t have to be this way.” These words were widely attributed to Clyde Hertzman at the recent celebration of his life, and they capture the essence of someone I had the privilege of working with and for at UBC’s Human Early Learning Partnership. The passionate scientist in Clyde knew that “it doesn’t have to be this way” because he studied the effects of early experiences on children’s development. His research results were clear and compelling: by surrounding young children with nurturing, sensitive environments – at home, and in the community – Clyde showed that we could measurably improve children’s lives today, and over the long term. The passionate, equality-seeking humanitarian in Clyde explained that “it doesn’t have to be this way” because his research also showed that most inequalities in children’s development could be avoided - if only we worked collaboratively to prioritize policies and programs for families with young children locally, provincially, nationally and globally. These two passions came together holistically. Clyde could, for example, discuss both the evidence showing that well-trained Early Childhood Educators help children and families thrive, while simultaneously recognizing that providing ECE’s with appropriate compensation and public respect was essential if we actually hoped to recruit and retain well-trained professionals. Moreover, by combining these two passions Clyde pushed the envelope of our understanding of human development. As parents and Early Childhood Educators know, healthy social and emotional development is key to building both confidence and competence in young children. Yet, Clyde took this concept even further, showing that no other aspect of children’s development impacts so deeply on their life course. Clyde was obviously frustrated at society’s inability to move from words to action when it came to making young children and families a public policy priority – especially in a wealthy country like Canada. And yet, he never gave up. His love for science was contagious, and his eternal belief that what we know should shape what we do inspired countless supporters of his work. Clyde Hertzman the passionate scientist and humanitarian seemed unstoppable as he travelled continuously from small communities in northern BC to Geneva and Chile and beyond, sharing the latest research findings with gusto and an ever-present bounce in his step. And yet, Clyde’s remarkable life and career did come to a sudden stop on February 8, 2013. He leaves us with an enormous legacy - rich with research and evidence - and a big challenge. Now that we all know “it doesn’t have to be this way,” our challenge is to change it.

Lynell Anderson

47 The sudden and untimely passing of Clyde Hertzman comes as a terrible shock. Clyde was the life partner of our former Chair and prolific research associate Marcy Cohen, and was himself a long-time research associate with the CCPA-BC (you can find a wonderful CCPA paper he wrote here: http://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/ reports/making-early-childhood-development-priority). Only a few weeks ago, Clyde was named an officer of the Order of Canada. This was in recognition of a lifetime of work. But in truth, Clyde was still at the height of his career, with much more to contribute. Clyde was one of the greatest living champions of early childhood development and population health in Canada, and widely considered a “guru” in the field internationally. As the founding director of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at UBC, Clyde oversaw the production of an extraordinary body of research spanning and linking the health and social sciences. Combined, this work hugely deepened our understanding of childhood development, and equipped us with compelling evidence-based arguments for progressive policies. Whether struggling for publicly-funded universal child care or the elimination of child poverty, Clyde’s work showed why we all have a stake in their realization. As any who had the pleasure of seeing Clyde present can attest, he was a thoroughly compelling speaker. Clyde completely captivated his audiences. His persona was so dynamic and friendly, and he exuded such tremendous enthusiasm for his work and its implications. In short, Clyde was compassionate, lovely and warm, and also so fabulously intelligent, and all this was obvious to those who encountered him, whether in private settings or an auditorium of hundreds. The few truly brilliant people we have the good fortune to meet in our lives are those rare people who connect the dots in deeply original ways - who see patterns across disparate fields. It is unusual when such individuals are also possessed with a unique ability to communicate their insights, and to inspire and motivate others. Rarer still is when that brilliance comes wrapped in humility and good humour. Clyde was such a person. We extend our deepest sympathies to our dear friend Marcy, to Clyde’s children Eric, Emily, and Amos and his mother Eileen, and to our friends at HELP. And we mourn the passing of a great fighter in the struggle for social justice,

Seth Klein Director, BC Office Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Just to say how very sorry everyone at the PHRN Program Office is to hear about Clyde Hertzman¹s sad passing. Our sincere condolences. He was an amazing man whose boundless energy and enthusiasm for child health/ education research and advocacy reverberated around the globe. He didn¹t waste a minute!

Merran Smith Chief Executive, Population Health Research Network Perth, Australia

Please pass on our sincere condolences to the many of you there that I’m sure were connected to and inspired by Dr.Hertzman, Thinking of you, Sincerely,

Lisa Corscadden, Program Consultant Canadian Population Health Initiative (CPHI) Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)

48 I have tried seating down a few times this weekend to write this email but I find myself incapable to find the right words. Please know that I am thinking of all of you during this difficult time. I share your grief in this time of sadness with deepest sympathy and condolence.

Suhail Marino

Unfortunately, I´ve heard of the sad news this weekend and I would like to express my sincere condolences. I can only imagine what a difficult loss this will be. You must be proud of having the opportunity to work that close to such a great personality. Sincere condolence,

Natalia Quiñones Andrade Contratista Alta Consejería de Programas Especiales Bogotá D.C., Colombia

I don¹t think there are words that I can offer to comfort you or myself right now. Losing Clyde is beyond devastating. But wanted you all to know that I¹m thinking of you, grieving with you, and sending you much, much love and many, many hugs. Clyde loved you all so much individually and as a team - and was so very proud of you. With love and sorrow,

Arjumand Siddiqi, Sc.D., MPH Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto

When I wake up in the morning, I am quietly confident because: Of my understanding of the world after seeing it through Clyde’s eyes. A secret only fully viewable after pause and reflection, I know most people haven’t had the opportunity to see the world this way. To understand this and to be able to protect myself now and my family in the future I am eternally grateful. I know that I live in a community where we have someone like Clyde looking after the social well-being of our children. When I heard of Clyde’s passing I was shocked, and thought “who will look after his vision?” Clyde is simply irreplaceable. To compare others to Clyde wouldn’t do him justice. However, I know that the team at HELP, enriched and motivated through Clyde’s careful mentorship, is the perfect organization to keep Clyde’s dreams and ideas alive and growing. I’d like to express my condolences to Clyde’s family. Please know as his current student that I appreciate the time and sacrifices he made for me and his work, which inspires so many of us.

Cory McPhail

49 Sherry and I have just heard about Clyde’s passing and would like to send our deepest and most sincere thoughts to all of you at HELP. It is a tremendous loss for research and especially for the children of the province (and country and world). He was a wonderful, warm, energetic man who will be missed terribly by so many. With our thoughts,

Shannon Wagner and Sherry Beaumont

I am so shocked by Clyde’s passing. Such a loss to all of us. He was an incredible man who I admired greatly for a number of reasons – his research talent, his energy, his humility. I am sure his passing must be a huge shock and such a loss for all of you who worked so closely with him. Clyde and his work have had such a significant impact on how we view--and act on--issues relating to early child development and social determinants of health in BC, in Canada and around the world. His work has shaped our thinking, our programs and our policies. The impact of this loss is hard to fathom. In addition to his forward- thinking, high impact research, his energy and enthusiasm will be greatly missed as well. He was a wonderful colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Our thoughts and prayers are also with his family at HELP for whom this must be very difficult. Thinking of you,

Maureen O’Donnell Executive Director, Child Health BC Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UBC

We are all in shock and mourning regarding the loss of Clyde. Please accept my deepest sympathy and pass on condolences to all the staff and family. Clyde epitomized the highest levels of excellence and empathy. His work is a symbol of all we can be and expect our children to become. The loss of his leadership in the province, country and world will be felt for many years to come. Take very best care.

Elizabeth Pennell School District 68 Nanaimo -Ladysmith

My deepest sympathy for the sudden death of Clyde Hertzman: a friend, supporter, teacher, mentor, and I could go on and on. This is a terrible shock that sets us back on our heels, realigning ourselves for a different future - one without Clyde. Please know that I have received many emails from East Kootenay educators expressing their sorrow over Clyde’s death. He is already missed by us. I always appreciated Clyde for the ways he challenged us to think and change our perspectives and alter our ways of being. And he has done it again! We must carry on. Thinking of you during this time of grief.

Gail Brown

50 I won’t be able to be at the celebration for Clyde but want you all to know how much we in our district valued him and will miss him. Many good things are happening here because of his passion and eloquence in championing the early years cause.

James Insley School District 53

The world of early childhood advocacy lost a great champion with the unexpected death of Dr. Clyde Hertzman this past week. As we mourn, we remember and celebrate a warm and supportive friend and an intellectual leader whose research and advocacy work have been foundational to First Call’s work to support the rights and well-being of young children.

Clyde taught us so much about the importance of the early years for children’s optimal development. He brought his passion, commitment and generosity to making the research knowledge available and understandable to communities – locally, provincially, nationally and globally. He helped us to draw the line from research to public policy that better supports young children’s healthy development. Never shy, he spoke powerfully and clearly about the policy improvements that would help and the policy failures that harm children’s development.

Our hearts go out to Clyde’s family who lost a partner, a father, and a son too soon. Clyde still had so much to offer the world and his loss is felt profoundly by many of us. It was our privilege to have worked with him and it is our challenge to take what he taught us and make the world a better place for young children in BC, in Canada and everywhere.

