Rob Sandeski Manager, Human Body Donation Program, Department of Medical Neuroscience At 18, I buried my dad, finished my grade 12, and left Saskatchewan on an airplane with a suitcase. The reason I went into funeral services was that I lost my parents when I was young — 16 for my mum and a couple of years later for my dad. I had an enormous amount of respect for the funeral director who looked after our family at that time. So, at 18 I buried my dad, finished my grade 12, and left Saskatchewan on an airplane with a suitcase. I started studying funeral services at NSCC in Kentville. It was a new program of one year in the classroom and one year working in a funeral parlour. Being here at Dal has given me the chance to study part-time as I was working. I’ve now got a diploma in health services management through Dal. I did that over three years and just graduated last year in Dal’s 200th year at 45 years old. I put the gown on and took a little stroll across the stage. It was a proud moment for me and my two daughters. They admire the dedication that I have, both as a funeral director and in my work here. Although when they were younger, they would tell me that I smelled of anatomy when I came home from work. Traditionally preserved bodies have rigid, unrealistic tissue. But a clinical cadaver has been preserved using a new embalming technique that uses polymers, resulting in bodies that don’t dehydrate. The tissues retain their texture and the bodies are more like models. They’re a great learning tool. The environment I work in gives me the opportunity to write research papers, instruct in the anatomy labs, and deal with families who come in through the door who want to donate the body of a loved one or plan to leave their own body to the program. On other days I’m coordinating memorial services. Death brings up so many emotions. It’s that interaction with the families that I love so much. Anyone who picks up the phone to enquire about the program has a story and it’s just a matter of knowing the right questions to draw those stories out. A big part of my role is to make those callers feel that the decision they are making to donate to us is a meaningful one. It’s not just a case of taking their name and hanging up the phone. When people make that phone call, they’ve just lost somebody. They’re not just donating to Dal; they’re finding a resting place for their loved one. I’m also a volunteer firefighter. I’m a lieutenant at Station 16 in Eastern Passage and I’m also the training officer for that station. I have a motorcycle that I enjoy riding. I’m teaching myself how to weld. I do wood-working — I’m just finishing a boat. I like to build things. I’ve got a cedar strip canoe that I’ve just refinished. It’s very close to being done and I’m very proud of it. Most people are surprised by my tattoos. They don’t really reflect my personality and my demeanour. It must be my biker side coming out — but this is as biker as I get. I belong to a group — it’s an international group of firefighters — and we do rides together on weekends and raise money for charity. So that would be the surprising part, I guess. But I’m not too surprising. I love my family, I love providing for them, I love being part of their lives. Just seeing them be successful. There’s lots of stuff that gives me pleasure, but the pride I feel for my kids is something else. ← Pamela ↑ Home
