It is with sadness yet admiration, that l am reading of the many colourful and different aspects of your life Richard,and that you managed to do so much, embarking on and embracing many challenges with quiet,determination. I remember you,some time ago, finding bugs in our water at W.Tree, during a visit with Jude, you were delighted, me horrified and then realizing, to my surprise, you really did have a genuine interest! I remember your magic smile, and enchanting laugh, and your great sense of humour, and our chat's on the phone.`Jude, Emily and Alice, you have been blessed to have Richard in your lives, may you find comfort and happiness in the many memories you shared with an extra ordinary human being.
May your new journey, Richard, be forever in our hearts.
Molais
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Monday, 14 April 2008
Dear Jude, Emily and Alice,
We are saddened to hear that Richard lost his battle with cancer. Although we only met once or twice, I felt we knew him well through you, and knew that you had met your soul mate. It has been inspiring reading the tributes to such a talented man. May it help to know that we are thinking of you and the girls and I am only ever a phone call away.
Love and kisses Jan, Willie and family xxx
We are saddened to hear that Richard lost his battle with cancer. Although we only met once or twice, I felt we knew him well through you, and knew that you had met your soul mate. It has been inspiring reading the tributes to such a talented man. May it help to know that we are thinking of you and the girls and I am only ever a phone call away.
Love and kisses Jan, Willie and family xxx
Monday, 7 April 2008
Dear Jude,
We were very sad to hear of Richard's passing and are thinking of you and the girls.
We have very fond memories of Richard 'looking after' us during a trip to London some years ago. Of course I knew you, through Ann and Paul, but we had never met Richard before. You were away somewhere and he was so kind and friendly, taking us to the Chelsea Gardens, posing for photos by the Henry Moore sculptures in the park near the bridge, and taking us out for dinner at an Indian restaurant somewhere in Battersea.
Cherish the wonderful memories you have and take care.
Love from Sandra and Miriam
Bendigo, Victoria
We were very sad to hear of Richard's passing and are thinking of you and the girls.
We have very fond memories of Richard 'looking after' us during a trip to London some years ago. Of course I knew you, through Ann and Paul, but we had never met Richard before. You were away somewhere and he was so kind and friendly, taking us to the Chelsea Gardens, posing for photos by the Henry Moore sculptures in the park near the bridge, and taking us out for dinner at an Indian restaurant somewhere in Battersea.
Cherish the wonderful memories you have and take care.
Love from Sandra and Miriam
Bendigo, Victoria
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Dear Jude and 'the girls' as they are so affectionately known through Ann to
us. We barely do know Richard and have only met him very sporadically. The
few times our paths crossed we could not help but love him with his friendly
open smile, gentle manners and interest in everybody despite his own
troubles. We are ever so sorry that Richard has lost this long battle and
hope you will find strength and comfort in your memories of your time
together.
With love
Henry and Mia Silver - Melbourne
us. We barely do know Richard and have only met him very sporadically. The
few times our paths crossed we could not help but love him with his friendly
open smile, gentle manners and interest in everybody despite his own
troubles. We are ever so sorry that Richard has lost this long battle and
hope you will find strength and comfort in your memories of your time
together.
With love
Henry and Mia Silver - Melbourne
Saturday, 5 April 2008
Richard,
I want to pay you tribute by telling folks who shared part of your life, a little more about you that they may not have known. You were always so modest they probably did not realize how many talents you had. I like the photo of you on the blog site- looks like you are about to round Cape Horn and you look really happy.
Richard "Spook" Sporik and I go back together so far it's hard to know where to start telling you about this wonderful person.
Surviving a Jesuit school education, we together failed our entrance exams to Oxford in spectacular fashion but had some fun on the way. Being served morning tea by "scouts" at Christchurch student lodgings was an eye-opener. While we followed different medical career paths we got together when we could to philosophize on life over bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale or share his love of blues music at a smoky club or pub.
His perennial curiosity led him into research and to become a globetrotter as a result of which he met Judy, his perfect partner.
Richard had a lovely funny and unconventional side to his character; whether it was drinking mead together on an icy beach at Lindisfarne; knee-deep in mud pushing his motorcycle up a hill in Hampshire; or cruising down the Kings Road, Chelsea in his white Cadillac convertible, he did things with his own inimitable style.
Richard was always one to try a new challenge. A man of many talents - he built a boat, rebuilt his motorcycles several times and built an aeroplane. I think they worked most of the time. His next projects would probably have been a hovercraft or a Chieftain tank but luckily his garage was too small. Judy told me he was a great cook but this talent he hid pretty well as a student.
I had only few opportunities to see him at work professionally; those few times I saw what I expected; a caring, compassionate and humble physician who loved his work and his patients. He wore his stethoscope in Australian style. - draped around his neck with a little teddy (koala) bear attached to it. Good for calming restless infants he said.
I was always amazed at his apparent facility in writing research papers. I often thought he would settle down somewhere as an academic professor but I think it would have been his rather too conventional a thing for him to do.
One evening he phoned me to ask my professional opinion about his diagnosis, I was truly stunned. It was surreal and took a long time for me to take it in.
