Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Tom holds a place deep in my heart. I know his loved ones will be feeling his loss. He was an amazingly generous and kind person. I met him first as a colleague at UNB in 1995. He took me under his wing, and invited me, as a junior academic, to work with him on the CASHRA factum in the Vriend case. It was a gift (and transformative for me) in so many ways. I learned so much from him about thought, writing, activism and heart. He was so much more than just a colleague. When Steve and I had our first child, Tom was a surrogate grandparent, providing our newly extended family with the same tenderness we received from the bio-grandparents. Indeed, he taught us the football hold for our little one! He also supported me in continuing to move in the world, encouraging me to attend my first post-child academic conference with a newborn. He spend much of his time at that conference carrying my little person around so i could attend other sessions. His love of his own children spilled into his interactions with the children of others. His kindness to young people and his respect for their ideas and adventures was both evident and inspirational. I I have so many wonderful memories of meaningful conversations with him about law, history, time and transformation. But even stronger, are the gifts I received from being in the presence of a person who truly knew how to build and nourish connections across generations. To his family, I am so grateful for the time I had with Tom, and want you to know that he will continue to live in my heart. May his memory be a blessing to you.
