As reaching out my friends who might have been affected by the recent Hamas’ invasive attack in Israel, killed more than 1,000 people as we speak, including women and children, I couldn’t help but wondered what Dr. Bruneau’s research was doing. From the UPenn web, I came to realize his passing in 2020, in which has been almost nearly exact 3 years from now. What made me remember Dr. Bruneau since 2013 was his work on world conflict. The first paper I read of his work was this spectacular paper (2011*): Distinct role of the 'Shared Pain' and 'Theory of Mind' networks in processing others' emotional suffering .
In 2013, I was cultivating my thesis and planning to apply a PhD. By that time, I was a hard science student, and I knew I was also interested in social cognition, but I did not have a deep understanding on fMRI experiments as I do as I speak. I remember I thought to myself: wow, neuroscientist can do that?! Like many curious minds, on April 23, 2013, I first reached out to Dr. Bruneau in an email introducing myself and asking detail questions about his experiment design in related to shared pain networks. Now when I think back, it was like an eager, organized child asking questions in bullet points to a guru for amusement. He replied by telling me that he “has been rather under water near the end of the term” and would get back to me in a week if I sent him a reminder. Again, I was like, wow, neuroscientists can do land research and go under water for that long til the end of the term?! How cool is that? A child with grit is going to come back his/her with unsolved questions. I did. Alright right away, Dr. Bruneau replied with great patience and details to each bullet point I made. You got to understand, when a junior student asking naïve and/or fundamental questions to an expert in the field, s/he may not get a response back because busy ladder-climbing academicians may not have the time to mentor or it may be the hidden assumption that people should do their “homework” before asking questions, especially to elite at MIT. From my personal encounters with senior scientists by then, a response to a cold email from a stranger was very unlikely. But Dr. Bruneau’s response to my quest was exceptional.
As I read more of his work, I was amused again and thought, “if neuroscientists can study world conflict using functional neuroimaging, I am going to be a neuroscientist.” Here I am. Although I was not Dr. Bruneau’s student and I eventually pursued my desired area that differed from his and thus has not been following his work until the recent Israel-Hamas war, what I learnt from Dr. Bruneau was his courageous, interdisciplinary way of thinking and understanding cultural conflict and his deep connections to nature and neuroscience. It has been nearly 10 years since I read his work, but I still remember him. He is right: he is in our minds; he is still there.
Dear Stephanie, I stumbled across the news of Emile's passing last week, because he was highlighted in a book I was reading, "The War for Empathy," by Jamil Zaki.
I taught History at Menlo School when Emile was there, and I remember him so well because of his connection with Willits. He went to high school there, and we discovered that we had shared experiences at Willits in conversation. Once he biked from Palo Alto to Willits (some 170 miles), and then biked another 20 miles and up Willits Mountain to visit me and my parents, Jo and Eric Bradley. It was an astonishing trek, in my opinion, and I was a long distance cyclist myself at the time! I always thought Emile was unusual—so gentle in spirit, and so rugged in his athletic pursuits.
So sorry to hear that his time with you, and his important work in behavioral neuroscience, were cut short.
As it happens, Ray, my offspring, is now majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience. There seems to be something about synchronicity in all this. . .
Dear Stephanie and all - I think of you every day and send thoughts of love. I am sad, but very grateful for the many inspiring posts here that will continue to shine light into the lives of those who read them. I've just copied some of it and the photos for my grown children who remember Emile fondly (Kenny and Carmela Meehan). We will listen to Emile's messages on youtube.
I am so very sorry to hear this. Emile was my coach when I was a little Stanford freshman. He was like a superman -- demanding but gentle, supportive and incandescent. He was full of stories about adventures across the globe. To me, he seemed the essence of optimism and excellence. I am so grateful for those joyful experiences on his team. What a beautiful person he was.
