In Brock’s Memory

Brock McLeod was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer in December of 2014. He died peacefully at home on September 20, 2017, surrounded by his family.

Family and friends gathered on September 29 to remember this brilliant man, who was loved by many people.

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Celebrating Brock

A Facebook page created in memory of Brock McLeod is online here.

Click here to read Brock’s eulogy, the story of his too-short life.

Brock’s family has created two educational funds in Brock’s memory:

Cittaslow Cowichan created the Brock McLeod Best Farm Practices Award.

Readings from Brock’s memorial service:

Brock’s beloved Plato described a satisfying afterlife for philosophers. In The Apology of Socrates, he wrote:

“If death is like a journey from here to another place, and if the things that are said are true, that in fact all the dead are there, then what greater good could there be than this…? To associate with Orpheus and Musaeus and Hesiod and Homer, how much would any of you give? … especially for myself spending time there would be wondrous…. And certainly the greatest thing is that I would pass my time examining and searching out among those there—just as I do to those here—who among them is wise, and who supposes he is, but is not. How much would one give…to examine him who led the greatest army against Troy, or Odysseus, or Sisyphus, or the thousand others whom one might mention, both men and women? To converse and to associate with them and to examine them there would be inconceivable happiness.”

In a favourite book of Brock’s, The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell writes:

“If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path.”

Joseph Campbell also wrote:

“I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.”

Brock accepted his diagnosis of terminal cancer with grace. He loved his life and continued to write, read and spend time with family and friends, laughing and debating.

Once again from The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell writes:

“The conquest of the fear of death is the recovery of life’s joy. One can experience an unconditional affirmation of life only when one has accepted death, not as contrary to life, but as an aspect of life. Life in its becoming is always shedding death, and on the point of death. The conquest of fear yields the courage of life.”

Brock left a letter for Isaac, which includes these words:

“I spent too much of my life afraid of sticking my neck out and getting embarrassed or making a fool of myself. At the end of the day, most times you don’t get embarrassed or make a fool of yourself and, even if you do, most people really don’t care and it passes anyway. If you can get over this fear and have confidence to just go for it, your life will be way more amazing. The more you do it, the more you will realize that good things, not embarrassment, come from summoning the courage to ask a girl out, or get on the dance floor, or stand up to a bully. Being courageous in ordinary life is one of the hardest things to do. Practice it and it will change your life in amazing ways.”

Final blessing:

May the rains sweep gently across your fields,
may the sun warm the land.
May every good seed you have planted bear fruit,
and late summer find you standing in fields of plenty.
May the gifts of the earth fill you with joy.