Tom was taken from us suddenly in Vancouver, B.C. on July 8. A loving family man and friend, Tom was a creative businessman, mentor and avid volunteer. He lived an active life filled with a diversity of interests and talents.
Tom grew up in Toronto. As a teenager he spent several years in London, England with his family, spending vacations in the Bahamas and different parts of Europe. It was in Austria, at age 13, that he began his love of downhill skiing. Returning to Canada, Tom completed high school in Toronto and later attended Western University and the University of Arizona.
After leaving university, Tom began his advertising and marketing career in Toronto with Vickers and Benson where his responsibilities included the McDonalds account. McDonalds was so pleased with his work that they hired him to work in their Vancouver office. So began his 30 years with the corporation as a marketing executive and franchisee.
In the early 1980’s, Tom moved to the world headquarters of McDonalds in Chicago, followed by a number of years in the Dallas office. While in the United States, he worked with regional marketing managers to develop and fund regional test and national marketing promotions. It was during these years that Tom managed the development and implementation of the very successful promotion ‘Play Monopoly at McDonalds’ which delivered the largest recorded promotional sales lift in the company’s history. The game was introduced in over 20 countries and still runs annually in many places.
Tom moved to Tokyo, Japan in 1989 where he spent two years as Director of Marketing. During this time, he led many successful promotions and demonstrated his talent for working in a cross-cultural environment. He loved living in Japan and it was there that he met his future wife, Yoshiko. This time was followed by a further year based in Hong Kong where he served as Director of Marketing for Asia Pacific. It was in this role that he led the team that opened the first McDonalds in China.
When Tom and Yoshiko returned to Canada they moved to Whistler, B.C. Tom secured the franchise to open the first McDonalds restaurant in the popular mountain town. He later opened a second restaurant in Pemberton.
It was over the next many years while living in Whistler that he raised his family, became widely known for his civic leadership and pursued his love of skiing. Tom was awarded the Business Person of the Year in 2007 by the Whistler Chamber of Commerce.
In the last nine years, Tom held a number of senior positions with Freshslice Pizza, based in Vancouver. Over these years he acted Vice President and Advisor to the CEO, Director of Franchising and Real Estate Development, and Director of Legal Affairs. His roles included marketing and operations management as well as business coaching.
He was very committed to his role in promoting and supporting Freshslice Cares, a registered charity whose mandate is to supply financial assistance to individual children and children’s sports organizations. He strongly believed in their motto “Let Kids Be Kids Through Sports”.
Tom was committed to his participation in many additional not-for-profit organizations. He volunteered with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce for over fifteen years, serving as both Director and Chairman. During his many years with the Whistler Housing Authority Tom was active in the construction of three new major housing developments and the implementation of policies to support the needs of the local workforce. In the late 1990s, Tom was a Director of Canada Place Corporation and acted as marketing advisor.
In his role as a Community Ambassador, Tom worked with the 2010 Olympic Bid Committee to secure the rights to host the games in Vancouver and Whistler.
During his five years with the Whistler Museum and Archives Society, Tom initiated and oversaw a number of fundraising initiatives resulting in the successful relocation of the museum’s collection and significant increases in visitation.
In more recent years, Tom served as a Director of the Evergreen Squash Club of West Vancouver where he was an active member.
Tom loved many things throughout his full life. Highlights were boating with his family along the coast of British Columbia and spending time at the cottage in Pointe au Baril, Ontario. At home, he loved building fires and lighting oil lamps for his family. He loved to grow flowers and collect maps and Inuit carvings.
In Whistler, he regularly joined friends at the Friday Ski Club and volunteered many hours to support local political candidates.
In recent years, he joined a local squash league in Vancouver playing four or five days a week and participating in tournaments.
Tom held a private pilot’s license and spent many hours scuba diving. His TV hours were spent watching news broadcasts, sports and anything with an historical theme. He would never miss the Queen’s Christmas message.
Tom loved his many pets, especially his dog Teddy.
Tom loved the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra and the Goombay rhythms of Bahamian George Symonette.
Last year Tom was able to spend a wonderful ten days in Europe with his five sisters travelling to Crete and Istanbul.
Tom leaves behind his wife Yoshiko, daughter Beverley and son Hugh, sisters Aileen, Kate, Eve, Georgia, Jacquie, and their families. He was predeceased by his mother Kathryn, beloved father Hugh and step-mother Anne.
A Celebration of Life for Tom will be held at Boal Chapel, North Vancouver on September 6, 2024 at 2 PM.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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