Brian Milner (Baruch Ben Nuchim)

Dear Sylvie and Katrina So sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved husband and father. May all your good memories sustain you through this difficult time. Sincerely, Elaine Givertz

Dear Sylvie and Katrina: This is such sad news. Brain was a wonderful work colleague -- so smart and helpful and funny too. I will always cherish my memories of Brain leading the Friday night movie outings. He was a special human being. I am so sorry for your loss.

Dear Sylvie and Katrina, my condolences on this sad news. I grew up in the ROB with Brian serving variously as my editor, co-writer and guide, and always as one of those integral colleagues who lifts a workplace into a work family.

My heartfelt condolences to Sylvie and Katrina, I am so sad and shocked about the passing of Brian. We had just had lunch with a group of other Globe people at a patio on a warm October day. He was in fine form then, telling us stories that reflected his deep knowledge on so many subjects. He will be profoundly missed. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Marina

Dear Sylvie and Katrina. So sad to hear of your loss. We have many fond memories of Brian from our holidays together, both in N America and the UK. Take care of yourselves.

It saddens me to say goodbye to my dear friend and screenwriting partner from the ‘80’s. He was smart and funny and I loved my time in Toronto with Brian and Sylvie and conversations on the phone following my move to Alberta. He will always have a special place in my heart.

Dear Sylvie and Katrina. We are so sorry to hear about the passing of Brian. We will miss his bowtie, wit, and mischievous and boyish smile. Our heartfelt condolences.

Donna and Dave, Marilyn and Stan, both Dave and I want to express our sincere condolences on the loss of your brother/brother-in-law-law, Brian Milner. May his memories always be a blessing.

Dear Donna, David and Family, Our deepest condolences on the passing of your brother/brother-in-law Brian. May he be a blessed memory to all of you.

My deepest condolences to Sylvie and Katrina. Brian and I sat directly across from each other for several years in the Globe and Mail newsroom, and I couldn't have had a more engaging, knowledgeable and entertaining seat mate. He was spectacularly well-informed about so any things, and often helped me out on economic stories. We chatted about everything from politics to sports to history. This is a terrible loss for all who knew him.

My condolences to Brian’s family. I was in touch with him as recently as this summer; this came as a great shock to me. Brian was a super colleague at the Globe — he shared his wisdom freely and was someone I liked a great deal. I’m so sorry to hear he’s gone.

I am very surprised and so sorry to hear of this sad news. I have many fond childhood memories at the Milner household or of your family visiting us on Indian Trail. I will always remember Brian for his brilliant wit and fantastic conversation...and for a t-shirt he often wore to parties that read "Life is Short! Eat Dessert First!" I still catch myself saying that every now and again....he really did love cake! Mes plus sincères condoléances.

I want to send our heartfelt condolences to Sylvie and Katrina. What dreadful sad news this was. Brian was my first full-time editor at the ROB when I was hired to write Special Reports. He breathed joy and life into what would otherwise have been a backwater, making every task a quest for something interesting and newsworthy. Brian did the same thing when the Special Reports team was liberated and moved to news and features; he made every story he touched better. He was one of those rare reporters who made as well as told stories. I also will never forget the Friday night movie outings, especially the time outside the Carlton cinema when Brian wandered away for a moment in a crowd outside Maples Leaf Gardens–and came back with Boy George tickets. I have Brian to thank for that and so many adventures.

My deepest condolences to Sylvie and Katrina. I knew Brian for many years at the Globe and loved his wry sense of humour. He could amazingly chat with knowledge about every topic and was always interesting and engaging. I am so sorry for your loss.

Very sorry to hear of Brian's death. We worked together for years at the Globe and I had the honour of briefly serving as Brian's boss. He was a wonderful writer, full of curiosity and fun; all attributes of a great journalist.

Dear Marilyn, Stan & Family We are sadden on the huge loss of your Brother Brian. We hope and pray that in time with all the amazing memories you all have that in time you all learn to celebrate his life and not mourn his loss. Are thoughts are with you all!

My deepest condolences to Sylvie and Katrina. Brian was always a kind and generous colleague. He always made time to share his knowledge, and he loved telling stories, especially about how proud he was of Katrina.

Dear Sylvie and Katrina, I am very sorry for the loss of Brian in your lives. He was a wonderful person to talk to about any topic, so interesting, intelligent and funny. Sincerely, Frank Musselman

Like everyone, I am very saddened to hear of Brian's death. He was a wonderful colleague who was always ready to leans a hand. My deepest condolences to his family.