Adrienne Montani, Provincial Coordinator First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition

Clyde was a mentor to many of us and his amazing essence infected us all in so many great ways. I feel his spirit lives within us and our memories. I will remember him often and honour his commitment to improving life for all by remembering his guiding principles of enriching humanity through raising a healthy and happy society. My personal and professional life has been and will continue to be transformed in so many ways by Clyde’s work and vision. I feel very honoured and fortunate to have worked with him and spent time with him discussing life. I will truly miss him. “ Tony Herdman School of Audiology & Speech Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, UBC

51 52 53 I had known Clyde since 1994 when I was invited to join the Population Health Programme of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), as a postdoc. Clyde was the deputy program lead then and though I didn’t work with him directly, he made sure that I was welcomed into the fold and made comfortable. Throughout the two- and-half years that I was with the CIFAR my admiration for Clyde grew steadily. I came to know him as a clear and insightful thinker, a powerful communicator and a synthesizer of ideas, and a passionate researcher. As a young postdoc I wanted to be like him! Over the years, I had kept in touch with Clyde and had followed his work, as many of us working in the early childhood development area undoubtedly have, and had appreciated his enormous contributions to his field and his rising prominence not only in Canada but worldwide. At the time of his untimely death he was one of few pre- eminent early childhood health scientist in the world. Clyde was not an unfamiliar figure to us in Saskatchewan. He has been to the University of Saskatchewan as a visiting scholar, given talks in conferences and conventions mutiple times. The two recent occasions when we were fortunate to have Clyde with us were in March 2011 when the U of Saskatchewan hosted him as part of the Governor General’s Speaking Tour, sponsored by the Royal Society of Canada. Agian, In March 2012, we had Clyde speaking at the conference in Moose Jaw, Canada. Wherever he spoke, Clyde drew an appreciative crowd. He was a speaker who spoke to your intellect, your heart and exhorted the use of your hands to make a difference for children. Clyde’s untimely death is made even more shocking because at the time of his passing he was on the top of his game, and as has been said, he felt that the life was good. A mere month back he had been installed to an Order of Canada, he had received national accolades for his work, and he had many projects on the go or were just about to begin. One such project involved a group of early childhood development researchers, who were funded to carry out critical Pan-Canadian early childhood development work using the EDI, a Canadian instrument used to measure healthy transition from home to kindergarten, throughout Canada, in Australia and worldwide. On Feb 8, 2013, we lost a Canadian giant in early childhood development, population health and policy. Clyde was an excellent researcher, and an exceptional communicator, but for me, he will be remembered as a colleague and friend who wore his prominence lightly. He had the rarest of touch, particularly for someone who was an elite scientist, of being a down-to-earth, authentic man. You knew he understood the plight of the common man, the underdog, and you knew he was always on their side. It is clear that Clyde Hertzman was not only appreciated and admired but was loved for his humanity by all who knew him.

Nazeem Muhajarine

I am the American half of the School Readiness Initiative Grant proposal that Dr Hertzman helped us so much with. My contact with him was also recent and by phone but his brilliance, his humility and his vision came through loud and clear. My nephew, Dr Howard Feldman introduced us and I was so looking forward to meeting Clyde and his colleagues on a future trip to Vancouver. That was just not to be. My deepest condolences to all of his colleagues at UBC and to Dr. Marcy Cohen and his children. He will be sorely missed. We can keep his legacy alive by working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children all over the world. Sad. Very sad.

Irving Fish

Despite our very pleasant day yesterday, my thoughts often flashed back to Clyde. I am acutely aware, too, that Nice seems very familiar because we were here around an Xmas period for 4-5 days after a CSDH meeting in London. And then I calculated back, and our previous (and feeling like yesterday) time was 5 years ago. And then projected the years forward. And realized how fragile life is now becoming. A reinforcement for trying to live each day in a full way – not meaning full of stuff we don’t want, but stuff that is important and gives us meaning and love. I first met him in the mid-1970s in Vancouver when he started in Epi at UBC, focusing primarily on occupational health. (We were both members of an advocacy group called VanCOSH – Vancouver Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, back in my own OHS days.) He, Trevor and I later managed a rather large project in Ontario funded through the provincial environmental impact assessment intervener program in 1989-1991, undertaking

54 what I think was probably the first HIA in Canada, if not globally, on a major Ontario Hydro demand/supply plan. Then, of course, there were the overlapping meetings and work around the CSDH; and several other encounters over the years. And Clyde was always pleasant, cheerful, respectful. I don’t think there was any meanness in him at all.

Ron Labonte

The world has prematurely lost one of its greatest researchers and advocates for children. When someone so young dies suddenly we are robbed of the opportunity to say thank you and acknowledge what they have done. Clyde Hertzman brought rigorous science to child development in the most caring and passionate way. He and his team have influenced the world of early childhood and in Australia we are where we are (with the Australian Early Development Index now rolled out nationally every 3 years) because of his work and his advocacy. Our children and future children will be grateful to Clyde. We are thinking of ways to honour his name and work permanently and we will let you know of our suggestions. We offer our deepest sympathy to all of you – family, colleagues and friends – collectively we grieve one of our best. We just would have liked Clyde to know how much he was loved and appreciated internationally.” With the warmest of wishes to you all

Professor Fiona Stanley Patron Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, University of Melbourne

Dear all It was a blow to me to hear the sudden passing away of Dr Hertzman. From my brief correspondence with him, it was very clear that he was not only brilliant but very humble and very willing to help. His death is a tremendous loss to the world. I met him only few months ago briefly through my mentor and boss Prof Irving Fish when we were looking for a partner to help us promote early child care and education in Ethiopia, one of the least developed country where children make 50% of the population and where early child care and education is extremely scarce. The few months’ acquaintance appeared like years of familiarity because of Clyde’s willingness to help. He delved into our project proposal immediately when I asked him and made a lot of valuable input. The proposal that he put a lot of brilliant ideas is now submitted to Grand Challenges Canada for possible funding. Clyde had said he could do what he can to help us secure a funding. Clyde was much interested in further collaboration with us in the education of Ethiopian children. He had a plan to come to Ethiopia someday with Dr Vaghri, whom he admired as a top international researcher. It makes me feel quite miserable to now realize that I am not going to see in person the man with whom I thought I would be working a lot to improve the abject poverty in my country by improving the quality of child education. I wish his wife and children strength. I wish all of his colleagues strength Sincerely

Menelik Desta Executive Director, School Readiness Initiative (SRI) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

55 There are no words to express the tragedy of his sudden death. Clyde was a mensch - a beloved son, brother, partner, father, grandfather, friend and colleague. He was a brilliant scientist who could connect with anyone. He had the gift of being able to explain complex concepts in beautifully simple language. He was so generous with his time and his friendship. Clyde cared about social justice and used his abundant talents and energy to make a tremendous difference in the world. He had the best laugh too.

He was a dear and cherished friend. When we reconnected 25 or so years ago, it was just like picking up where we left off in 1965, which was the last time I saw him. His friendship was a joy to me, and I am so grateful we had a chance to have brunch two weeks ago. We spoke about the years that had brought us to 60 and the choices we made to get here. We reminisced about growing up in the old neighbourhood and how much it had changed. We wondered how so much time could go by with such speed.

He was so looking forward to the birth of Emily’s baby and of course thrilled with being nominated to the Order of Canada. Talk about kvelling and nachos! I was grinning from ear to ear for days and so deserved too.

Whether Clyde was writing grant applications, talking about books or hanging out with family, he always threw himself into everything. Marcy, I know I don’t know you very well, but I know how much Clyde adored you. He loved to tell me about your fabulous hiking holidays and so enjoyed the time you spent together. When you came back into his life he was the happiest I have ever seen him. Finally he was with his soul mate and the love of his life. I know he was more content or felt more blessed. You were a special couple of united hearts and minds - a rare and beautiful match for each other.

I know it will take me a long time to accept he is actually gone. It is unbelievable and shocking to imagine him not here. My heart goes out to you and his family. As is our custom, I wish you all long life and may you be comforted amongst the mourners of Israel.

Marla Goldstone

56 57 58 Pioneering UBC professor Clyde Hertzman dies

59 He was willing to fight for our kids. Why aren’t we?

The phrase “I would die for my children” is something all parents have said. We love our children with such unconditional dedication that we know without question that we would sacrifice our own lives to save theirs. While this choice seems obvious when faced with an unthinkable tragic event it seems less so when we’re talking about vulnerability. No less threatening to our children’s future we seem to allow the growing threat to loom in the corner without much concern and without any action.

Last month the families of Canada suffered a loss that many don’t yet understand. Dr. Clyde Hertzman dedicated most of his professional life to fighting for our children. Through his remarkable work with the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) and the Early Development Instrument (EDI) he provided our country with an unprecedented level of insight into the fate of our children. He was recognised by the international community for this incredible work, participated in the children’s rights work at the United Nations and will soon receive the Order of Canada in recognition of his exceptional contributions to early childhood development. Those who knew him and his level of dedication to our children understand all too deeply what the passing of this great man means.

