Hugh Dominic Thorp

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Hugh Dominic Thorp, known to family and friends as Dominic, on September 21, 2024 after a long illness.

Born in London, England Dominic grew up in the shadow of World War ll, vividly recalling both the fear and his father’s unwavering sense of duty as he carried him to air raid shelters under skies lit by searchlights. These early challenges instilled in Dominic a resilience and sense of responsibility that shaped his character throughout his life.

Struggling with undiagnosed dyslexia, Dominic found his early schooling difficult, but he overcame these challenges, later achieving a Master’s degree in hospital administration from the University of Minnesota where his thesis received the highest marks in the program’s history and was later published.

After completing his National Service, where he was named Champion Recruit, he pursued a nursing career and met his beloved wife Pamela, at Orpington General Hospital, England. They moved to Manitoba, Canada, in 1967 –and what was meant to be a temporary adventure turned into a permanent home, offering new opportunities for their growing family.

In Winnipeg, Dominic became Director of Education at the Manitoba Health Association and later Vice President at Riverview Health Centre where he played a key role managing the construction of its new facility.

In retirement, Dominic and Pamela settled in Nanaimo, BC, where he found joy in community engagement, participating in local groups and forging friendships that enriched his later years.

Dominic was a man of many talents, with a passion for vegetable gardening, reading and classical music. His dry, quintessentially British humour and love for Monty Python and Fawlty Towers filled the home with laughter.

Above all, Dominic’s deep Catholic faith was the foundation of his life, shaping the values he instilled in his three children –Simon, Sebastian and Dunstan – and four grandchildren. He credited the support of his beloved wife, Pamela for all his successes and found great joy in his family.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Nanaimo, BC on Thursday October 3, 2024 at 2:00 pm followed by a reception at the Parish Hall.