To Brian's family: I was among the many Globe and Mail reporters fortunate to work with Brian over the years. His professionalism and good humour were much appreciated. I was rarely in the same place as him as a reporter but we found other ways to connect. I would like to know if there is a charity of choice in his honour. Please accept my condolences.

My heartfelt condolences. Brian was a pillar in The Globe’s newsroom. Away from work, I remember his insights into everything from baseball to economics to smoked meat during monthly poker nights when I lived in Toronto. Sorry for your loss.

My condolences to you all. Brian was a wonderful colleague. I appreciated his intellect, humour and kindness. He will be missed.

I hear heaven serves dessert first including CHOCOLATE. We will miss Brian (and his humor). Best to Sylvie & Katrina

My condolences to the family. Brian was a wonderful colleague. He always took the time to help me learn more about global economics, and our newsroom conversations would always end up with a laugh or two. He was a great writer and a lovely human being. He will be deeply missed.

Dear Donna and family, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved brother. Sending my sincere heartfelt condolences at this time. May his memory be for a blessing.

What a loss. When I was a Globe intern I had the honour of sitting in a corner of the newsroom with just Brian. Will never forget the way he looked at me when I sat down -- a look I misread as a scowl of sorts. 'Look at this kid.' But in no time I realized he was, in fact, the most lovely man. We talked about everything under the sun, and did so for years after, in person and by e-mail. He was just so wise, and sweet. And I'll never forget the headphones he used to transcribe. Straight out of the 90s. A legend.

Brian and I shared a love for economics and writing about it; I can so easily picture his face as he stopped by my desk to tell me about something he had discovered in the economic data or federal budget that had ignited his intellectual curiosity. He would be so genuinely excited by it, he found talking about this stuff endlessly amusing. Trouble was, his understanding was so far over my head that I just nodded and agreed, realizing that my contribution to this discussion was decidedly lightweight. Brian was a remarkably intelligent man who never lost his childlike curiosity, and was endlessly warm and generous with his colleagues - even if they couldn't keep pace with his rapid-fire brain. I'm so saddened that he's gone. Sylvie and Katrina, my deepest condolences.

I was shocked to hear of Brian’s death and deeply saddened. He was a funny, smart, generous man who entertained me for hours with his tales of being the Holstein reporter on a small town newspaper. I learned much from him during the time we worked together at the Globe. He will be missed.

I will always remember Brian for his humour and immense kindness. He taught me the joy of eating cold pancakes, and any time I say, “I love it when a plan comes together” I hear it in his voice. My condolences to Sylvie and Katrina for your loss.

Sylvie and Katrina, I’m so sorry for your loss. I have such fond memories of the high school years spent at your home. Thinking of you during this time.

I am so sorry for your loss. I worked with Brian - he was incredibly bright, helpful and has the best sense if humour. I always looked up to him and always will.

Sylvie, I am so sorry to hear that Brian has died. I could hardly believe it when Dave Pyette told me. Brian was a friend during the years we worked together at the Globe. He was a lively wit, an intelligent man, and a good and kind person. He'll be sorely missed.

I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Brian's death. I have such great memories of our conversations while "doing Pilates". Brian was so generous with his knowledge and time and such a wealth of fun and interesting information. We always had great conversations! My condolences to you Sylvie and Katrina. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time, with much love.

Brian was opinionated, confident, kind and humorous -- an exceedingly rare combination of essential journalistic qualities. As a fellow St. Clair Wester, I'd occasionally share drives home from the Globe with Brian, and delighted in his conversation, if not his exceedingly cautious and careful driving. I especially enjoyed his tales of old Spadina, and how his extended family worked their way up, local history at the very personal level. Meeting him and Sylvie in the neighbourhood was always a pleasure -- no one was more spontaneous or articulate in the moment.

Canada lost a real legend and I am greatly saddened to hear of Brian's passing. Brian was one of the first journalists to ever ask me for my view. I remember how giddy I felt speaking with him, as a clueless 20-something year old, shocked that someone as experienced as Brian thought I had something insightful to impart. His questions revealed a great understanding of how the world works and how macroeconomics and politics interact. He has therefore always been on my mind. I will greatly miss him, his writing, and his kindness. I wish I could have repaid his confidence in me. It remains a debt unpaid. My condolances to Silvia and Katrina.