As I contemplate his life, reflect on his work and look at my own children I am filled with a sense of profound appreciation for what he accomplished. He fought tirelessly to change the story for millions of children in British Columbia, Canada and the world. Right up until his death in January of 2013 he relentlessly brought to light the political and social conditions which allow childhood vulnerability to grow. I had the immense pleasure of hearing him speak at the University of British Columbia back in the fall of 2012 and was moved by his unflappable call to action. He spoke up for the voiceless young children and said “The level of developmental inequality in children is astounding. This, in a rich country like Canada, is inexcusable!”. To his family and the many colleagues he inspired around the world I say ‘I heard him and I will honour his fight with my own’.

60

B.C.’s top early learning expert Dr. Clyde Hertzman dies UBC researcher’s influence ‘significant within B.C., nationally and internationally’ By Tiffany Crawford, Vancouver Sun February 13, 2013

Canada’s top expert in early learning Dr. Clyde Hertzman, whose research showed how childhood disadvantage can have a profound effect on lifelong health, has died while working abroad in the United Kingdom. He was 59.

“British Columbia has lost one of its brightest lights in Dr. Clyde Hertzman. His trailblazing work on early childhood and human development attracted global attention. The research he led will continue to change lives for the better,” Premier Christy Clark said in a statement. “Recognized not only as a world leader, but an inspiration to those who followed and supported his work, I can think of few people who better represented B.C. and Canada at our finest,” she said.

Just last month Hertzman had won the Order of Canada and was looking forward to celebrating his 60th birthday in March.

Described by a close friend as a guru in his field, Hertzman was the director of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at the University of B.C. and a professor at the School of Population and Public Health. Late Friday night, university staff posted a message with news of his sudden death.

“It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Clyde’s influence in the fields of early child development, population health and epidemiology has been significant within B.C., nationally and internationally,” the post said.

“We have lost a dear friend, an inspiration to all of us and a leader whose shoes can never be filled. Our thoughts are with his family.”

His friend and colleague at UBC, Ziba Vaghri, a research associate at HELP, was in shock Saturday. She had been attending meetings in Geneva with Hertzman just two days ago before he departed to the U.K. “He was in the time of his life. He had his medical school reunion coming up that he was excited about and he had his 60th birthday coming up. He had so much happening,” she said. She added: “He told me in Geneva, ‘Ziba life is good.’ He had his partner Marcy and his kids and he was just so h appy.”

Hertzman was found dead on the couch of a friend he was staying with in the U.K., Vaghri said, but the family won’t know the cause of the sudden death until an autopsy is completed. Vaghri said Hertzman was a guru and a pioneer in early learning and said his emotional competence was remarkable.

61 “He was so down to earth. He was so empowering that you would want to do your best when you worked with Clyde Hertzman. He would make you believe in yourself, and your strengths.” Hertzman played a central role in creating a framework that links population health to human development, emphasizing the special role of early childhood development as a determinant of health.

He and his colleagues came up with the Early Development Instrument (EDI) to measure a child’s preparedness for school. It is a 110-question report prepared by kindergarten teachers on children’s physical health and well-being, social competency, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, communication skills and general knowledge. It also looks at fine and gross motor development, respect for others, cooperation, self-control, self- confidence, impulsiveness, interest in books, washroom independence and knowledge of the world.

He also worked on a team with researchers from McGill University in Montreal and the UCL Institute of Child Health in London that discovered early childhood experiences leave a “memory” in the genetic code that affects how genes function.

The research may help explain why health disadvantages linked to a lower socio-economic origin — including obesity, mental health problems, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses — can last a lifetime, even if living conditions improve later.

Hertzman grew up as the son of a cardiologist father and a biochemist mother in Oakridge, a solidly middle class Vancouver neighbourhood. He attended medical school at McMaster University in the 1970s, but instead decided to study the health of populations at large. He completed his training in community medicine and epidemiology at McMaster. Later he became regarded as a world expert in all aspects of early childhood development and has worked at UBC since 1985.

In 2010, he was the recipient of Canada’s Health Researcher of the Year from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. And in January he won the Order of Canada.

He is survived by his partner Marcy, and children Eric, Emily, Amos, his mother Eileen, three grandchildren and his brother Owen.

62 63 64 65 OBITUARY Clyde Hertzman, 59, showed how environment trumps genetics in a child’s development Rod Mickleburgh Published Sunday, Feb. 24 2013, 10:05 PM EST By any measure, they were curious family outings. After dark, 12-year-old Clyde Hertzman and his elder brother Owen would sprint, jog and walk the side streets of Vancouver’s upper-middle-class Oakridge neighbourhood. Taped to their chests were portable EKGs. Their mother, Eileen, drove beside them, while their father, an eminent cardiologist, sat in the back, collecting signals from the boys’ varying heartbeats on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. There was a purpose to Victor Hertzman’s ordering of his sons about. By measuring recovery rates from different stresses on their hearts, he sought to strengthen his belief that carefully prescribed activity was better for heart patients than rest. Now accepted treatment, that was heresy in the early 1960s. Their year or so as human guinea pigs left the brothers without chest hair, but the lesson of his father’s homespun experiment was not lost on young Clyde. The power of evidence to drive change formed the bedrock of a long, remarkable, ground-breaking career, one that ended suddenly on Feb. 8, when Dr. Hertzman died at the home of friends in London, England, of an apparent heart attack. He was six weeks shy of his 60th birthday. His death prompted an outpouring of accolades from shocked colleagues who revered him, renowned researchers who marvelled at his work and organizations that embraced his conclusions. Passionate, relentless in the pursuit of truth, boundlessly energetic and possessing a brilliant, incisive mind, Dr. Hertzman dramatically altered the way Canada and increasingly the world thinks about the importance of early childhood. In study after study, he demonstrated that the circumstances of a child’s first few years are critical to future development, right through to old age. Low socioeconomic status, poor parenting, stress, lack of stimulation before one turns five could stunt a person’s life forever. The theory was not new, but not until teams headed by Dr. Hertzman amassed broad-based data identifying the risk levels of children entering the school system did it really take root. As his research evolved, Dr. Hertzman coined the now widely used term “biological embedding” to describe how early environment is more a determinant of a child’s future behaviour than genetic makeup. “Early social experiences get under the skin to set a lifelong trajectory for health and well-being,” explained Alan Bernstein of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. “Clyde played a central role in creating a framework to understand that.” His worldwide reputation was recognized in 2005, when the World Health Organization set up an international commission on the social determinants of health. Dr. Hertzman was asked to head the section on early childhood development. “He wasn’t the first person to show that it is important for adult health, but Clyde made it important,” said commission chairman Michael Marmot of University College in London. “He synthesized the material. He showed how important it was in a population health context.” In 2010, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research named Dr. Hertzman “health researcher of the year,” providing him with a grant of $500,000.

66 At the end of December, he was named an officer of the Order of Canada, an award that touched him deeply. “It was recognition,” said his partner, Marcy Cohen. “When you are someone passionate like Clyde, who doesn’t dress in suits, and doesn’t always win the favour of the establishment, you suffer from that at times. The Order of Canada was extremely important to him.” A professor for more than 25 years in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of B.C., Dr. Hertzman also held a number of prominent research chairs and directed the Human Early Learning Partnership, comprising academics from six B.C. universities dedicated to leading-edge research on early childhood development. Born March 24, 1953, Dr. Hertzman was the younger of two sons of Victor and Eileen, an accomplished pharmacologist. The brothers were highly active teenagers, whether trolling for salmon along remote stretches of the West Coast, or, despite their short stature, tearing up the football field. At one point, Owen said, the pair sidelined Michael Campbell, brother of former premier Gordon Campbell and well-known financial analyst, with a crunching tackle. As the turbulent 1960s ended, however, Clyde was caught up in hardline politics. At 17, hair down to his waist, he moved into a collective house and joined the radical Vancouver Liberation Front, scourge of mayor Tom Campbell, who threatened to unleash the War Measures Act against the ultra-left organization. Among those sharing the house was 24-year old Marcy Cohen. The two became close friends, then drifted in different directions. Much later, Ms. Cohen and Dr. Hertzman rekindled their friendship, and began a relationship. While he soon dropped the ideology of his early politics, Dr. Hertzman did not abandon his unwavering belief in egalitarianism and a fair society. He simply decided he could accomplish more working within the system. In 1975, he enrolled in medical school at Hamilton’s McMaster University, a hotbed of dynamic academic thinkers bent on gathering evidence to upend the status quo and improve health outcomes. Dr. Hertzman graduated in community medicine, and immediately focused on occupational and environmental health. “He wasn’t interested in becoming rich. He wanted to do research,” said fellow health researcher Michael Hayes, who became one of Dr. Hertzman’s closest friends. During his time at McMaster, a counsellor thought her daughter, Martha Ellis, recently returned from B.C.’s Hornby Island, might hit it off with the talented young med student. She was right. The couple married in January, 1977. By 1982, they had three children – Amos, Emily and Eric. The Hertzmans separated in 1999. Dr. Hertzman was not destined to stay in occupational and environmental health, nor in Hamilton. Bright and committed, he came to the attention of Canada’s great visionary on the social determinants of health, Fraser Mustard. Dr. Mustard sold the budding activist scholar on the importance of early childhood development and population health, the idea that conditions should not be studied in isolation but within the context of a broad spectrum of social and economic conditions. It was a calling that consumed Dr. Hertzman for the rest of his life. He put his stamp on the field with a landmark project in 2000 that enlisted kindergarten teachers across Vancouver to assess their young charges in five key areas: physical well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and communication. They did so using a lengthy, multi-question scorecard known as the Early Development Instrument (EDI). Results were then applied across 23 neighbourhoods and rated on colour-coded maps according to the percentage of kids deemed at risk in a least one of the five EDI categories. Not unexpectedly, lower-income neighbourhoods fared poorest, but surprising numbers of vulnerable kids also surfaced in middle-class and upper-class areas. When the detailed neighbourhood maps appeared in the newspaper, “all hell broke loose,” Dr. Hertzman recalled later. “You saw these huge differences.” The impact was profound. Other school districts clamoured to be assessed, too. Since then, three province-wide surveys have been conducted. Use of the EDI has now spread to 80 per cent of Canada’s kindergarten population and to 15 countries. The latest B.C. results showed more children were vulnerable than in 2000, a factor Dr. Hertzman attributed to

