Tommy remains one of the kindest and most genuine people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. We worked together for many years and I can still hear the warm sound of his laughter, and the comforting sound of him wheeling his boxes down the hallway as he approached his office. He was always so patient and generous with his time, and he helped me learn a lot about appraisal writing. He would often mention his family and always with enormous pride — it was clear that he put his family first in his life and that is one of the most important lessons that he taught me.  My sincerest condolences to his family — he was one of the best.

Uncle Timmy suggested that I share my speech on this website, so here is a copy of the speech from last Sunday's service.  Thank you for attending the service, we appreciate it.  

Today, we gather here to celebrate the life of a remarkable man, a loving father, and a true role model and mentor. We gather here to reflect on the life he lived, the love he shared, and the impact he made on each and every one of us.

An inspiring gift that Dad shared was the gift of acceptance. He embraced his imperfections and allowed his family to playfully tease him, finding joy in the simplest of things. Through his actions, he taught us the invaluable lesson of accepting ourselves and others for who they are, creating an atmosphere of love, understanding, and compassion.

Dad was a hardworking father who led by example. He was a shining example of perseverance and commitment. His loyalty to his family, coupled with his relentless work ethic and unwavering integrity, inspired us to follow his example.

We watched as he devoted long hours, in the evenings, on weekends, or even during holidays, all driven by his passion and commitment to deliver outstanding work.

During our childhood, we were truly fortunate to have parents who believed in creating lasting memories. Dad, alongside Mom, worked tirelessly and saved up to provide us with unforgettable adventures that shaped who we are today. From trips to Canada's Wonderland to a memorable trip to the East Coast, Dad worked tirelessly to make sure we had the most joyful and enriching experiences.

It was during countless road trips to Kelowna, and sometimes Victoria/Whistler, in those Chrysler blue vans that we had the opportunity to bond with our cousins. As we gathered for family barbecues, dinners, and played games together, we all reveled in the pure joy of being kids. Dad's commitment to bringing our family together and creating cherished memories has left a lasting mark on all of us.

I will forever cherish the memories of Dad and Mom visiting me in London and our memorable trip to Budapest. It was a testament to Dad's love and support that he stepped outside his comfort zone and travelled outside of North America for the first time, leaving behind the familiarity of his daily routine in Vancouver (which I know, must have been a big stretch for Dad, as he enjoyed his daily routines). 

I'll always remember the joy on Dad’s face as I surprised him by celebrating his birthday at the Ritz in London, savouring every moment, especially the indulgence of high tea with biscuits and scones, as Dad loved his sweets. In his excitement, we overlooked the need for a jacket in the tea room and Dad was worried that we wouldn’t get in. However, the host provided him with a tailored jacket that he could borrow. Dad had a way of cherishing those experiences and sharing his stories over and over (and over) with such enthusiasm.

During our trip to Budapest, Dad's loving and protective nature became evident. As we checked into our hotel, he sensed a slight unease in the area and took it upon himself to ensure our safety. To our surprise, we found all our luggage piled to the ceiling in front of the hotel door, a testament to his unwavering dedication to keeping us safe and secure. 

One valuable lesson I learned from Dad was to appreciate the small moments in life. During our travels, he would often stop to capture candid photos, whether it was of us, our family, or random street scenes. At times, his efforts resulted in duplicated photos or unintentional cropping, cutting off people’s heads or feet. It was hard to stay mad at him for his avid pursuit of capturing moments. His passion for capturing life's simplest moments taught us all the importance of treasuring each passing day.

Dad's impact extended beyond our immediate family. He had a remarkable ability to connect with people and bring them together. He exuded thoughtfulness and generosity, always seeking ways to show his love and appreciation for others. Even as time passed, Dad did his best to maintain connections with his relatives. He even travelled to New Zealand to celebrate a milestone birthday. Dad made the effort to reach out, whether it was taking time to call relatives on Sundays or finding special candies for his loved ones, Dad's thoughtfulness touched the hearts of many.

Today, we gather here, bearing hearts full of gratitude and love for the support, sacrifices, and beautiful lessons Dad taught us. He will forever remain in our hearts, his love and guidance shining brightly as a guiding light in our lives. Dad, we want you to know that we love you dearly, and we will be eternally grateful for the incredible life you provided us.

