I don’t remember when I first met Neil, but it must have been around 1996. As an ambitious young tobacco control advocate, Neil was a Canadian hero to me, leading WHO’s efforts on the issue. I wanted to be just like him, and eventually did end up working for the WHO (PAHO) for several years. But it was for his work back in Canada after he left WHO that I really saw his brilliance shine. He was a dogged and well-rounded advocate – good at research, communications, and negotiation. He elevated Heather Crowe and her story across Canada, which greatly helped to get workers legal protection from secondhand smoke. For years, he supported the successful Quebec class action suit, which eventually was won, only to become mired in bankruptcy protection for years after. Still, Neil fought back. Neil called out not only the nicotine industry, but also Health Canada when its compass pointed in the wrong direction, as it did when it embraced the vaping industry. Neil was always polite, but firm and fierce. He never “went along to get along,” and always came down on the right side of the issues. For that, I will always be grateful. What a dynamic duo, and a thorn in the side to the nicotine industry, Cynthia and Neil and PSC were! The industry felt threatened right until Neil’s demise, as evidenced by a feeble attempt by the vaping industry to take down PSC in an ill-timed and cowardly attack article in the National Post yesterday. Rock on, Neil! And love to  family and friends.