My brother Saul de Groen, who has died aged 59 of a mind tumour, was a psychotherapist who ran a thriving apply in London.
He was born in Johannesburg to Joseph, knowledgeable bassoonist, and his spouse, Phyllis (nee Gordon). After he left Redhill highschool in Johannesburg, his mother and father despatched him to the US in order that he might keep away from conscription into the South African military. He studied on the Philadelphia Textile College, graduating in 1985, after which he moved to the UK to affix his household, who had arrived there from South Africa that yr.
In London Saul labored first for an inside design agency earlier than turning into an aerobics teacher in Covent Backyard, the place he met his life accomplice Soph (Sophocles) Maraveyas, an architect who attended his lessons.
In 1988, aged 24, Saul was identified with HIV and on the time we believed he had simply two years to stay. Nonetheless, with out using any medicine and thru important modifications to his way of life, he lived a wholesome existence for an additional 35 years.
In 1997 he started psychotherapy coaching at Spectrum Remedy in Finsbury Park, north London, and have become an accredited psychotherapist, initially working for the NHS earlier than establishing in non-public apply in Camden and Islington. Though he didn’t concentrate on any specific space, he labored with many younger homosexual males who confronted varied struggles residing in a heteronormative world. He continued practising till a couple of months earlier than his dying.
Saul was a delicate, brave and sensible soul who tackled adversity with braveness and was decided to stay life to the total. He laughed typically, and loud, however might additionally sit silently, trusting in a universe far larger than himself.
He’s survived by Soph, his mom, and two sisters, me and Jody. He was predeceased by his two different siblings, Jonty and Lolly.