67 increasing stress on parents, forced by the recession to work harder and longer to make ends meet. It frustrated him that, despite his findings, Canada continues to scrimp on preschool-age children. There is no national daycare program, kindergarten is not mandatory in many provinces, and parental leaves are not long enough. “Canada is one of the worst investors in early childhood development,” he complained in 2007, adding that each dollar spent on a child before the age of six is estimated to save six dollars down the road. Dr. Hertzman’s death stilled one of the country’s strongest voices for better treatment of children. It was his great cause, and he made dozens of speeches every year, attending high-powered conferences as well as visiting small communities throughout B.C., espousing its importance. “He brought a body of knowledge that was somewhat sequestered and really mainstreamed it,” said Jim Dunn, an associate professor at McMaster, who worked with Dr. Hertzman. “He was absolutely tireless.” Those who knew him well stress he was just as captivating in private. He was great fun to be around, with an immense thirst for life. Last Christmas Eve, there he was, a Jew, striding up and down the street singing carols with Michael Hayes and his family in Victoria. “He will be sorely, sorely missed,” said Mr. Hayes. Owen Hertzman clings to a different memory. “The day before he died, two crocuses opened up in our garden. I will always remember that,” he said. Dr. Hertzman leaves his mother Eileen, brother Owen, partner Marcy Cohen, children Amos, Emily and Eric, and three grandchildren.

UBC mourns death of Clyde Hertzman, a world leader in early childhood development Andrea Woo Published Sunday, Feb. 10 2013, 9:48 PM EST Days before Clyde Hertzman was to receive the 2010 award for Canada’s Health Researcher of the Year, friend and colleague Ziba Vaghri pulled aside the world-renowned early-childhood development researcher. “I said, ‘Clyde, you’re going to go for your ceremony. For God’s sake, buy a suit this time,’ ” recalled Dr. Vaghri, an assistant professor at the University of B.C.’s Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), of which Dr. Hertzman was director. “He said, ‘No. Do you know how a stocky, short man like me would look in a suit?’ Then he said, ‘I’m just joking.’ ” The exchange is one of many lasting memories Dr. Vaghri has of her friend and mentor, who died suddenly late last week at the age of 59 while working abroad in London. The cause of his death is not yet known. Dr. Hertzman’s wardrobe selection – often khakis or jeans and a madras shirt – reflected the disarming, down-to- earth personality of a man who had much to be proud of, friends say. Heralded by colleagues as a guru in his field, the Vancouver native specialized in the study of early learning, examining the impact genetic and environmental factors have on physiology and development – “from cell to society,” he would say. Dr. Hertzman was a Canada Research Chair in population health and human development, and a professor in the School of Population and Public Health at UBC. He was awarded the Order of Canada last month. Friend and colleague Jim Dunn called Dr. Hertzman the “ultimate blend of scholar and advocate,” noting that he made a complex subject accessible by adding the element of humanity. “He brought a body of knowledge that was somewhat sequestered in clinical studies and experimental studies and really mainstreamed it for the policy audience and the general public at large,” he said. “The conversation that we have in this country about healthy child development – we don’t always act on it – is far more sophisticated than it was 15 years ago, and Clyde was a huge part of that.” Dr. Hertzman coined the term “biological embedding” – the concept of experiences and social environments

68 altering human biological and developmental processes, leading to long-term changes in health, well-being, learning or behaviour. In a statement posted to its website, HELP said Dr. Hertzman’s influence in the fields of early child development, population health and epidemiology has been significant locally, nationally and internationally. “We have lost a dear friend, an inspiration to all of us and a leader whose shoes can never be filled.” B.C. Premier Christy Clark also offered high praise for Dr. Hertzman in a statement issued Sunday. “British Columbia has lost one of its brightest lights in Dr. Hertzman,” Ms. Clark said. “His trailblazing work on early childhood and human development attracted global attention. The research he has led will continue to change lives for the better. Recognized not only as a world leader, but an inspiration to those who followed and supported his work, I can think of few people who better represented B.C. and Canada at our finest.” Dr. Hertzman leaves his partner, Marcy; his three children Eric, Emily and Amos; and his mother, Eileen.

69 70 71 72 73 Hertzman’s Work for Children Will Carry Forward How BC researchers are continuing groundbreaking early childhood development investigations. By Katie Hyslop, 18 Feb 2013, TheTyee.ca Bottom of Form Faculty and staff at the University of British Columbia’s Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) are still reeling from the unexpected passing of the partnership’s founder and director Dr. Clyde Hertzman earlier this month. “We’re trying to put one foot in front of the other and being together. We have a strong group of staff, but as you can well imagine it’s a profound shock for all of us,” Joanne Schroeder, HELP’s deputy director, told The Tyee on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

But the people behind the man whose groundbreaking early childhood development research changed the way the world thinks about environmental effects on children’s development are determined to continue his work.

“We’ll go down in a heap for a while, but not for very long because he wouldn’t tolerate that, and we’ll be back at the work,” Schroeder said.

Research spans political spectrum Dr. Hertzman, just a month shy of his 60th birthday, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in London, England, on Friday, Feb. 8.

In addition to his 10 years as director of HELP, Dr. Hertzman also served as a Canada Research Chair in Population Health and Human Development and as a professor in the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) School of Population and Public Health. He was awarded the Canadian Institute of Health Research’s 2010 Researcher of the Year award, and received the Order of Canada last month.

Although his work is renowned both nationally and internationally, Hertzman was most famous in British Columbia for using data from the Early Development Instrument (EDI) questionnaire to map where the most vulnerable children live in the province.

The questionnaire, developed by researchers in the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University, asks questions to measure the five core areas of early childhood development. Filled out by kindergarten teachers for every student in their class, the data provides a complex and comprehensive snapshot of the school-readiness, and is a good predictor of health, social and educational outcomes in adulthood, if children’s situations remain the same.

Heralded as integral to early childhood development policy and as solid proof the province needs a provincial poverty plan, Hertzman’s work was applauded by both sides of the political spectrum. Premier Christy Clark issued a statement on Family Day, Feb. 10, expressing condolences to Dr. Hertzman’s family. The Government of B.C. supplies core funding to HELP, and in an emailed statement to The Tyee, Premier Clark said, “The team Dr. Hertzman assembled at HELP and UBC are recognized as world leaders in early childhood development. I certainly hope they

74 continue with his vision and work.”

While government makes use of HELP’s research to inform policy, First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition relies on HELP’s data to push government to create universal early childhood education, implement a provincial poverty reduction strategy, and provide extra academic and social support to children with developmental issues or who live in poverty.

“We’ve used the EDI data from the earliest time it first started coming out,” said Adrienne Montani, First Call’s provincial co-ordinator, adding First Call has worked with Dr. Hertzman individually in the past on child poverty campaigns.

“I thought Clyde and HELP have always been really helpful in saying every kid has a right, needs this support, and needs investments in their early years in a universal system that catches everybody. And then when special needs are identified, or socio-economic disadvantage is identified, then we front-end load or enrich that program to make up for special challenges.”

Teachers also relied on EDI statistics to push for more services for their students. Carol Johns, a full-time kindergarten teacher in Cranbrook, was sent by the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) to see Dr. Hertzman speak when he began advocating for the use of EDIs. Then president of the B.C. Primary Teachers Association, Johns was so impressed with Dr. Hertzman’s work she brought it back to her district, which began using the EDIs that year. She also played a part in convincing the BCTF that EDI was a useful test.

“It’s actually given us lots of good information: we were able to, before there was Strong Starts, (have) two early learning centres at two schools that we had identified through EDI results,” Johns told The Tyee.

“One of the areas that we were identified early on is as weak in the physical development area because we have a long winter. So (the Southeast Kootenay district) did gymnastic programs for children before they came to school in schools, and also they did some more work on playgrounds.”

Looking for a new director But despite the sudden nature of his death, faculty and staff weren’t completely unprepared for work without Dr. Hertzman. Schroeder says the director had already started talking about moving on to other work and there were plans to start looking internationally for another director.

