Brenda was so much more than a colleague. She was our friend, confidant, sounding board, and everyone's biggest supporter. She cared deeply and worked tirelessly to just "make things better" for all around her. More often than not we had to tell her off for checking her email whilst she was on leave, or remind her to go eat some lunch and wrap up our 2-hour meeting to which she respondedI know I'm terrible...once I get started, I just can't stop.
Brenda was warm, and let everyone in to her life, and we loved seeing her in a fit of giggles when her furry babies were snoring loudly at her feet during meetings. She talked so fondly of her son's Conor and Patrick, and her husband Eamon, who she adored, and it was beautiful to see her enjoy life so much with her adoring family, parents and friends around her.
We spent more than a year of lockdown in each other’s virtual company, and although we may have been separated by distance, it always felt like Brenda was right there with us to have our back, cheer us on, and lift us up.
Brenda lived life as we all should: fearlessly, joyfully, and with so much heart. We will always remember her as the beautiful person that she was, and will do our best to champion and celebrate the legacy that she has built in PIADS CDT.
Monday 12 July 2021
Kirsty, Vicky and Melissa Brenda's CDT Team, and friends.
On behalf of the staff and students of the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen's University Belfast, I would like to state our deepest sorrow for the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Brenda.
We would like to offer our most sincere condolences to Eamon, Conor and Patrick at these difficult times: out thoughts are with you. Brenda will be sorely missed and dearly remembered by the whole community of the School.
Sunday 11 July 2021
Professor Mauro Paternostro, Head of School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast
On behalf of the researchers and colleagues now scattered across the globe who came together to form the Institute of Collaborative Humanities at Queen’s, we offer our sincere condolences to Eamon and family on Brenda’s loss. She was a founding member of the Institute and a tireless support and encouragement for the colleagues who worked there. We will always remember and celebrate her contribution.
Sunday 11 July 2021
John J. Thompson, professor emeritus, Queen’s University, Belfast
On behalf of the EPSRC - SFI Centre for Doctoral Training in Photonics Integration & Advanced Data Storage, which is a collaboration between Queen's University Belfast, University of Glasgow and the Irish Photonic Integration Centre (Cork & Dublin), all the staff and our doctoral students, past and present, send our heartfelt condolences to Eamon, Conor, Patrick and the family. Brenda was our Centre's Executive Manager, she joined us at the outset of the journey and she was a pivotal member of the team. She had such enthusiasm and drive to make the Programme succeed; she influenced and created so much of what we do. It is fair to say it was Brenda's Centre. Not only was she the most wonderful professional senior administrator she also engaged and supported the students through their own journey often providing tailored pastoral care and support.
The pride she had for herself and her family was so obvious and it was transferred to a pride in her CDT family.
We will remember her and recognise and celebrate what she contributed to, and continue to uphold the standards she set for us.
We will miss her so much, but we cannot begin to imagine how she will be missed by her family.
"Gus am bris an latha"
Sunday 11 July 2021
Professor Robert Bowman, Director of the CDT, Queen's University Belfast.
Brenda, Executive Manager of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Photonic Integration and Data Storage - for those that also worked with her- so much more than the professional title to so, so many. I moved to Glasgow in 2016 to be part of the wider CDT team and Brenda, along with Robert Bowman and John Marsh, gave me my first chance to develop in my professional administrative career. Brenda worked with such care, attention and heart. Over the four years I got to work with her so closely, speaking on a daily basis. Brenda was my Manager, Mentor, Friend and I’m sure so many would agree, we all felt like a family within the Centre and many students referred to her as their ‘ Academic Mum’. I felt that too, many, many times! I feel so grateful and proud to have had the chance to work with such a shining light and she will always be held so dearly to me for always. Brenda is irreplaceable and she leaves behind a legacy and I will try my upmost to keep going with all that she taught me in my mind as I continue to work in the field that she exemplified. I will always remember our various weekly phone, Skype calls and visits to Belfast and she would talk so lovingly about her family during our conversations when there was a moment for pause from our busy work activities. Beyond the heartbreak lies a small, comforting fact that she lived a full life, full of love and devotion to those around her and in everything she achieved. I can honestly say Brenda touched my life so positively and directly improved it. I will always be grateful to her and will never, ever forget her.
Remember the smiles from yesterday!
Take them with you tomorrow,
Hold the love you feel inside and
Leave behind you sorrow.
Caryn Hughes, Mentee (former CDT PIADS External Engagement Manager) Manager of the Doctoral Training Hub at the University of Glasgow
Sunday 11 July 2021