Thomas R. Hall
HALL, Thomas R.
July 24, 1929 – January 17, 2021
Being an independent cuss, I decided to write my own obituary. I was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, but grew up in Baie Comeau, Quebec, when my father, Robert, moved there with my mother, Hilda, and family to help start up a new newsprint paper mill. It was good environment for me and my two sisters, Valerie (deceased) and Carole (of Guelph), and two brothers, Robert (of Sherbrooke) and David (of Shawinigan).
We all know the world is not fair. In my case, I enjoyed a good life; in fact, a charmed life because everything seemed to go my way. Some of that was likely due to working the equivalent of 60 years in 40 and some was good luck. An example of that is that I met my second wife, Angela, totally by accident. She proved to be perfect but, I lost her to cancer in 2014. I will join her and her mother and dozens of my ancestors in the Warner Family Cemetery near St. Catharines.
The generous share of good things in my life did not end with me. My four children, Susan (Brian), Karen, Brian (Anne) and Bruce (Patrice) have all become honest, successful and healthy good citizens thanks in good measure to my first wife, Norma. We now have seven happy and healthy grandchildren and eight wonderful great-grandchildren! Add in the partners and the total comes to 29!
After graduating in chemical engineering at U of T, I naturally joined the pulp and paper mill in Baie Comeau and spent the next 42 years managing departments and pulp and paper companies in Quebec, Ontario, New York and England and retired in 1994 after nine years as president of Stora Forest Industries in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Because of those years living and working in many communities, I have been blessed with many dear friends all over the world. There are way too many to name them but they know who they are. The loving families of my sister and brothers and of Angela’s sister Helen and nephew David (Susan) and niece Linda Sue (Terry) add a great many more.
I have been fighting prostate cancer for about 25 years; that may be some kind of a record thanks to my good doctors; Dr. Curtis Nickel and Dr. Vera Badillo and their staff. Clearly, I received far more than my fair share of the good things in life and I cannot complain. To do so, would be hypocritical.
The virus is still very active as I write this, making any plans for a memorial gathering impossible at this time. If it takes too long to do anything, I would say, ” let the old guy go in peace”, burial at Warner Cemetery and celebration of life will take place at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to James Reid Funeral Home.
If you are inclined to make a donation, please consider a charity of your choice, The Warner Family Cemetery or Doctors Without Borders.
HALL, Thomas R.
July 24, 1929 – January 17, 2021
Being an independent cuss, I decided to write my own obituary. I was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, but grew up in Baie Comeau, Quebec, when my father, Robert, moved there with my mother, Hilda, and family to help start up a new newsprint paper mill. It was good environment for me and my two sisters, Valerie (deceased) and Carole (of Guelph), and two brothers, Robert (of Sherbrooke) and David (of Shawinigan).
We all know the world is not fair. In my case, I enjoyed a good life; in fact, a charmed life because everything seemed to go my way. Some of that was likely due to working the equivalent of 60 years in 40 and some was good luck. An example of that is that I met my second wife, Angela, totally by accident. She proved to be perfect but, I lost her to cancer in 2014. I will join her and her mother and dozens of my ancestors in the Warner Family Cemetery near St. Catharines.
The generous share of good things in my life did not end with me. My four children, Susan (Brian), Karen, Brian (Anne) and Bruce (Patrice) have all become honest, successful and healthy good citizens thanks in good measure to my first wife, Norma. We now have seven happy and healthy grandchildren and eight wonderful great-grandchildren! Add in the partners and the total comes to 29!
After graduating in chemical engineering at U of T, I naturally joined the pulp and paper mill in Baie Comeau and spent the next 42 years managing departments and pulp and paper companies in Quebec, Ontario, New York and England and retired in 1994 after nine years as president of Stora Forest Industries in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Because of those years living and working in many communities, I have been blessed with many dear friends all over the world. There are way too many to name them but they know who they are. The loving families of my sister and brothers and of Angela’s sister Helen and nephew David (Susan) and niece Linda Sue (Terry) add a great many more.
I have been fighting prostate cancer for about 25 years; that may be some kind of a record thanks to my good doctors; Dr. Curtis Nickel and Dr. Vera Badillo and their staff. Clearly, I received far more than my fair share of the good things in life and I cannot complain. To do so, would be hypocritical.
The virus is still very active as I write this, making any plans for a memorial gathering impossible at this time. If it takes too long to do anything, I would say, ” let the old guy go in peace”, burial at Warner Cemetery and celebration of life will take place at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to James Reid Funeral Home.
If you are inclined to make a donation, please consider a charity of your choice, The Warner Family Cemetery or Doctors Without Borders.