Skip to main content Skip to navigation

In Memoriam: Dr Oliver Sacks

Dr Oliver Sacks at Warwick Arts Centre at the University of Warwick

The Warwick community is saddened by the death of Dr Oliver Sacks who was a much loved Visiting Professor at the University of Warwick who drew capacity crowds for every lecture and seminar he gave on our campus. Warwick also conferred on him the degree of Honorary Doctor of Science in January 2014. Oliver Sacks was a professor of neurology at NYU School of Medicine and a Visiting Professor at the University of Warwick. His essays and books have earned numerous awards and inspired millions of readers around the world and the New York Times has referred to him as "the poet laureate of medicine."

Dr Oliver Sacks being interviewed by Warwick

Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Nigel Thrift said:

“Oliver was not just a great scientist - though he was that. He was not just a great writer - though he was that. He was not just a celebrity - though he was that too. He was also a genuinely nice man who will be sorely missed by his many friends. Oliver also formed a close attachment to Warwick late in his life for which we can all be grateful. His was a life well-lived. We will miss him.”


Oliver Sacks on receiving his honorary degree with his orator Professor Lawrence Young (right) and Warwick

You can revisit two of his talks given while at Warwick at this web page link to a lecture he gave entitled 'Narrative and Medicine: The Importance of the Case History',. That page also has a link to a podcast interview he gave at Warwick on his then latest published book 'Hallucinations'.

There are a great many news reports and obituaries appearing. Links to a few of those now follow:

Oliver Sacks, eminent neurologist and author, dies aged 82 - The Guardian first news story

Oliver Sacks obituary - The Guardian full obituary ‎

Oliver Sacks, Casting Light on the Interconnectedness of Life - New York Times Books Section News

Oliver Sacks Dies at 82; Neurologist and Author Explored the Brain’s Quirks - New York Times full obituary

Oliver Sacks dies in New York aged 82 - BBC

Oliver Sacks, neurologist - obituary - Daily Telegraph obituary

Professor Oliver Sacks: Neurologist whose writings illuminated the workings of the brain and explored what it feels like to be human - The Independent obituary

Dr Sacks' official web site is at: http://www.oliversacks.com/