I always knew Richard as always positive and philosophical about life. Although clearly physically drained at times in the last few years, he always talked in positive terms during his illness and bought a sailing boat and racing bicycle as further outlet for his energies.
Richard, I was not there when you passed away, I wish I had been. I was convinced you would pull through again.
There is something symbolically positive about it all happening at Easter time. I know you would see it like that too. I am glad you have your freedom after such a long battle with pain and discomfort.
All your loving family and friends who will all remember their own special version of you.
Thanks also for leaving me wonderful memories of our friendship.
Tone
I want to pay you tribute by telling folks who shared part of your life, a little more about you that they may not have known. You were always so modest they probably did not realize how many talents you had. I like the photo of you on the blog site- looks like you are about to round Cape Horn and you look really happy.
Richard "Spook" Sporik and I go back together so far it's hard to know where to start telling you about this wonderful person.
Surviving a Jesuit school education, we together failed our entrance exams to Oxford in spectacular fashion but had some fun on the way. Being served morning tea by "scouts" at Christchurch student lodgings was an eye-opener. While we followed different medical career paths we got together when we could to philosophize on life over bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale or share his love of blues music at a smoky club or pub.
His perennial curiosity led him into research and to become a globetrotter as a result of which he met Judy, his perfect partner.
Richard had a lovely funny and unconventional side to his character; whether it was drinking mead together on an icy beach at Lindisfarne; knee-deep in mud pushing his motorcycle up a hill in Hampshire; or cruising down the Kings Road, Chelsea in his white Cadillac convertible, he did things with his own inimitable style.
Richard was always one to try a new challenge. A man of many talents - he built a boat, rebuilt his motorcycles several times and built an aeroplane. I think they worked most of the time. His next projects would probably have been a hovercraft or a Chieftain tank but luckily his garage was too small. Judy told me he was a great cook but this talent he hid pretty well as a student.
I had only few opportunities to see him at work professionally; those few times I saw what I expected; a caring, compassionate and humble physician who loved his work and his patients. He wore his stethoscope in Australian style. - draped around his neck with a little teddy (koala) bear attached to it. Good for calming restless infants he said.
I was always amazed at his apparent facility in writing research papers. I often thought he would settle down somewhere as an academic professor but I think it would have been his rather too conventional a thing for him to do.
One evening he phoned me to ask my professional opinion about his diagnosis, I was truly stunned. It was surreal and took a long time for me to take it in.
I always knew Richard as always positive and philosophical about life. Although clearly physically drained at times in the last few years, he always talked in positive terms during his illness and bought a sailing boat and racing bicycle as further outlet for his energies.
Richard, I was not there when you passed away, I wish I had been. I was convinced you would pull through again.
There is something symbolically positive about it all happening at Easter time. I know you would see it like that too. I am glad you have your freedom after such a long battle with pain and discomfort.
All your loving family and friends who will all remember their own special version of you.
Thanks also for leaving me wonderful memories of our friendship.
Tone
Richard or Ri as his family used to call him attended the Oratory School in Chelsea of course, the kids in the school had a whole set of names for him: Spock or Spook , he took all this in good part and made many friends.
Richard’s character then as later was one of friendliness and of being laid back (nothing would phase him). Maybe he had an insight into how the sixties would be remembered. He was both gentle and caring but woe betide any bullies that saw this as weakness, they would often end up on the wrong end of a punch and not bother him again.
He progressed through secondary school at the London Oratory Grammar and was successful at all the subjects he tried. He soon became one of the years high flyers and would entertain the parents with piano recitals. With his all round success his confidence grew. This confidence gave him the opportunity to lead a different life to the one mapped out for most of the school leavers in the seventies. Richard knew that he could confidently jump off the normal path and go and tour the world with the full knowledge that he could rejoin and excel at his chosen direction when he decided.
He was of course smart enough to recognise the benefits of having a profession behind him, and so went of to Medical school in Southampton. Now whether this was his decision or was he conforming for his Mum and Dad, we will never know. But following his graduation as a Doctor he got back on track to see the world, he was now his own Man and would not conform again unless he felt it was the right thing to do.
Steve Eveleigh
Richard’s character then as later was one of friendliness and of being laid back (nothing would phase him). Maybe he had an insight into how the sixties would be remembered. He was both gentle and caring but woe betide any bullies that saw this as weakness, they would often end up on the wrong end of a punch and not bother him again.
He progressed through secondary school at the London Oratory Grammar and was successful at all the subjects he tried. He soon became one of the years high flyers and would entertain the parents with piano recitals. With his all round success his confidence grew. This confidence gave him the opportunity to lead a different life to the one mapped out for most of the school leavers in the seventies. Richard knew that he could confidently jump off the normal path and go and tour the world with the full knowledge that he could rejoin and excel at his chosen direction when he decided.
He was of course smart enough to recognise the benefits of having a profession behind him, and so went of to Medical school in Southampton. Now whether this was his decision or was he conforming for his Mum and Dad, we will never know. But following his graduation as a Doctor he got back on track to see the world, he was now his own Man and would not conform again unless he felt it was the right thing to do.
Steve Eveleigh
Dear Jude,
Maddy and I were sad to hear that Richard passed away recently after his long struggle with cancer.
