BAILEY, Brian Clare
Brian Clare Bailey
March 31, 1943-February 15, 2025
A man with a giant heart, a keen wit and an endless desire to learn, grow and evolve, Brian Bailey passed away at 82 years young after a sudden illness at Ottawa Heart Institute.
He began life as an only child but left it cherished, respected and loved by everyone he touched and helped. Brian is sadly missed by his loving wife, Nancy Defalco, their children, Andrew and Jennifer Reoch (husband Steve Deschamps), grandson Declan Reoch, and many cousins, sisters and brothers in law, and their families. He had an open mind, and open heart, open arms and an open door, hosting colleagues, friends and family until his final days with hearty laughs, hugs, heartfelt joy and lots of food and red wine.
Born and raised in Smiths Falls, Brian earned his MD at Queen’s University and practiced family medicine before shifting focus to psychotherapy. In his last 2 years of medical school he worked as a live-in child psychotherapist. That sparked a life-long passion for helping people overcome emotional/mental health issues to live full, fruitful lives. Thus began his quest to study many eclectic ideas and concepts, incorporating and shaping them into the many wellness programs he created and delivered over his very active life. He was a writer, painter, doctor, acupuncturist, mentor, trainer, educator, husband, father, grandpa, friend and confidante.
Brian created a rustic retreat in the woods as a safe, tranquil place for his transformational programs. For decades, he and wife Nancy put their souls into expanding and evolving Econiche House as a couples retreat, a space for NGOs to renew and even a wedding venue for lives to join together, including the wedding of daughter Jennifer and her husband Steve.
Brian never saw his patients as sick and in need of healing. Through his lens, people all possessed within them the possibility of change and a life of splendour. He always found innovative solutions to overcome obstacles that prevented people from being able to say YES to participation in programs and life. He didn’t believe that things in life happen without an overarching reason. So certain was he of the evolution of humanity that he dedicated his life’s work to contributing to it.
Brian never truly retired, choosing to remain actively involved in writing, research and in mentoring others to carry on delivering his latest program, Acudestress. In work and in life, he was on a journey of the mind, body and spirit. A hopeful life well lived. He left us with these inspiring words: “Remember, miracles are to come. I am not saying goodbye, but good sailing. Imagine lots!”
These lyrics by John Denver sum up Brian’s journey through life. “What one man can do is dream. What one man can do is love. What one man can do is change the world. And make it young again. Here you see what one man can do.”
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