“We’re looking for someone who has obviously a commitment to the importance of early childhood development and an extensive scientific background in the early biology of human development and population health and national and international policy,” she said, adding a senior faculty member will serve as interim director until a new director can start, hopefully by fall.

“Those are all the key things that Clyde brought. It’s very much someone who’s used to working in an interdisciplinary way and who brings a breadth of those kinds of things to the job.” In addition to the EDI research, Dr. Hertzman was working on a number of different projects before he passed that HELP plans to continue. These include working with other universities to map EDI results for the entire country, more work on epigenetics, the study of how experiences can physically change children’s genes, and developing a tool to monitor countries’ compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

75 HELP has just started the pilot convention monitoring program for Canada, which was criticized last year by Marta Maurás, head of the UN’s Committee on the Rights of the Child, for not meeting its convention obligations.

Dr. Hertzman was also making use of the 1958 National Child Development Study, an ongoing population health study that follows the lives of 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week in 1958. Hertzman, who was interested in how early childhood development affects adult life, was in England to continue this research when he passed away.

Research will ‘honour his legacy’ Schroeder says HELP will continue all this research, and they have funding from the Government of British Columbia, the Canadian Institute of Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and many private foundations to do it.

In fact Schroeder believes Dr. Hertzman’s passing has actually strengthened funders’ dedication to their work.

“I have received upwards from 400 emails from people this weekend, many of them people who want to do things to support Clyde’s legacy and support the work of HELP,” said Schroeder.

Despite all the good work HELP’s data has done identifying the needs of children in the province, teachers say their continued research is important for identifying where children are vulnerable. Communities and economies change for better and for worse, which can affect children’s development. Johns says from what she sees in Cranbrook developmental needs haven’t gone away, and may actually be getting worse.

“There’s more need and there’s more need for support. I think that it’s critical that we continue to be part of this project and continue to advocate for it to be done,” she said. “(Dr. Hertzman’s) got a legacy of a lot of us who he’s worked with and we’re firm believers in it. That was one of the first things that I said to my friend who had phoned to say Clyde had died, ‘All the more reason to continue to do EDI.’ “

HELP staff and faculty will likely feel the loss for a long time, but Schroeder says continuing the research is important for them, too.

“Primarily because it makes a difference for children and families around the world, and obviously because Clyde was so committed to the work and he worked tirelessly in support of the cause, and through that work has really built a community of likeminded souls and people around the world that want to continue to do the work,” she said.

“So it’s to honour his legacy, of course, but it’s because it is what he would have wanted us to do, and because we all want to do it. We all worked with Clyde because we shared his vision. It’s the values that he espoused we espouse, so it makes it easier to keep on with it.”

76 77 La Estrategia De Cero a Siempre lamenta el fallecimiento del profesor Clyde Hertzman ​ La Estrategia Nacional de Atención Integral a la Primera Infancia “De Cero a Siempre”, lamenta profundamente el fallecimiento del honorable Profesor Clyde Hertzman, de la Universidad de British Columbia, quien con su trabajo e investigación realizó significativos aportes al campo del desarrollo infantil. 6 de febrero de 2013

​ La Estrategia Nacional de Atención Integral a la Primera Infancia “De Cero a Siempre”, lamenta profundamente el fallecimiento del honorable profesor Clyde Hertzman, de la Universidad de British Columbia, quien con su trabajo e investigación realizó significativos aportes al campo del desarrollo infantil, salud pública y epidemiología, con incidencia en el desarrollo de políticas públicas para la primera infancia en diferentes países de Sur América y el resto del mundo.

Hertzman fue un reconocido investigador del desarrollo infantil a nivel internacional cuyo trabajo ha sido decisivo en el estudio de la relación entre la salud pública y el desarrollo humano, haciendo énfasis en el rol de los primeros años de vida como determinantes para el desarrollo integral del individuo y la sociedad. Se desempeñó como director de HELP (Human Early Learning Partnership), red interdisciplinaria de investigación enfocada en el desarrollo infantil en la primera infancia, y junto con sus colegas, fue creador del EDI (Early Development Instrument), instrumento para medir el desarrollo temprano a nivel poblacional.

Generoso en sus conocimientos y experticia, participó y colaboró en procesos en el marco de la Estrategia “De Cero a Siempre”, celebrando los avances de Colombia en materia de Política Pública para la Primera Infancia. Durante 2012, el profesor Herztman visitó el país con el propósito de conocer los programas, acciones y demás procesos que se adelantan en relación con la política para la primera infancia y, presentó sus estudios respecto a la aplicación del EDI y la generación de políticas públicas en países suramericanos, manifestando su interés en realizar el piloto con la población colombiana. Igualmente, hizo parte del grupo de expertos internacionales en primera infancia que participó en la construcción del lineamiento marco de la Estrategia De Cero a Siempre, retroalimentando y haciendo importantes aportes al lineamiento de Valoración del Desarrollo Infantil.

Agradecidos por su valiosa contribución, y con la seguridad de que su trabajo y legado seguirán siendo fuente de inspiración para la comunidad académica, investigativa y constructora de políticas públicas para la primera infancia, la Estrategia “De Cero a Siempre” y el gobierno colombiano expresan sus más sinceras condolencias a sus familiares, colegas y compañeros.

78 Clyde Hertzman Obituary Clyde Hertzman 1953 - 2013 Clyde Hertzman, son of Eileen and the late Victor Hertzman, passed away from a heart attack in London, England on Friday February 8th, 2013. Clyde’s world-renowned research at the University of British Columbia looked at the links between early childhood development and the health and well-being of people throughout their lifetime. In December 2012 Clyde was nominated for the Order of Canada in recognition of his contributions to the field of public health and early childhood development. Clyde is survived by his partner Marcy Cohen, his children Amos (Caitlin), Emily (Nyian), and Eric (Darlene), his mother Eileen, his brother Owen (Marguerite Frost), and his three grandchildren Bennett, Posey, and Pascal. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 pm on March 17th 2013 at the Chan Centre, UBC. Memorial gifts may be made to the Clyde Hertzman Memorial Fund at http://www. supporting.ubc.ca/clydehertzman or to a donation of your choice.

My deepest sympathy to you Eileen to your son Clyde’s children and partner. I felt your strength and comfort at the time of Stephen’s father Syd Rosenfield’s passing you were a wonderful support to Marjorie. I wish strength for you and peace of mind in knowing that your son touch so many lives a positive and caring manner. Stay strong.

Marilyn Whitfield, Toronto, Ontario

My deepest sympathy to his family. He helped us realize the great potential of ‘Primacy’. I’m thankful for his warm, gentle manner and his rich research results. I’ll miss him.

Gwynne Thompson, Delta, British Columbia

My deepest condolences to family and friends. I feel very privileged to have known him and so appreciate all he has done to support early childhood initiatives in B .C. His presentations were always informative and inspiring. We will continue his work in our communities. Hugs to you all!

Carol Johns, Cranbrook BC

79 Tribute to Dr Clyde Hertzman Tuesday, February 12, 2013 Researchers at Perth’s Telethon Institute for Child Health Research are mourning the sudden passing of Canadian child development expert Dr Clyde Hertzman, and send their sincerest condolences to his family and colleagues.

Dr Hertzman was a collaborator on a number of Institute projects and came to Perth in May 2012 for the farewell Festschrift of Institute Patron, Professor Fiona Stanley.

An outstanding public health thinker and academic, Dr Hertzman with colleague Dan Keating wrote the “bible” of early childhood, Developmental Health and the Wealth of Nations.

He has played a central role in creating a framework that links population health to human development, emphasizing the special role of early childhood development as a determinant of health. His research has contributed to international, national, local, and community initiatives for healthy child development. Dr Hertzman was the Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), a collaborative, interdisciplinary research network, based at the University of British Columbia, Canada.

In collaboration with Dr Hertzman, the Institute adapted and adopted the Early Development Index (here known as the Australian Early Development Index). Most recently, the Institute’s Fraser Mustard Centre was working with Dr Hertzman and his team to pilot a new Middle Development Index. Institute researchers today paid tribute to a man who was not only internationally-recognised for his child development research and advocacy, but was an inspirational tutor, mentor and friend.

. Clyde Hertzman’s research was across all levels of impact - from that in the individual child and family through community and right up to the nation - with clear evidence that if we invested in early childhood it was good for many outcomes from health, education, child protection, crime reduction, employment and financial success. As a colleague and friend I will miss him a lot - he spoke so wonderfully at my festschrift last year and he had accepted to be part of the University of Melbourne Festival of Ideas later this year. He was a brilliant speaker - you never wanted to speak after Clyde as you sounded drab in comparison. He was a leader of all of us and his legacy will be huge.

Professor Fiona Stanley Patron, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research

The world has lost one of its great child health advocates. Clyde was one of a rare breed of people who could talk to anyone - from Prime Ministers to parents - and convince them of the importance of making sure we use evidence to help kids. The renewed energy we have in Australia to focus on early childhood in setting the stage for the rest of life owes a lot to Clyde Hertzman.

Professor Jonathan Carapetis Director, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research

80 An advocate for early child development, life course epidemiology and population health and wellbeing, Clyde believed that “data talked.” He believed that with population wide monitoring data, translated simply through maps and other methods of communication, we are best placed to provide the evidence and to advocate at a local community level through to Ministers and politicians.