Rest in peace, dear Dad, knowing that your legacy will continue to live on through us. You hold a special place in our hearts and will forever be cherished in our memories.

Thank you.

I had the great pleasure of working with Tommy in the early part of my career.  Tommy brought both great energy and professionalism to everything he did.  He had a strong moral code and never deviated from it.  Tommy's greatest lesson to me is that while work is important, family comes first!

He will be truly missed by all those who had the pleasure of getting to know him.

I was deeply saddened to learn of Tommy’s passing.

Tommy and I worked together for almost forty years which says much for Tommy's strength of character; no-one else quite managed that achievement.  There were many who spent time with us during those years and all would soon come to appreciate Tommy's great qualities: his willingness to help anyone who asked for assistance, his unparalleled professionalism and integrity, his unfailing positive attitude and his good humour; always his good humour.  As his infectious laugh filled the office, it was a clear indication to us that Tommy was on the phone, hot on the trail of a treasure trove of information.  

His dedication and professionalism gained him an enviable level of respect from all who came across his path.  Tommy was known by everyone in our business.  A common response we would experience on introduction was “Oh, you must work with Tommy Lowe”.

But by far the most important part of Tommy's life was his family.  He was so very proud of you all.

Tommy’s passing is a great loss but I will always remember him with great fondness and as a remarkable friend and colleague.

Tommy Lowe, with no hyperbole, is one of the kindest people I have ever met.  He was very generous with his time, always smiling, and had a gentle soul.  I had the utmost respect for him professionally and as a family man.

I worked with Tommy at Altus Group for a number of years and found him to be very knowledgeable and experienced.  But what stood out for me most were my conversations with him around family.  

It was clear as day how much he cherished his family.  In particular, Tommy often spoke proudly about of his son.  He mentioned how his son was a trained as a CA and loved going on golfing trips.  But when he mentioned his son also won the gold medal in the UFE, I finally put 2 and 2 together (after 3 years of working with Tommy) that I worked at EY with his son Geoff for several years.  Now I know why Geoff is so smart.... the apple does not fall from the tree.

My thoughts are with your family at this difficult time.  I hope you find comfort in the countless fond memories you must have with this man.

Fran, Geoff, Carolyn, Chris and Sunny, 
Although I wish I could have been in Vancouver with Glenard for Tommy's service, watching online was very much appreciated. 

Geoff, Chris, Sunny and Carolyn, your words and memories shared today expressed your dear lovely kind Dad wonderfully well.  I shared with Carolyn my special gratitude - when  Glen had cancer years ago, Tommy and Fran were so kind and supportive to our family. Lots of people have kind supportive words. Your family acted on those words. 
I am very sorry for your loss. Never enough is true and also that he is with you and the next generation. 
Susan

I was very much saddened to receive the news of the passing of my colleague and friend, Tommy, from our days at Nilsen Realty Research. Tommy was a thorough gentleman, a sincere, caring person who never had a negative word for anyone or for any challenging situation. As a committed family man, he was always concerned about the well being of his dear wife Francita and their children. 
In his Profession of real estate valuation and research, he was a consummate professional, always very thorough in his deliberations. His work, left no stone unturned to verify all the relevant detail that was needed for his assignments.
Tommy's loss will be felt by all around him, not least his family and friends. 
My sincere condolences to Francita and the whole family.
May the supreme being, be kind to Tommy's soul, Amen.
Farouk Jamal

It was with great sadness that I heard this news.

I first met Tommy in 1979, and apart from a brief hiatus, we worked together until 2005. Throughout those years Tommy was unfailingly generous, gracious, kind and always helpful with advice. 

We worked hard, but we had many happy times together. During my time in the profession and after, never did I hear a bad or ungenerous word said about him. Not once, and in our profession that is a rare thing. 

He had an unimpeachable reputation, both as an appraiser and as a man. Although appearing to some a reserved man, Tommy had a wry sense of humour, and when he did laugh, it was a laugh you never forgot, loud and infectious.

When describing Tommy, two words immediately come to mind, and they are gentleman and honourable; words that are sadly overused and misused. In Tommy's case, they are entirely appropriate. 

