It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our father, Tom, on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at the age of 87 years. He was predeceased by the love of his life, Irene, in 1990. Tom was born in Galt, Ontario, and grew up in the Kitchener Waterloo area. Upon completing his schooling at the Guelph Collegiate, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy on July 15, 1948; he then transferred to the RCAF in 1951. He served first as a radio officer and then as a navigator. He married Irene Scott in Toronto on September 26, 1953. They saw various postings across Canada, their last one, in 1970, to CFB Comox. Tom served his country as a member of the ICCS Peacekeeping Corps in Vietnam in 1973. Following his retirement from the RCAF, Tom served as CADMO at HMCS Quadra Sea Cadet Camp for 19 years.

In 1991 he was awarded the Order of Military Merit by the Governor General of Canada in Ottawa.

In 1959 while serving on 405 Squadron based out of CFB Greenwood Nova Scotia he and his crew flew from Barbers Point, Hawaii to North Bay, Ontario in 20 hours and 10 minutes breaking an existing speed and range record that was commemorated on a Canadian postage stamp on September 4, 1999.

In 1975 while serving on 407 Squadron at CFB Comox he and his crew flew for over 30 hours without refueling to set an endurance record. He served on the Board of Directors of the Comox District Credit Union and the Comox Valley Credit Union for over 15 years, including 6 years on the BC Central Credit Union Board of Directors. He served for many years on the St John the Baptist Parish Council, the d'Esterre Seniors Housing Society and the Comox Legion Board of Directors. Due to his many years of service to the Legion, Tom was awarded a life membership.

Tom will be lovingly remembered by his children: Alison (Frank), Paul (Rosalind), and Laurel; 4 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.