Richard was such an easy going, friendly and funny person to work with and always an off beat comment or unusual take on whatever was going on. This made working with Richard and knowing him as a friend special and such a pleasure. During his time in Charlottesville, he was a good friend of the family and was a favorite with our children when they were young. Richard was comfortable with children and seemed to instinctively know how to relate to them in a way that was comfortable and rather special.
We all know that Richard was a bit of a cynic! But his resistance to the status quo and search for other paths was what we liked and admired, especially because of his affable nature. It was really good to work with him in the lab, indoor and out. We have particular memories of him coming over to our place one Fall to collect airborne samples for Aspergillus and there we were, with sampler running, jumping up and down in piles of dead leaves and having great fun. The kids thought that it was hilarious (and somehow the experiment worked too).
These joyous moments of Richard laughing and enjoying life are what we remember and hope that they will be some solace with his passing. We will all miss him and hope that you and the children are coping as best you can.
Our thoughts are with you,
Martin and Maddy
Maddy and I were sad to hear that Richard passed away recently after his long struggle with cancer.
Richard was such an easy going, friendly and funny person to work with and always an off beat comment or unusual take on whatever was going on. This made working with Richard and knowing him as a friend special and such a pleasure. During his time in Charlottesville, he was a good friend of the family and was a favorite with our children when they were young. Richard was comfortable with children and seemed to instinctively know how to relate to them in a way that was comfortable and rather special.
We all know that Richard was a bit of a cynic! But his resistance to the status quo and search for other paths was what we liked and admired, especially because of his affable nature. It was really good to work with him in the lab, indoor and out. We have particular memories of him coming over to our place one Fall to collect airborne samples for Aspergillus and there we were, with sampler running, jumping up and down in piles of dead leaves and having great fun. The kids thought that it was hilarious (and somehow the experiment worked too).
These joyous moments of Richard laughing and enjoying life are what we remember and hope that they will be some solace with his passing. We will all miss him and hope that you and the children are coping as best you can.
Our thoughts are with you,
Martin and Maddy
Dear Jude
It's been a long time between drinks - and I remember the first time I met Richard (a Joni Mitchell song, remember?) You both came to visit me (and Des) in Lorne. It was a good night, in the company of good people, and good food, and good wine. The next time (in my memory) we met was just after Emily was born.
Jude, may you be comforted by the memories of your lovely Richard . His spirit will live on - in you, your daughters, and all who know him well.
Our thoughts are with you.
Marcia, Des and Alex.
It's been a long time between drinks - and I remember the first time I met Richard (a Joni Mitchell song, remember?) You both came to visit me (and Des) in Lorne. It was a good night, in the company of good people, and good food, and good wine. The next time (in my memory) we met was just after Emily was born.
Jude, may you be comforted by the memories of your lovely Richard . His spirit will live on - in you, your daughters, and all who know him well.
Our thoughts are with you.
Marcia, Des and Alex.
Friday, 4 April 2008
Far away in Melbourne Australia, we feel close to the Sporiks/Higgins. As I read the tributes, the Image of Richard's kind eyes & smile cannot ever be separated from the family or any of us. Richard can be remembered by the love he has left behind. I still warmly see Richard and Jude & the girls every time I pass the gate of swans in Roberts St. Northcote when we used to visit their house when they were living in Melbourne next to Anne & Paul. The kind hospitality has stayed with us all these years and the spirit of friendship extends from the house to the beyond and stays in our hearts forever................Love, Mark, Julia, Jacob & Aaron Silver
Thursday, 3 April 2008
on behalf of Jude Telford
There are many folks of whom you could say " nice person ~ there was good fellow and he will be sadly missed " but with Richard YOU WOULD ACTUALLY MEAN IT . I have 2 pictures of him in my mind that stand out. One was a trip to Avalon checking out Melbourne stuff. I`m not one for war memorabilia but I liked that viewing with him , just the 2 of us, from far off lands. He was a good chatter and genuinely interested in things and it rubbed off. I liked the fact that he did things not for personal gain but for others. He was kind. Not everybody is.
He was.
Jude Telford.
He was.
Jude Telford.
remembering Richard
My earliest memories of Richard was of him rebuilding a Honda motorcycle in Ann and Paul's backyard, then his long distance back and forth romance with Jude and his contentment with two young daughters when living in Sydney. I’ll remember Richard as a laid back easy going gentle soul with a very droll sense of humour.
Ian McPhail
Ian McPhail
A ma n of good ideas
When our second son Dominic was born , a mutual friend of Richard and myself , Bernie O'Regan , took some photos of Dominic's tiny hand being held in the palms of my hands , sadly Bernie died soon after and the negatives were never found .
Fortunately a few months later I remembered Richard had had a good idea and organized a seperate photo shoot of our two families and that I had asked Bernie to do a few hand holding shots of myself and Dominic .
What was seemingly lost forever suddenly became found . This photo print is one of my most loved possessions . The photo is on the wall and whenever I see it I can thank Richard for this treasure .
Paul Cullen
Fortunately a few months later I remembered Richard had had a good idea and organized a seperate photo shoot of our two families and that I had asked Bernie to do a few hand holding shots of myself and Dominic .