I am so fortunate to have been one of the very many lucky people around the world to have been touched by Clyde, but I am indeed blessed to have been able to call him both a wonderful dear friend and a loyal colleague. Over the many years, Clyde showed me that it’s not good enough to just be an excellent academic, we also have a responsibility to; advocate and to passionately translate our findings, to create and drive change at all levels, to reduce inequality, promote equity and to support our future generations. I miss him dreadfully already, but he leaves with us his legacy.

Sally Brinkman Co-Director, Fraser Mustard Centre

Clyde was internationally recognised for his work in child development, and was a great advocate for the importance of data linkage in understanding human development. Clyde was a keynote speaker at our International Data Linkage Conference held in Perth in May 2012, and was nothing short of inspirational in his speech on the importance of using cross sectorial data linkage for understanding healthy child development. Clyde’s ability to communicate inspirationally with academics, the community and government will be sorely missed. However, we are certain that his contribution to this field will continue to drive change and motivate life changing research.

Dr Rebecca Glauert Developmental Pathways Project, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research

81 82 A Tribute to Clyde Hertzman On February 8, 2013, CHSPR faculty and staff lost a close friend and colleague, Clyde Hertzman. While, deservedly, much has already been written about Clyde’s path-breaking contributions to the world’s understanding of the influence of the “early years” on individuals’ life courses, the breadth of his scholarship, and particularly his many years of collaboration on CHSPR projects, is less well-known. Clyde joined the faculty in the Department of Health Care and Epidemiology at UBC in 1985. Almost from the time he arrived, he became involved with faculty working in health services research, and was amongst the core group who, a half-decade later, created UBC’s Centre for Health Services and Policy Research. He was an Associate Director with CHSPR for many years and, along the way, collaborated with us on a number of important health services research projects, including seminal work on the evolution of the hospital system in the 1990s in British Columbia, and the exposure of the widely over-played effects of an aging population on health care services. He was tireless in his pursuit of new knowledge and in sharing that knowledge with policy-makers and the public. Clyde also played a key participatory and then leadership role in the birth and successes of the Population Health Program of the then Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. He was one of three CHSPR faculty in that program, and the influences of the program on CHSPR faculty research, teaching and student supervision endure to this day. In the late 1980s, a group of CHSPR faculty secured funding to start the development of the B.C. Linked Health Database. Clyde was again at the forefront of the thinking and the energy that went into this initiative. The drive to build broader, richer, and more accessible data resources for population health and health services research in B.C. was an enduring Clyde preoccupation. He was the principal investigator on the grants out of which emerged first PHLO (the Population Health Learning Observatory), and then Population Data BC, on the Advisory Board of which he continued to serve with other CHSPR faculty until his death. Each of us who had the privilege of working with and knowing Clyde realize that our lives are richer and more interesting for having had those opportunities. We will miss him tremendously, but our work going forward will continue to be inspired by his enduring passion and commitment to making the world a better place.

83 In Memoriam: Dr. Clyde Hertzman The Learning Partnership mourns the sudden loss of Dr. Clyde Hertzman, a distinguished leader in research concerning early childhood development and a great supporter, particularly of our BC Welcome to Kindergarten program. He was one of the first members of the Welcome to Kindergarten advisory committee. Under his leadership, a team of HELP researchers conducted a Welcome to Kindergarten program impact study in the first years of implementation. Most recently, a HELP researcher was a committee member overseeing the Welcome to Kindergarten National evaluation. Dr. Hertzman included the WTK program sites on his provincial map of the State of Child well-being derived from the EDI research. This was a significant mark of endorsement for a program of The Learning Partnership. Our condolences go out to Dr. Hertzman’s family. His tremendous contributions to the field will be greatly missed.

Remembering Clyde Hertzman

It is with great sadness that we mark the sudden passing of our colleague Dr. Clyde Hertzman on February 8, 2013. Clyde’s influence in the fields of occupational health, population health, epidemiology, and early child development has been significant within BC, nationally, and internationally. For over 20 years, Clyde played a major role in using compensation data and promoting data linkage in BC. Clyde was one of the pioneering researchers who led work in support of the Royal Commission on Workers’ Compensation in BC in 1998, the foundational project that led to the establishment of the Partnership for Work, Health and Safety. Our thoughts are with his family, and the many people to whom he was an esteemed colleague, mentor, and inspiration.

84 In Memoriam: Clyde Hertzman, CIFAR Senior Fellow Monday, February 11, 2013

We are profoundly saddened to learn of the sudden death of CIFAR Senior Fellow Clyde Hertzman. A passionate visionary and esteemed researcher and early child advocate, Clyde inspired every one of us. He was a treasured friend, a respected colleague and an outspoken champion of interdisciplinary collaboration. He will be deeply missed. ------“Clyde was larger than life: he combined passion, intelligence, generosity, integrity and a zest for living that touched and affected everyone he met,” says President & CEO Alan Bernstein. “I know that CIFAR meant so much to Clyde. He loved the meetings, looked forward to the robust discussions, the exchange of ideas, and the friendships and collegiality that grow out of CIFAR programs. His sudden passing is a great shock. He will be greatly missed by all of us here at CIFAR.”

Involved in CIFAR from its early days, Clyde held the distinction of serving on two current CIFAR programs, Experience-based Brain & Biological Development and Successful Societies. Both of these programs evolved out of CIFAR’s Population Health program which Clyde directed from 1998 to 2003. Prior to this post, he was a Senior Fellow in the Human Development program.

Clyde was instrumental in finding, understanding and decoding the groundbreaking connection between population health and human development and coined the term “biological embedding” to describe how early social experiences get under the skin to set a lifelong trajectory for health and wellbeing. He played a central role in creating a framework to understand how the early years of childhood affected future stages of health and life success. ------

One of Clyde’s legacies was the creation of the Early Development Instrument (EDI), which measures a child’s state of development at kindergarten along five domains: physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, and communication and general knowledge. The EDI now covers 80% of kindergarten children across Canada and is used to identify vulnerabilities and the individual, family and community supports that could reduce them. He showed that too many children were at risk of not achieving their potential and worked tirelessly to mobilize communities and policy makers to address these vulnerable years.

His ideas and vision are reflected in his many publications including, Developmental Health and the Wealth of Nations, a collaborative book he co-edited. The book contained chapters by the members of CIFAR’s Human Development Program. Clyde made important contributions to many CIFAR publications including Successful Societies: How Institutions and Culture Affect Health. Recently, he wrote an important historical perspective of his research and the CIFAR programs he was a part of in a chapter in a supplemental issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, “Biological Embedding of Early Social Adversity: From Fruit Flies to Kindergartners.”

85

Clyde completed his training in Medicine, Community Medicine, and Epidemiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, between 1976 and 1985 and was on the faculty in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia since 1985. He was a Full Professor in the department, and held a Tier 1 CRC Chair in Population Health and Human Development. He was also the Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), an interdisciplinary network of researchers from British Columbia’s four major universities that aims to develop new understandings and approaches to early childhood development. HELP was designated by the World Health Organization as the Global Knowledge Hub on early child development.

Among his many awards, Clyde was recently appointed to the Order of Canada for his seminal contributions to population health and early childhood development.

Clyde was not only a key member of the CIFAR Program on Population Health and Development but instrumental to the founding of the Program on Successful Societies to follow up its work. No one could have asked for a more brilliant or dedicated colleague. His penetrating mind and genial disposition, always open to new ideas, always looking for ways to improve the world, made him an inspiring companion in discovery. His work embodies CIFAR’s ideal of generous and open interdisciplinary scholarship and discovery.

From Peter Hall and Michèle Lamont, Co-directors, Successful Societies program

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Clyde’s influence in the fields of early child development, population health and epidemiology has been significant within B.C., nationally and internationally. For over 20 years, together with his colleagues at the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, Clyde has played a major role in promoting data linkage and data access in British Columbia. He sat on Population Data BC’s Advisory Board and his vision, energy and support will be a profound loss. Our thoughts are with his family, Marcy, Eric, Emily, Amos, his mother Eileen, and his brother Owen.

86 CIHR salutes the late Dr. Clyde Hertzman

Dr. Clyde Hertzman passed away in February 2013 at the age of 59. He was internationally regarded as a top expert in early childhood development as a determinant of health. He dedicated his career to understanding how early life experiences affect a child’s brain and body development. “It is with profound sadness that the scientific world has to say goodbye to this outstanding individual,” says CIHR President, Dr. Alain Beaudet. “Dr. Hertzman helped advance global policy in the field of population health by providing evidence that the early years matter to healthy human development.”

Dr. Hertzman was Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP). He was also Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Dr. Hertzman’s work earned him some of the country’s highest honours, including the CIHR “Canada’s Health Researcher of the Year” award in 2010, a Canada Research Chair in Population Health and Human Development and the Order of Canada in January 2013.

“We will remember Dr. Hertzman’s invaluable research and policy contributions, which helped to inform initiatives for healthy child development at the international, national, provincial, and community levels. We hope that researchers and decision makers will continue to be inspired by his work in the support of stronger and healthier populations,” says Dr. Nancy Edwards, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health. “CIHR greatly valued Dr. Hertzman’s many contributions including his role as a member of the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health inaugural advisory board. His contributions to early child development and population health thinking in Canada and globally have left an indelible footprint. He will be sorely missed.”