He is no longer with us, but he will remain in our memory.

My deepest sympathy goes out to Fran and his extended family.

Alasdair Gordon

I was very shocked and saddened to hear that dear Tommy passed away recently. He was such a lovely guy and a long-term workmate and friend. It is hard to put my feelings into words and whatever I do say will only fall short. I know that, but I will share some of my remembrances of Tommy during our working years anyway.
 
We worked together for quite a few years at Western Realesearch Corporation (WRC), later Cumberland Realty and finally Nilsen Realty Research. In fact, I was working at WRC the day Geoffrey was born; Tommy came racing into the office, so excited, all smiles and laughing and handing out cigars to everyone. "Here, have one! Have two!" He loved and lived for his family. Really a sweet guy.

Tommy used to go to Kelowna for his holidays and always came back with cans of apple juice from the Okanagan-"Here have one! Have two!" He was not a pretentious guy at all. I remember the old car he drove, and when kidded about it, he said he would drive it into the ground. I never heard Tommy speak ill of anyone and while the rest of us were taking shots at someone in the office, Tommy would refrain and maybe smile, chuckle and just shake his head.  He was always such a gentleman.

He was very successful at his career as an appraiser and he was highly regarded, respected and sought after both by clients and potential employers. He was relentless in his pursuit to get all of the information he could about a sale of property and the details of a deal. One of our real estate associate companies affectionately referred to Tommy as "The Fisherman", because when he had you on the line, he wouldn't let you go until he had all of the details.  It wasn't all work though, and I still remember and look back with pleasure at the Chinese lunches he would organize at the Snow Garden. We will all miss you, Tommy. The world is just a little bit less of a nicer place without you.

The Yoo’s were privileged to get to know Tommy and see his fatherhood, grandfatherhood and friendship in action. In particular, we cherish the trip we shared together with Geoff, Sunny, the boys and Grandparents to Blue Mountain years ago. That long weekend was our first time there, but that trip set the path for us to go back to Blue Mountain numerous times thereafter. Seeing how much Tommy and Francita enjoyed spending time with their family and the joy it brought to them was inspiring. 

As humble as your dad was, I know he will continue to beam with pride forever given the great family he raised that will carry on his legacy.

My deepest condolences to the Lowe family on their recent loss of Tommy. I have fond memories of the very detailed reports I had to type for Tommy in his work at Altus Group. Tommy was very knowledgeable, made extensive research and had in-depth knowledge of the job he did. Always gentle and kind, may he rest in peace. Amen

We are very shocked and saddened by the recent passing of our dear friend, Tommy.

Tommy and Francita have been two of our closest friends. We have know them since meeting them when our kids were attending the Osler Elementary School in the 1980’s.

We will certainly miss our frequent get togethers for dinner and the long conversations about our kids, our families and in the recent years, about our health. The White Spot restaurants have been our favourite meeting place since the food is good and we can stay as long as we want without any complaints from the staff.

When we last had lunch together (about 3-4 weeks before his passing), we were glad to see that he seemed to be recovering well from his chemo treatment and we were making plans to meet for a long walk on the perimeter route of the Langara Golf Course and then have lunch afterwards at the club house.

He will be fondly remembered.

May he rest in peace.

Desmond & Emma Loo

Dear Lowe family

I was greatly saddened to hear the news of Tommy's passing.

My memories of Tommy go way back to the early days of Nilsen Realty Research in the year 1994. 

I am grateful that we had the opportunity to work together in Vancouver, with many fond memories. 

Tommy had a high degree of integrity, professionalism, and was respected by all his colleagues and clients. 

I was always impressed how generous Tommy was with his time, always giving back to help others, and always treating those around him with kindness and respect.

I will certainly miss Tommy's laugh that could cheer up the entire office.

Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss.

My wife Kitty and I are so sadden to learn of the passing of my cousin Tommy.  We send our deepest condolences and sympathy to Francita and family.  Cousin Tommy was a kind hearted and sincere person and will be dearly missed by all of use. 

Love
Cousin Johnnie.

OBITUARY

Tommy Lowe

August 15, 1948 – November 5, 2023

Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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