Lawrence Spero

We are very saddened to announce that Professor Lawrence Spero, passed away on  Apr. 6, 2023.

Dr Spero was a member of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology from 1969 to 2004.  He was born in London, England and completed his PhD in neuropharmacology at Cambridge under the supervision of the legendary Sir Arnold Burgen. He then worked with Nobel prize winner Richard Furshgott at the State University of New York before being recruited to Toronto. His research was in acetylcholine and also in epilepsy but he quickly migrated to medical education and set up the medical teaching labs, becoming an early promoter of artificial intelligence and publishing extensively in this area. Dr Spero was not only a scientist and an educator. He was also a gifted photographer, gardener, and woodworker. On retirement, he and his family went to live on Gabriola Island where he helped found a medical clinic. Dr. Spero was a fervent advocate for children with autism and Fragile-X syndrome and served as a board member for Adventure Place and Homes for Adults with Autism and Developmental Disabilities. In 2022, he was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Fragile-X Research Foundation of Canada. Dr. Spero is remembered with affection by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Tessa, and children Michael and Claire (Todd).