87 Premier’s Statement on the Death of Dr. Clyde Hertzman

VANCOUVER - Premier Christy Clark made the following statement on the death of Dr. Clyde Hertzman:

“British Columbia has lost one of its brightest lights in Dr. Clyde Hertzman. His trailblazing work on early childhood and human development attracted global attention. The research he led will continue to change lives for the better.

“Recognized not only as a world leader, but an inspiration to those who followed and supported his work, I can think of few people who better represented B.C. and Canada at our finest.

“But the scientist and researcher also left his mark with those who knew him best. My thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Hertzman’s family as they mourn his loss.”

88 BCTF @bctf Dr. Clyde Hertzman awarded, posthumously, BCTF honourary membership for his service to the children of BC.

Ivan Drury @p0stcap G Langolf quotes Clyde Hertzman: It would take 1/10th of what the world spent on wars in 2012 to eliminate poverty

Helesia Luke @helesialuke From now on when faced with dilemma will think ‘what would Clyde do?’

Katie DeReus @katie_dereus Honoring Clyde Hertzman: “It doesn’t have to be this way”. Work, research & advocacy for early learning and development of the EDI

Nico1e@nico1e Past-President Susan Lambert credits Dr. Clyde Hertzman for pioneering early childhood development research

89 Jennifer Lloyd @JEVLloyd One message at Clyde Hertzman’s memorial was clear: When it comes to #child#vulnerability, “it doesn’t have to be this way.”

HiAP @hiap2013 The world has lost one of the great leaders of early child development and a true inspiration: Clyde Hertzman

Judy Darcy @DarcyJudy Moving tribute @ UBC Chan Ctr 4 Dr. Clyde Hertzman O.C. 4 his world-recognized contributions 2 early childhood development & social change.

Ellen Woodsworth @ellenwoodsworth Attended Celebration of Life for Dr. Clyde Hertzman world-recognized for #ECD & social change. Outstanding world citizen.

Mary-Ann Booth @maryannbooth “The only way to level the playing field is in early life.” Dr.Clyde Hertzman (1953-2013). Your voice will not be stilled.

UBC a place of mind @ubcaplaceofmind In memory of Dr. Clyde Hertzman 1953–2013 ”We must take solace in how much Clyde accomplished...” 90 Andrea Woo @AndreaWoo Child development expert Clyde Hertzman’s death is a big loss for Canadians, and the world

NCCDH | CCNDS @NCCDH_CCNDS Our thoughts are with the family, friends & colleagues of Dr. Clyde Hertzman- leader in early child development

Stephanie Cadieux @Cadieux2013 My thoughts are with his family. BC has lost a great leader in early learning. RIP Dr. Clyde Hertzman

PAHO/WHO Equity @eqpaho sudden passing of Dr.Clyde Hertzman. Our thoughts go to his family and friends

Sharon Gregson @sharongregson Very sad news. His work has a lasting legacy for BC’s children and Early Years field globally - RIP Dr. Clyde Hertzman

Adrian Dix @adriandix Sadness at the loss of a great British Columbian,Dr. Clyde Hertzman. His contributions+generosity leave a huge legacy.

91 FME Evangelist Mourning the loss of Clyde Hertzman - UBC prof, Order of Canada recipient, excellent speaker, and one of my GIS heroes

mona’s caffe’ such a great loss :( / Early Childhood Edu Pioneering UBC professor Clyde Hertzman dies

Mike Lombardi

Mark Smith So sad to have lost Dr. Clyde Hertzman, world leader in early childhood development

Julie Valerio Sad loss for us all - B.C.’s top early learning expert Dr. Clyde Hertzman dies

Canada Elects Remembering Clyde Hertzman, a great fighter in the struggle for social justice

92 Health Nexus A tragic loss: Dr. Clyde Hertzman

Cecilia Breinbauer In memory of Clyde Hertzman, a brilliant, passionate man

Hoon Cho

BillTieleman ‘Champion’ of children Clyde Hertzman mourned

EFry Vancouver Clyde Hertzman shaped policy to meet the needs of vulnerable children in BC. His loss is profound. We are poorer for it

Helesia Luke A really terrible loss for Canadians. Deepest condolences to Clyde’s family.

93 Ellen Woodsworth A huge loss for his family, social policy and Canadian children.

Telethon Institute Canadian child health expert Dr Clyde Hertzman dies suddenly- sincerest condolences to family and colleagues

Christine Boyle

Chris Stewart Dr. Clyde Hertzman who passed away suddenly this past Friday will be missed.

Rebecca Haines-Saah A huge loss for health research in Canada. So sad to hear this news.

BigJMcC Very sad 2 hear this. Early childhood education has lost a true champion

94 MakeAbbotsfordAware Happy Family Day Champion of children, Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Candlelight Vigil

Erika Harrison Sad to hear Clyde Hertzman has died. He pioneered early human dev research & linking social env to long-term well being

OntarioEDU Nous déplorons la disparition de l’expert en éducation de la petite enfance Clyde Hertzman et honorons l’héritage qu’il nous a laissé....

OntarioEDU We mourn the death of early childhood expert Clyde Hertzman and recognize his legacy.

Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega I hope #UBC will do a most excellent tribute to the late Dr. Clyde Hertzman. A big loss to UBC, BC and Canada. He was an amazing scholar.

Joyce Murray My condolences and tribute on the passing of Dr Hertzman - leading expert and advocate for our childrens’ success

95 De Cero a Siempre La Estrategia De Cero a Siempre lamenta el fallecimiento del profesor Clyde Hertzman

BCfamily.ca Today we learned the sad news that ECE & public health advocate Dr. Clyde Hertzman has passed away.

Anthony Smith I am celebrating the life of Clyde #Hertzman a mentor and global agent of change who I will never forget

bcfamilymedia My deepest condolences to Dr. Hertzman’s family & colleagues

HIPPY Canada Sending our thoughts and prayers to the family of Clyde Hertzman. A wonderful man and a friend to all children.

UBC Science Sad day for #UBC and BC: Loss of the great Clyde Hertzman leaves a huge legacy in early childhood education research.

96 Kevin Godden Thanks, Clyde Hertzman, for deepening our understanding of the early years. A powerful legacy.

myBestHelper Thank you @globeandmail for this tribute to one of BC and Canada’s finest minds and hearts - Dr. Clyde Herzman!

myBestHelper Saddened today by the untimely passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman, most brilliant advocate for #Childcare. We’ll miss you!

NSCouncil Family We’re devastated to learn of Clyde Hertzman’s passing. We were so fortunate to have him conduct our prof. dev. workshop in October.

FRP Canada Mourning the death of Clyde Hertzman, a world leader in early childhood development

Nadia Formigoni Saddened to hear of the death of Clyde Hertzman, a world leader in early childhood development

97 Yvette Nunes Leget Losing 1 of our brightest scientific minds @ the early age of 59 is so tremendous.

Peggy Taillon A huge loss, Clyde is a pioneer. Mourning the loss of Clyde Hertzman, a leader in early childhood development

Community Res Centre All the staff and volunteers at the Community Resource Centre mourn the death of Clyde Hertzman, a true advocate for children in Canada.

Ontario CoE for CYMH Joining colleagues worldwide to mourn the loss of Clyde Hertzman, an enduring champion for children. He will be missed.

Stephen Samis So very sorry to hear about the passing of Clyde Hertzman, a great Canadian & pioneer in early childhood development!

Roisin Fegan A great loss to the global child rights community .

98 DTN Pakistan DTN Pakistan: UBC mourns death of Clyde Hertzman a world leader in early childhood development

mel bartley I heard on a health justice emai list that Clyde Hertzman had died. Very sad.

Linda Reid Dr Clyde Hertzman you will be missed, not just for your commitment to early child development but for your tremendous humanity.

Diane Thorne MT”@AndreaWoo:Child development expert Clyde Hertzman’s death is a big loss for his family,all Canadians, the world

Debbie K Mah Thank you Clyde Hertzman; you left a legacy

Kristen Yarker, RD He’s left a legacy that impacts so many BC kids

99 No Child Labour BC Deepest condolences to family. A terrible loss for the world.

Helesia Luke Heartbroken to hear - deepest condolences to family. A terrible loss.

Jack Hicks I have very few heroes. Clyde Hertzman was one of them.

NCCDH | CCNDS Our thoughts are with the family, friends & colleagues of Dr. Clyde Hertzman- leader in early child development

AndrewBresnahan My heart goes out to family of Dr.Clyde Hertzman, whose research showed how child poverty effects lifelong health

NCCDH | CCNDS Nos pensées vont aux familles, amis et collègues du Dr Clyde Hertzman, chef de file dans le développement de la petite enfance

100 Colleen Cote so very sad..... B.C.’s top early learning expert Dr. Clyde Hertzman dies

Silke Yardley how sad just saw him speak. Amazing man :(

E Gregory I am so sad to hear of the passing of Clyde Hertzman. He was a passionate advocate for children & families.