What was seemingly lost forever suddenly became found . This photo print is one of my most loved possessions . The photo is on the wall and whenever I see it I can thank Richard for this treasure .
Paul Cullen
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
While our group was at King’s College London we advertised for a research fellow to join us. We were delighted when Richard applied for the post. His academic reputation preceded him, with a number of seminal publications on his cv. Rival applicants didn’t stand a chance against someone of such high calibre.
Although Richard worked with us for only a few years, during that short time he brought a breath of fresh air to our group with his wonderful enthusiasm and sense of humour. He was a talented researcher, full of energy and ideas, and this was complemented by his skills and experience as a paediatric physician.
I will never forget the day when he calmly told me of his diagnosis and made the hard decision, for the sake of his family, to leave academia behind and take up a clinical post in Cornwall. We are all filled with admiration for the remarkable courage that he showed in his long battle with cancer.
Richard, it was a privilege to have worked with you. Losing you was a great loss to our group and to asthma research, as you undoubtedly had so much more to contribute.
A tribute to Richard from Seif Shaheen on behalf of the Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health Group at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London.
Although Richard worked with us for only a few years, during that short time he brought a breath of fresh air to our group with his wonderful enthusiasm and sense of humour. He was a talented researcher, full of energy and ideas, and this was complemented by his skills and experience as a paediatric physician.
I will never forget the day when he calmly told me of his diagnosis and made the hard decision, for the sake of his family, to leave academia behind and take up a clinical post in Cornwall. We are all filled with admiration for the remarkable courage that he showed in his long battle with cancer.
Richard, it was a privilege to have worked with you. Losing you was a great loss to our group and to asthma research, as you undoubtedly had so much more to contribute.
A tribute to Richard from Seif Shaheen on behalf of the Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health Group at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London.
Thank you for your note that Richard is now at peace. You, Emily and Alice must have been very proud to have been part of the life of such a distinguished man.
My thoughts, and as I am sure are the thoughts of those around the world who came to this remarkable, unassuming and intelligent man are with you at this difficult time.
My best wishes to you all.
David Hill
My thoughts, and as I am sure are the thoughts of those around the world who came to this remarkable, unassuming and intelligent man are with you at this difficult time.
My best wishes to you all.
David Hill
Jude, We are very sorry to hear of Richard's passing. Please accept our sympathy. I remember having interesting discussions with Richard about the relationship between geology and medicine, something I had never thought about before. If there is anything we can do for you, let us know.
Love, John and Allison
Associate Professor John Webb
Environmental Geoscience
La Trobe University
Victoria 3086
Australia
Love, John and Allison
Associate Professor John Webb
Environmental Geoscience
La Trobe University
Victoria 3086
Australia
We were so sad to hear that Richard had passed away. We were talking last night about times that we all spent together, what wonderful friends your were and how Richard proudly showed us around London. I think that having his funeral in London is really fitting. We are sorry that we can't be there. When we next together we shall raise a toast to Richard, a kind, sweet, all round good bloke who will be sadly missed.
It is so hard to know what to say as I can only imagine what you and the girls must be feeling. I imagine that it must feel very odd and empty. Richard fought so valiantly for so long, I hope his death was kind and peaceful.
I also hope that you are all hanging in there OK, you have really had quite a time over the past few years. Please try to be good to yourself,
Love to you all,
Allison & John
It is so hard to know what to say as I can only imagine what you and the girls must be feeling. I imagine that it must feel very odd and empty. Richard fought so valiantly for so long, I hope his death was kind and peaceful.
I also hope that you are all hanging in there OK, you have really had quite a time over the past few years. Please try to be good to yourself,
Love to you all,
Allison & John
I am so sorry to hear from Dr Purvis about Richard.
We worked together at Poole about 20 years ago, Richard was a reg. at that time and I was a night sister. He was a such a wonderful character and a great paediatrician.
He must have found nights really difficult but we (the night staff) loved having him around and would often keep him chatting well into the early hours. He was always good with the children and I have fond memories of him trying to settle a sick little boy one night by singing to him. Im not sure the child recognised the tune (we didnt!) but it worked a treat.
We all shared some sad times with those very sick children that we looked after and some great times when Richards' sense of humour came to the fore.
Despite giving me advice against getting married, Richard carried out the baby check on my daughter. (I've since divorced so maybe I should have listened to him).
When Richard left Poole I lost track of him - but met him completely by surprise in a corridor at GOS where he was working and I was attending a course. After catching up on the gossip then, I didn't see him again until about 8 years ago at Poole. At that time I was going through a bit of a tough time and again he gave me his advice, which was to move to Dorchester. He was instrumental in the move and I have alot to thank him for.
I will always remember him for the Zappa type moustache, the huge white cadillac but most of all, for the warm gentle person that he was.
I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now, but I hope the happy memories you have of your time together will help you through the days ahead.
My thoughts are with you and his family at this time,
Gill
We worked together at Poole about 20 years ago, Richard was a reg. at that time and I was a night sister. He was a such a wonderful character and a great paediatrician.
He must have found nights really difficult but we (the night staff) loved having him around and would often keep him chatting well into the early hours. He was always good with the children and I have fond memories of him trying to settle a sick little boy one night by singing to him. Im not sure the child recognised the tune (we didnt!) but it worked a treat.