I am simply sending a hug and my love across the miles. Even in the short time we crossed paths, the love between you and the light in each of you was so evident and embracing. It is still now, through this screen. Thank you for sharing your love and light with us all. Valerie
Stephanie, Bill, Betsy, Atty, Clara, Heather and all of you out there who knew Emile - I am so very sorry to hear that Emile has passed. I only recently learned of Emile’s cancer, having lost touch with each other many years ago. I attended Willits High School with Emile where he graduated a few years before me. I had the privilege of getting to know him through Peer Counseling. I can honestly say that Emile was the first real world idol that I had that as a teenager. I had a very difficult time adjusting to traditional cliques in my first couple years of high school. I liked academics but didn’t want to be labeled a nerd. I enjoyed competitive sports but didn’t want to be considered a jock. I wanted friendships with artists, musicians, hippies, partiers, rednecks and preppies in our town but didn’t see myself as belonging exclusively to those either. I tried to hide it but deep down was lonely and feeling stuck in limbo not knowing which part of “me” to choose to be. Emile showed me I didn’t have to. He stood out as this amazingly well rounded, accomplished young man who was able to transcend the petty judgmental and exclusionary behavior that many kids exhibited and went out of his way to connect with all of them in a positive way without having to sacrifice himself in the process. He was a friend to all. Although he was not even 18 at the time, I already wanted to be like Emile when I grew up. He was also incredibly humble for someone as attractive, intelligent and talented as he was. I can see from Stephanie’s beautiful journals and everyone’s comments that he continued to grow, achieve, love, laugh, learn, give and experience in the world around him in the same way for the last 30 years. It doesn’t surprise me at all but it’s great to hear it when it when we are bombarded by so much negativity and hatred in the world. While I can’t say I grew up to be Emile (that bar was always set too high), I can say that I tried to never forget the example he set of being true to yourself while loving others as much for how you’re different as for what you have in common. I’m very happy to know that Emile led such a full and impactful life and was able to touch so many lives during his earthbound journey. His spirit will continue to do the same through those lives and will ripple outward into other lives even to those not yet even in existence because of the effect Emile had on the people around him. I wish him well on his next adventure and know that he’ll be approaching it with the love and light he always brought with him everywhere he went.
I have been trying to find the words, but just can’t. All I’ll say is that Emile is one of the most radiant people I’ll ever know. Thank you Steph for everything. Love love love to you, Atty & Clara.
Dearest Stephanie i look up to the sky at night and believe the brightest star I see is your extraordinary Emile shining his light of love and compassion, kindness and wisdom. May that light always embrace you and your family ... I hold you all close in my heart always
Our friend Gilbert (from karate in Redwood City) just had a baby boy last month. His name is Emiliano. If this child grows up to be even a fraction of his namesake, he will be an extraordinary man. I send my blessings and prayers to you and your beautiful family. Emile is at peace, full of light and love and will always be near you.
In 2013, I was cultivating my thesis and planning to apply a PhD. By that time, I was a hard science student, and I knew I was also interested in social cognition, but I did not have a deep understanding on fMRI experiments as I do as I speak. I remember I thought to myself: wow, neuroscientist can do that?! Like many curious minds, on April 23, 2013, I first reached out to Dr. Bruneau in an email introducing myself and asking detail questions about his experiment design in related to shared pain networks. Now when I think back, it was like an eager, organized child asking questions in bullet points to a guru for amusement. He replied by telling me that he “has been rather under water near the end of the term” and would get back to me in a week if I sent him a reminder. Again, I was like, wow, neuroscientists can do land research and go under water for that long til the end of the term?! How cool is that? A child with grit is going to come back his/her with unsolved questions. I did. Alright right away, Dr. Bruneau replied with great patience and details to each bullet point I made. You got to understand, when a junior student asking naïve and/or fundamental questions to an expert in the field, s/he may not get a response back because busy ladder-climbing academicians may not have the time to mentor or it may be the hidden assumption that people should do their “homework” before asking questions, especially to elite at MIT. From my personal encounters with senior scientists by then, a response to a cold email from a stranger was very unlikely. But Dr. Bruneau’s response to my quest was exceptional.
As I read more of his work, I was amused again and thought, “if neuroscientists can study world conflict using functional neuroimaging, I am going to be a neuroscientist.” Here I am. Although I was not Dr. Bruneau’s student and I eventually pursued my desired area that differed from his and thus has not been following his work until the recent Israel-Hamas war, what I learnt from Dr. Bruneau was his courageous, interdisciplinary way of thinking and understanding cultural conflict and his deep connections to nature and neuroscience. It has been nearly 10 years since I read his work, but I still remember him. He is right: he is in our minds; he is still there.