Christy Clark BC suffered a great loss this weekend. My thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Hertzman’s family.

Jessica Pan RIP Dr. H. U were as brilliant as u were inspirational, your tireless dedication to the field will not be forgotten.

Rhoda Taylor Clyde Hertzman you will be missed. This country will never be the same without your passionate advocacy for children and families

101 David Yetman Very sad news of the passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Profound impact on child development and Canada.

Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega Devastating news. Prof. Hertzman was a genius

Constanza Alarcon Lamento la muerte del Dr.Clyde Hertzman, autoridad mundial Primera Infancia y Dllo Infantil. Muchas gracias por sus aportes

Martin Wyant Sad news. Clyde Hertzman did important work and influenced thinking around the world....

Lisa B RIP Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Deep gratitude for your brilliant dedicated work.

Armine Yalnizyan Grateful to have sat with Clyde on board to the Institute for Population and Public Health. Learned so much.

102 George Heyman Remembering Dr. Clyde Hertzman, his work on early childhood health, learning, development & lifelong impacts informs us

Julie Linkletter I never met him, but I’ll always be grateful to Clyde Hertzman for what he did for kids in BC.

Sandra Harris My heart goes out to the family of Dr Clyde Hertzman, he was a strong anti poverty and early learning advocate.

The Vanier Institute Vanier sends condolences to family, friends & colleagues of Dr. Clyde Hertzman, who died suddenly this weekend

Liisa Galea I am so shocked and saddened. Clyde you will be sorely missed.

Jennifer Lloyd Dr. Clyde Hertzman: It was a privilege to be mentored by him. A brilliant scholar & a wonderful human being. RIP, boss.

103 Cherie Payne “He would make you believe in yourself, and your strengths” RIP Clyde

Deb Bryant Global BC | Top B.C. early learning expert Dr. Clyde Hertzman dies

Gordon Hertzman He Giveth and He Taketh away. A cousin just won the Order of Canada this year. Tragically he just passed away...

Jonathan Weresch “Success in our society means reducing the vulnerability and social inequality of kids by the time they reach school” - Dr. Clyde Hertzman

Shawna Reibling The main influence on why and how I approach knowledge mobilization has been lost: Dr. Clyde Hertzman

Max Stern Sad day, saw him speak November of last year- great mind.

104 Avril Orloff Grieving the death of Clyde Hertzman. Brilliant mind, great heart, A-1 mensch, dear friend. Huge legacy. Huge loss.

Judy Darcy Such a loss! A wonderful human being. Exceptional in his field.

NmTC Communications Dr. Clyde Hertzman dies... a profound loss to the ECD community everywhere... condolences all round

Elizabeth Waters Vale Clyde Hertzman - what a contribution, what a charming man.

Rob Price Clyde Hertzman is a huge loss to the province and early childhood development and will be missed.

Tobin Copley Sudden passing of Clyde Hertzman is a terrible loss to the Canadian research community. Influenced many, me included.

105 Kerry Mahlman Children everywhere have lost a great champion

Decoda Literacy Saddened by the news. You will be missed Dr. Clyde Hertzman.

Eileen Joan My thoughts & prayers are with Dr. Clyde Hertzman’s family. May Dr. Hertzman, a pioneer of early learning, R.I.P.

Ron Plowright What a loss; what a legacy. RIP Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Thoughts & prayers are with his family & HELP

Shane Simpson The passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman is a tragic & stunning loss. There was no greater visionary for early childhood development.

Seth Klein RIP my friend and an inspiration. A great champion lost. Top B.C. early learning expert Dr. Clyde Hertzman dies

106 Ruth Hodgins He was such a passionate advocate for young children

Jilly Shmilly Very sad to hear of the sudden death of Canadian early childhood expert & child / child care advocate, Clyde Hertzman

Centre For Child Dev Our deepest sympathies to the friends & family of Dr. Clyde Hertzman of @HELP_UBC. His work improved the lives of millions of children in BC

Ken Denike Difficult to concentrate w news of death of Clyde Hertzman. Pioneering work on early learning nd geog portrayal gained advocates 4 change.

Andrea Reimer 惠綺文 Stunned to hear of Dr Clyde Hertzman’s sudden passing. His life’s work was making children lives better.

Susan Croll Am extremely sad about the death of Clyde Hertzman. A progressive and brilliant man who certainly influenced me as a teacher.

107 WK Early Years Clyde was a hero to Canada and the world’s children. The early childhood world mourns his sudden loss.

Christina Teskey Dr. Clyde Hertzman’s research was instrumental in developing family support programs at my previous job.

James Top BC early learning expert Dr. Clyde Hertzman dies - Vancouver Sun

Alison Brewin So, so sad to hear about Clyde Hertzman’s death. Love to Marcy who was so happy 3 days ago when I saw her last. Life can change so suddenly!

Stephanie Cadieux My thoughts are with his family. BC has lost a great leader in early learning. RIP Dr. Clyde Hertzman

Carol Perry sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Such a phenomenal impact on early learning.

108 Casey Cook #EARLYCHILDHOODDEVELOPMENT & #EPIDEMIOLOGY Giant Dr. Clyde Hertzman’s passing is a huge loss. Condolances to his family

Carole James Such sad news-passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. BC is a better place because of his work for children and families.

OCS Family Resources Top B.C. early learning expert Dr. Clyde Hertzman dies Such sad news, our sympathies to his family

Lora Sarchet Very sad to hear of the passing Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Grateful 4 his many imp contributions

Viktor Elias Top B.C. early learning expert Dr. Clyde Hertzman dies ow.ly/hzQvI

Global BC Top B.C. early learning expert Dr. Clyde Hertzman dies ow.ly/hzQvI

109 pattibacchus Very sad to hear of the passing Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Grateful for his many important contributions

BigHiller Very saddened by this. My heart is heavy for those that loved him.

Alison McVeigh So very sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. He has had a phenomenal impact on early learning.

Ron Sherman Sad news. Our thoughts are with the family of Dr. Clyde Hertzman.

Laura Dixon Sad news about the passing of Clyde Hertzman. He leaves a legacy in ECE in B.C. Core values have been embedded into my work for 15 yrs. now.

Adrian Dix Sadness at the loss of a great British Columbian, Dr. Clyde Hertzman. His contributions+generosity leave a huge legacy.

110 brent granby Big loss for Vancouver-“RIP Clyde Hertzman, who died suddenly and way too soon. Here’s to one of the good guys.”

Annie McEwen Saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman, who contributed much to child development in Canada. He was a major inspiration for me.

Caroline Butler UBC’s Dr. Clyde Hertzman was so inspirational, passionate. His work will continue to change lives of children in #Canada & around world.

Diane Thorne Very sad news. His work has a lasting legacy for BC’s children and Early Years field globally - RIP Dr. Clyde Hertzman

Aetiologic Death of Dr. Clyde Hertzman (OC) yesterday is great loss for research but mostly a loss for children. So much done! So much undone.

Kevin Milligan Lost a great mentor, friend, mind and human being, who died suddenly yesterday. RIP Clyde Hertzman, OC. Age 59.

111 Sophia Woo Shock of Clyde Hertzman death goes well beyond family and academic colleagues but esp felt by them.

vradrian So sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Condolences to hid family, friends and co-wokers.

Glen Hansman Sad to learn of the passing of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Dedicated to the welfare of BC’s children.

Silas White Sad to learn of the passing of the most inspirational, brilliant, accomplished individual I’ve encountered.

Marc Lee RIP Clyde Hertzman, who died suddenly and way too soon. Here’s to one of the good guys.

NWT Literacy Council We are sorry to hear of Clyde Hertzman’s death - a great ambassador for early childhood learning, part of the development of the NWT’s work.

112 Rita Chudnovsky I share the shock and sorrow over Clyde’s passing. His contribution and energy are irreplaceable. Dr. Clyde Hertzman

Naamehl what shocking news about Clyde Hertzman, huge loss for early years advocacy.

Sharon Gregson Very sad news. His work has a lasting legacy for BC’s children and Early Years field globally - RIP Dr. Clyde Hertzman

Emmett Francoeur Sad news! One of the great early child developmentalists, Clyde Hertzman, passed away suddenly! A loss for the world!

Yvonne Hii So sad to hear of the sudden loss of Clyde Hertzman - his research, insight and dedication to child development will be sorely missed.

HealthyLivingUBC The loss of Dr. Clyde Hertzman of #UBC’s SPPH and HELP is profound loss for all Canadians but especially for our children.

113 Heather Fraser Shocked & saddened by news of untimely death of Clyde Hertzman, global champion of early child development & collaboration across sectors

Jen Homer Sad to hear of death of Dr. Clyde Hertzman. Brilliant researcher, funny man, advocate 4 children & health. Had the pleasure to work w him.

Irfan Dhalla Sad to learn of Clyde Hertzman’s death - Canada’s health researcher of the year just a couple of years ago.

114 This book is a compilation of tributes complied by staff at UBC’s Human Early Learning Partnership from the many e-mails, social media and newspaper clippings received in memory of Dr. Clyde Hertzman.

115 Clyde Hertzman 1953 - 2013

Clyde Hertzman March 24, 1953 - February 8, 2013

116