Thomas Cove

Raised in Grenfell Saskatchewan, Tom continued the Cove family’s tradition of military service that dates back to the Boer War, as did his four brothers and three of his sisters. Following in the footsteps of his father, a veteran of World Wars One and Two, Tom enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1944. Navy Commander Tom Cove retired to Victoria, BC in 1977, after 33 years of service. With a desire to continue contributing to his community in his retirement, Tom organized the City of Victoria’s Poppy Fund for twenty-five years. Coordinating countless volunteers, Tom helped the good people of Victoria, B.C. raise millions of dollars for this worthy cause. Throughout the year, Tom administered the use of these funds in support of Victoria’s former service men and women and their families.

Recognizing the importance of having additional accommodation and improved health care for aging veterans and other seniors in the City of Victoria, Tom became a founding member of a group of citizens dedicated to achieving those objectives. From these modest beginnings, this group of visionary volunteers brought together three levels of government and the private sector toward those goals. After years of effort, and having raised tens of millions of dollars, The Lodge at Broadmead opened in 1995, offering 225 multilevel care beds to Victoria’s seniors and veterans.

Following the death of his second wife Helen in 2009, and finding himself in diminished health, Tom left his beloved Victoria. He chose to live closer to his youngest son, Bob Cove and his family, in Calgary. Ultimately, Tom stayed at Calgary’s Colonel Belcher Care Center, a multi-care seniors and veteran’s complex in part modeled after The Lodge at Broadmead.

Tom is lovingly remembered by his two sons Tom (Linda) and Bob (Mary Ann), step-daughters Chrystal and Lee (Dave), grandchildren Kevin (Vicki), Skye (Carla), Brett (Caitlin), Zuneza, Jim (Jennifer), Robbie (Zulaika), Amanda (Max), Andrea (Richard), Jana (André) and ten great grandchildren. He will be sadly missed by his sisters Doreen (Ernest), Pat (Roy) and Alice (William), as well as by numerous nieces and nephews, and their children. Tom was predeceased by his first wife Audrey Miller and his second wife Helen Morris, and by his parents Alice (nee Ainger) and Thomas Cove. Tom was also predeceased by his brothers Ted, Brian (Eleanor and Josi), Martin (Joyce), George, and by his sister Doris (Norm). Tom is survived and fondly remembered by Joan (Don), his brother George’s wife, and by Ann, his brother Ted’s wife.

There will be two celebrations honouring Tom’s life prior to the funeral service. The first CELEBRATION OF LIFE will be held in CALGARY on Sunday, July 7 at Auburn House, 200 Auburn Bay Blvd SE. at 2:30 p.m.

A second CELEBRATION OF LIFE will be held in VICTORIA on Friday, July 12, at the Lodge at Broadmead, 4579 Chatterton Way at 10:30 a.m.

A FUNERAL SERVICE will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, Quadra Street at Rockland Ave in Victoria on Saturday, July 13 at 11:00 a.m.

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made in Tom’s honour directly to the Victoria Poppy Fund, 411 Gorge Road East, Victoria, BC V8T 2W1 or to The Lodge at Broadmead, 4579 Chatterton Way, Victoria, BC V8X 4Y7.