We all shared some sad times with those very sick children that we looked after and some great times when Richards' sense of humour came to the fore.
Despite giving me advice against getting married, Richard carried out the baby check on my daughter. (I've since divorced so maybe I should have listened to him).
When Richard left Poole I lost track of him - but met him completely by surprise in a corridor at GOS where he was working and I was attending a course. After catching up on the gossip then, I didn't see him again until about 8 years ago at Poole. At that time I was going through a bit of a tough time and again he gave me his advice, which was to move to Dorchester. He was instrumental in the move and I have alot to thank him for.
I will always remember him for the Zappa type moustache, the huge white cadillac but most of all, for the warm gentle person that he was.
I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now, but I hope the happy memories you have of your time together will help you through the days ahead.
My thoughts are with you and his family at this time,
Gill
I've just returned after annual leave & heard the sad news about Richard. I am so sorry and want to add personally that he will be so greatly missed by so many, including us all here in PMS/K Spa. A lovely man, a great teacher, a highly respected clinician and such a thoroughly nice person too. Please pass my thoughts and respect onto his family in what I am sure will be a sea of similar messages.
Anne Davidson - NHS Liaison Manager, Peninsula College of Medicine & Dentistry, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro
Anne Davidson - NHS Liaison Manager, Peninsula College of Medicine & Dentistry, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro
I never knew Richard but I do know how very special he was to you. I remember sitting at your place there in Thornbury a number of times and you telling me all about him. I remember how pleased I was for you the night you told me you were going to marry Richard and go back to the UK.
A few years ago I came across an anonymous saying that is very special to me……I actually have it framed on the wall unit in my apartment. Perhaps it may have some meaning for you too, particularly at this incredibly sad and difficult time.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take…………..but by the number of moments that take our breath away.”
I have no doubt that you and Richard shared many moments together that took your breath away. You will always have those memories.
My warmest thoughts
Pauline Bates
A few years ago I came across an anonymous saying that is very special to me……I actually have it framed on the wall unit in my apartment. Perhaps it may have some meaning for you too, particularly at this incredibly sad and difficult time.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take…………..but by the number of moments that take our breath away.”
I have no doubt that you and Richard shared many moments together that took your breath away. You will always have those memories.
My warmest thoughts
Pauline Bates
It is difficult to believe that Richard will not be around. He was the most original thinker in our world, and it was more fun discussing research with him than with anyone else. Richard first “appeared” in Virginia while he was working with Jeremy Cogswell on the Poole Cohort in 1989. In that study he provided the evaluation of the children at age 10 and brought with him techniques that had been developed in Sydney and in Southampton. The result was a paper that has had a major impact.
Following his fellowship, he spent several years working with us in Charlottesville. During that time, he designed and organized a series of studies on middle school children which played a major part in our thinking over then next ten years. His favorite study was carried out in Los Alamos and he persuaded the journal to allow the title to have an addendum “Tickling the dragon’s breath”. This was an allusion to Richard Feynman’s “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail” from an experiment in the same town 50 years earlier. Looking for old pictures, we found a whole series of other people enjoying themselves doing studies designed by Richard!
The impact of his thinking can best be appreciated from the editorial on causality in 1992. At that time, Richard became a real authority on causality and he was the first to bring Bradford Hill’s criteria for causality to bear on the problem of asthma in children. I believe his thinking at that time allowed us all to move forward. This included extending dose response data to multiple allergens which in turn lead through to understanding tolerance to domestic animals.
Looking back, having Richard work with us at that time was an honor. I was sorry when he decided to go to Australia. However, he had started to make connections with the groups in Sydney and Melbourne and clearly enjoyed the sense of Wild West down there. We also remember very fondly when Jude and Richard came to Charlottesville as newly weds, reminds me of my own honeymoon visiting strip malls in West Virginia.
Richard Sporik provided a special intellectual spark and an infectious enthusiasm that was totally his own. He was an exceptionally generous colleague and collaborator. He will be missed in many ways, but mostly as a friend.
Thomas Platts Mills - Professor of Immunolgy at University of Virginia, Charlottsville.
Following his fellowship, he spent several years working with us in Charlottesville. During that time, he designed and organized a series of studies on middle school children which played a major part in our thinking over then next ten years. His favorite study was carried out in Los Alamos and he persuaded the journal to allow the title to have an addendum “Tickling the dragon’s breath”. This was an allusion to Richard Feynman’s “Tickling the Dragon’s Tail” from an experiment in the same town 50 years earlier. Looking for old pictures, we found a whole series of other people enjoying themselves doing studies designed by Richard!
The impact of his thinking can best be appreciated from the editorial on causality in 1992. At that time, Richard became a real authority on causality and he was the first to bring Bradford Hill’s criteria for causality to bear on the problem of asthma in children. I believe his thinking at that time allowed us all to move forward. This included extending dose response data to multiple allergens which in turn lead through to understanding tolerance to domestic animals.