My condolences to Brian’s family. I knew him from TVO and he always spoke highly of his wife and daughter.

Dear Sylvie, Katrina and Christopher, we are deeply saddened hearing of the passing of your beloved Husband and Father. I have had the pleasure of meeting and dining with Brian and Sylvie in their and our children's homes. I was drawn by their warmth and welcoming nature. Brian entertained with many interesting stories about his work and their lives lived around the world. I yearned to learn more. Sincere condolences to the family. Debbie and Larry Sherman

Dear Family, Brian was A TV host's perfect guest. I could fire away with questions or challenge him on any fact or opinion and always get a brilliant answer with a sly smile and often a suggestion of what my question should have been. I have nothing but the best memories and genuine respect and affection for Brian.

My most sincere and deepest condolences to Sylvie and family during this challenging time.

Brian and I grew up together we had many sleepovers at his house always washing before I came and for sure my shoes off He would guide me always and took me out with him to the movies always looking after his first cousin One time we walked from Ellington to Shepard happy we saved the bus fare but sure tired I always enjoyed his wit he had a similar sense of humour even though I did not see a lot of him he was always fun when we saw each other I will miss him My best cousin

My condolences on Brian’s passing. He was a witty and helpful colleague when I worked with him at The Globe.

​What a horrible shock to hear this news. I had the great pleasure of working with Brian for many years on the Globe's business section – he was such a pro and had a gift for making complex topics easy to understand – but it wasn't until we began chatting at a holiday party one year that we really bonded over our shared love of our pets. Brian was, to his utter surprise, deeply smitten with Pinot, a rescue dog his daughter Katrina had brought home. After we'd wrapped up our work, and often before, Brian would fill me in on Pinot's adventures. I learned that he happily sat in on Sylvie's French lessons, that he often walked the students home after class, and that he relished his afternoon naps. Having never had a pet before, Brian soon became putty in that dog's paws. Another reason I liked Brian? He always spoke so fondly and with such pride about his family. It was obvious he thought he'd made a great catch with Sylvie, a cultured French woman who managed to cook a 12-course meal in her tiny European kitchen. And he was terribly proud of his daughter Katrina, too. I very much enjoyed my chats with Brian, before and after he retired, and I shall miss his kindness, his worldliness and his wry sense of humour. My deepest condolences to Sylvie, Katrina and Pinot. What a terrible loss for you all. 

Dear Sylvie, I was shocked and saddened to hear of Brian's passing tonight. I am so sorry for your loss. Brian was really an unforgettable individual. His astute observations, delivered with his dry sense of humour, were truly one of the perqs of being in the newsroom back in the day. I have often thought of those fun Friday night movie outings with both of you. I hope that your happy memories will in time be a comfort.

Condolences also to cousins Marylin & Stan and Donna & David.

Dear Sylvie and Katrina, I’m so sorry to hear the news about Brian. We worked together at the ROB in the ‘90s, and I’ll never forget his ironic wit, always delivered with a completely straight face. I met you both on a few occasions when you came into the office to visit. He was obviously completely devoted to you. Brian will always be in my memories. It was a pleasure and an honor to know him. My deepest condolences to you both. All best, Peggy

I was on the ed board with Brian and he often spoke of you, Sylvie and Katrina, always with love. What an engine he had. Lots of people have a knowledge base a mile wide and an inch deep. His was a mile wide and 10 miles deep. (I may have asked him once or twice if he had eaten an encyclopedia for breakfast.) Lots have facts at hand. He could make sense of them. And he was a great reporter. We worked on a story together in the early 90s, he in New York, me in Toronto. He put that engine of his to work. And he was always willing to share. Facts and insight. After he left the board, I would troop upstairs to the ROB to pick his brain on, say, the business of sport. He would draw a diagram of where the Arizona Coyotes had built their arena, and why it would never work in that location. Blackwell would start gabbing and we would have a lot of yucks (to use a Mickleburgh word). Years later, I watched him on Paikin. No matter how arcane the question on any subject, Brian could unfold a precise answer. He was a kind of natural resource. My condolences on your loss.

I’m so very sad that my colleague and friend passed. We were desk mates and I was always in awe of his knowledge and humour. I asked his opinion on everything. Dear Sylvie, you were everything to him and I’m sorry for your loss.