Looking back, having Richard work with us at that time was an honor. I was sorry when he decided to go to Australia. However, he had started to make connections with the groups in Sydney and Melbourne and clearly enjoyed the sense of Wild West down there. We also remember very fondly when Jude and Richard came to Charlottesville as newly weds, reminds me of my own honeymoon visiting strip malls in West Virginia.
Richard Sporik provided a special intellectual spark and an infectious enthusiasm that was totally his own. He was an exceptionally generous colleague and collaborator. He will be missed in many ways, but mostly as a friend.
Thomas Platts Mills - Professor of Immunolgy at University of Virginia, Charlottsville.
Dear Jude, Emily and Alice
We are writing to you to help celebrate the life of your husband and father, Richard Sporik. We wished we could have been with you today. On behalf of myself and my colleagues, Cliff Hosking and Leone Thiele, who came to know Richard well during his stay in Melbourne, we would like to record some of our memories of this quiet, unassuming but gentle man.
I first met Richard in the early 1990’s in the United States when he was working with Tom Platts-Mills at the University of Virginia. He had already established an enviable reputation because of his pioneering work in identifying house dust allergy as an important cause of childhood asthma.
In the mid-1990’s he came to Melbourne. We were fortunate to recruit him to assist in our studies. He rapidly proved himself to be a popular and important part of our research team. He endeared himself to our group because of his integrity, his unassuming nature and somewhat laconic wit. I remember our first meeting in our broken-down Melbourne terrace house in which we had achieved an international reputation as the Department of Allergy for the Royal Children’s Hospital. Richard, uncharacteristically, was rendered almost speechless as he cast his eye around the crumbling ceiling and thread-bare carpet and observed “it is interesting the different conditions that some people have to work under”. Over the next 12 months he distinguished himself by publishing several papers of international importance on various aspects of asthma, food allergy and eczema.
Richard moved to Sydney to further his studies on allergy and asthma but we continued to collaborate and were planning additional studies at the time his illness was diagnosed.
When Richard left the Department of Allergy for Sydney we fondly remembered a gentle man of modesty, integrity and intelligence who was innovative in his investigations into children with allergic diseases.
During his subsequent long illness which he battled with courage and dignity, these qualities remained undiminished. Whenever I passed through London we tried to meet and I will always remember with great affection the occasion when I visited your home and shared Sunday lunch with you all. I will miss Richard as will his many friends and colleagues from around the world who came to respect and love him.
Children with allergic disease from around the world have had their lives enriched by Richard’s insightful analysis.
Jude, Emily and Alice you have every reason to be very proud to have been part of the life of such a distinguished man. Our thoughts are with you today as you celebrate Richard’s life.
With best regards
David Hill
Director, Department of Allergy
Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
Cliff Hosking
Emeritus Immunologist
Department of Allergy
Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
Leone Thiele
Departmental Manager
Department of Allergy
Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne March 28.2008
We are writing to you to help celebrate the life of your husband and father, Richard Sporik. We wished we could have been with you today. On behalf of myself and my colleagues, Cliff Hosking and Leone Thiele, who came to know Richard well during his stay in Melbourne, we would like to record some of our memories of this quiet, unassuming but gentle man.
I first met Richard in the early 1990’s in the United States when he was working with Tom Platts-Mills at the University of Virginia. He had already established an enviable reputation because of his pioneering work in identifying house dust allergy as an important cause of childhood asthma.
In the mid-1990’s he came to Melbourne. We were fortunate to recruit him to assist in our studies. He rapidly proved himself to be a popular and important part of our research team. He endeared himself to our group because of his integrity, his unassuming nature and somewhat laconic wit. I remember our first meeting in our broken-down Melbourne terrace house in which we had achieved an international reputation as the Department of Allergy for the Royal Children’s Hospital. Richard, uncharacteristically, was rendered almost speechless as he cast his eye around the crumbling ceiling and thread-bare carpet and observed “it is interesting the different conditions that some people have to work under”. Over the next 12 months he distinguished himself by publishing several papers of international importance on various aspects of asthma, food allergy and eczema.
Richard moved to Sydney to further his studies on allergy and asthma but we continued to collaborate and were planning additional studies at the time his illness was diagnosed.
When Richard left the Department of Allergy for Sydney we fondly remembered a gentle man of modesty, integrity and intelligence who was innovative in his investigations into children with allergic diseases.
During his subsequent long illness which he battled with courage and dignity, these qualities remained undiminished. Whenever I passed through London we tried to meet and I will always remember with great affection the occasion when I visited your home and shared Sunday lunch with you all. I will miss Richard as will his many friends and colleagues from around the world who came to respect and love him.
Children with allergic disease from around the world have had their lives enriched by Richard’s insightful analysis.
Jude, Emily and Alice you have every reason to be very proud to have been part of the life of such a distinguished man. Our thoughts are with you today as you celebrate Richard’s life.
With best regards
David Hill
Director, Department of Allergy
Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
Cliff Hosking
Emeritus Immunologist
Department of Allergy
Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
Leone Thiele
Departmental Manager
Department of Allergy
Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne March 28.2008
Richard..
We (my family Richard, Erin & Tilly) feel extremely lucky to have had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with the Sporik/Higgins Family. Richard (as we, his friends know), was one of the kindest, quietest, intelligent, out of the box, people I have had the pleasure of meeting. His family Jude, Emily and Alice also share these very special qualities and so for me, at least, when I look at them, our dear friend lives on.
I wish every peace to Richard and strength and love to Jude and the girls.
Richard you will always be in my heart each time I look up at the african night sky. Very blessed to have met you and thanks for allowing me into the Sporik house hold on my trips to Paris.
Richard allowed me to invade for 4 days each time to play with my dear friend Jude. He also took the time to know me as the friend of Jude and he became my friend. How great it is to have know the man that took my Jude's heart.
A very special man and a privilege to have known him.
Love Jane
Johannesburg
Richard allowed me to invade for 4 days each time to play with my dear friend Jude. He also took the time to know me as the friend of Jude and he became my friend. How great it is to have know the man that took my Jude's heart.
A very special man and a privilege to have known him.
Love Jane
Johannesburg
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Sunday, 30 March 2008
What can I say? Richard was a warm highly intelligent father who knew so much about any subject you care to mention. He had a great warmth and humanity about him and always had a twinkle in his eye and a real love for Jude , Alice and Emily. His intellect staggered me but he was kind enough never to think of people as lesser than him and his humour was a pleasure to behold. He took on his illness with a quiet stoicism and was typically understated . I can't begin to imagine the gap he has left but he enriched my life and made me think very differently about things.
I saw Richard for the last time in November 2007 and this time he educated me on the economics of Cornwall and the failures of the Health Service! As always he showed great knowledge and a quest to pass his learnings on and talked in his usual laconic dry humour way so that the true suffering he was facing was forgotten as we delved into a history and economics lesson. It was typical of Richard that we didn't focus on his personal circumstance but on something he felt was far more important.
A caring humanitarian, intellectual, and above all a great husband and father.
Tym Moore
March 30th 2008
I saw Richard for the last time in November 2007 and this time he educated me on the economics of Cornwall and the failures of the Health Service! As always he showed great knowledge and a quest to pass his learnings on and talked in his usual laconic dry humour way so that the true suffering he was facing was forgotten as we delved into a history and economics lesson. It was typical of Richard that we didn't focus on his personal circumstance but on something he felt was far more important.
A caring humanitarian, intellectual, and above all a great husband and father.
Tym Moore
March 30th 2008
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Richard's publications
1. Sporik R, Holgate ST, Platts-Mills TA, Cogswell JJ. Exposure to house-dust mite allergen (Der p I) and the development of asthma in childhood. N Engl J Med. 1990 Aug 23;323(8):502-7.
2. Sporik R, Holgate ST, Cogswell JJ. Natural history of asthma in childhood--a birth cohort study. Arch Dis Child. 1991 Sep;66(9):1050-3.
3. Sporik R, Chapman MD, Platts-Mills TA. House dust mite exposure as a cause of asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 1992 Oct;22(10):897-906.
4. Sporik RB, Arruda LK, Woodfolk J, Chapman MD, Platts-Mills TA. Environmental exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus allergen (Asp f I). Clin Exp Allergy. 1993 Apr;23(4):326-31.
5. Sporik R, Platts-Mills TA, Cogswell JJ. Exposure to house dust mite allergen of children admitted to hospital with asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 1993 Sep;23(9):740-6.
6. Sporik R. Early childhood wheezing. Curr Opin Pediatr. 1994 Dec;6(6):650-5.
7. Sporik R, Ingram JM, Price W, Sussman JH, Honsinger RW, Platts-Mills TA. Association of asthma with serum IgE and skin test reactivity to allergens among children living at high altitude. Tickling the dragon's breath. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995 May;151(5):1388-92.
9. Sporik R, Hill D. Allergy to peanut, nuts, and sesame seed in Australian children. BMJ. 1996 Dec 7;313(7070):1477-8.
10. Squillace SP, Sporik RB, Rakes G, Couture N, Lawrence A, Merriam S, Zhang J, Platts-Mills AE. Sensitization to dust mites as a dominant risk factor for asthma among adolescents living in central Virginia. Multiple regression analysis of a population-based study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997 Dec;156(6):1760-4.
11. Sporik R, Hill DJ, Thompson PJ, Stewart GA, Carlin JB, Nolan TM, Kemp AS, Hosking CS.
The Melbourne House Dust Mite Study: long-term efficacy of house dust mite reduction strategies. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1998 Apr;101(4 Pt 1):451-6.
12. Perzanowski MS, Sporik R, Squillace SP, Gelber LE, Call R, Carter M, Platts-Mills TA. Association of sensitization to Alternaria allergens with asthma among school-age children. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1998 May;101(5):626-32.
13. O'Meara TJ, De Lucca S, Sporik R, Graham A, Tovey E. Detection of inhaled cat allergen. Lancet. 1998 May 16;351(9114):1488-9.
14. Sporik R, Squillace SP, Ingram JM, Rakes G, Honsinger RW, Platts-Mills TA. Mite, cat, and cockroach exposure, allergen sensitisation, and asthma in children: a case-control study of three schools. Thorax. 1999 Aug;54(8):675-80.
15. Hill DJ, Sporik R, Thorburn J, Hosking CS. The association of atopic dermatitis in infancy with immunoglobulin E food sensitization. J Pediatr. 2000 Oct;137(4):475-9.
16. Sporik R, Hill DJ, Hosking CS. Specificity of allergen skin testing in predicting positive open food challenges to milk, egg and peanut in children. Clin Exp Allergy. 2000 Nov;30(11):1540-6.
17. Platts-Mills T, Vaughan J, Squillace S, Woodfolk J, Sporik R. Sensitisation, asthma, and a modified Th2 response in children exposed to cat allergen: a population-based cross-sectional study. Lancet. 2001 Mar 10;357(9258):752-6.
18. Sporik R, Platts-Mills TA. Allergen exposure and the development of asthma. Thorax. 2001 Sep;56 Suppl 2:ii58-63.
19. Rhodes HL, Thomas P, Sporik R, Holgate ST, Cogswell JJ. A birth cohort study of subjects at risk of atopy: twenty-two-year follow-up of wheeze and atopic status. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002 Jan 15;165(2):176-80.
20. Erwin EA, Custis N, Ronmark E, Wickens K, Sporik R, Woodfolk JA, Platts-Mills TA. Asthma and indoor air: contrasts in the dose response to cat and dust-mite. Indoor Air. 2005;15 Suppl 10:33-9.
2. Sporik R, Holgate ST, Cogswell JJ. Natural history of asthma in childhood--a birth cohort study. Arch Dis Child. 1991 Sep;66(9):1050-3.
3. Sporik R, Chapman MD, Platts-Mills TA. House dust mite exposure as a cause of asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 1992 Oct;22(10):897-906.
4. Sporik RB, Arruda LK, Woodfolk J, Chapman MD, Platts-Mills TA. Environmental exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus allergen (Asp f I). Clin Exp Allergy. 1993 Apr;23(4):326-31.
5. Sporik R, Platts-Mills TA, Cogswell JJ. Exposure to house dust mite allergen of children admitted to hospital with asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 1993 Sep;23(9):740-6.
6. Sporik R. Early childhood wheezing. Curr Opin Pediatr. 1994 Dec;6(6):650-5.
7. Sporik R, Ingram JM, Price W, Sussman JH, Honsinger RW, Platts-Mills TA. Association of asthma with serum IgE and skin test reactivity to allergens among children living at high altitude. Tickling the dragon's breath. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995 May;151(5):1388-92.
9. Sporik R, Hill D. Allergy to peanut, nuts, and sesame seed in Australian children. BMJ. 1996 Dec 7;313(7070):1477-8.
10. Squillace SP, Sporik RB, Rakes G, Couture N, Lawrence A, Merriam S, Zhang J, Platts-Mills AE. Sensitization to dust mites as a dominant risk factor for asthma among adolescents living in central Virginia. Multiple regression analysis of a population-based study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997 Dec;156(6):1760-4.
11. Sporik R, Hill DJ, Thompson PJ, Stewart GA, Carlin JB, Nolan TM, Kemp AS, Hosking CS.
The Melbourne House Dust Mite Study: long-term efficacy of house dust mite reduction strategies. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1998 Apr;101(4 Pt 1):451-6.
12. Perzanowski MS, Sporik R, Squillace SP, Gelber LE, Call R, Carter M, Platts-Mills TA. Association of sensitization to Alternaria allergens with asthma among school-age children. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1998 May;101(5):626-32.
13. O'Meara TJ, De Lucca S, Sporik R, Graham A, Tovey E. Detection of inhaled cat allergen. Lancet. 1998 May 16;351(9114):1488-9.
14. Sporik R, Squillace SP, Ingram JM, Rakes G, Honsinger RW, Platts-Mills TA. Mite, cat, and cockroach exposure, allergen sensitisation, and asthma in children: a case-control study of three schools. Thorax. 1999 Aug;54(8):675-80.
15. Hill DJ, Sporik R, Thorburn J, Hosking CS. The association of atopic dermatitis in infancy with immunoglobulin E food sensitization. J Pediatr. 2000 Oct;137(4):475-9.
16. Sporik R, Hill DJ, Hosking CS. Specificity of allergen skin testing in predicting positive open food challenges to milk, egg and peanut in children. Clin Exp Allergy. 2000 Nov;30(11):1540-6.
17. Platts-Mills T, Vaughan J, Squillace S, Woodfolk J, Sporik R. Sensitisation, asthma, and a modified Th2 response in children exposed to cat allergen: a population-based cross-sectional study. Lancet. 2001 Mar 10;357(9258):752-6.
18. Sporik R, Platts-Mills TA. Allergen exposure and the development of asthma. Thorax. 2001 Sep;56 Suppl 2:ii58-63.
19. Rhodes HL, Thomas P, Sporik R, Holgate ST, Cogswell JJ. A birth cohort study of subjects at risk of atopy: twenty-two-year follow-up of wheeze and atopic status. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002 Jan 15;165(2):176-80.
20. Erwin EA, Custis N, Ronmark E, Wickens K, Sporik R, Woodfolk JA, Platts-Mills TA. Asthma and indoor air: contrasts in the dose response to cat and dust-mite. Indoor Air. 2005;15 Suppl 10:33-9.
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