Born September 13,1936 and died at Sunnybrook Hospital on April 17, 2022.
Loving and well-fed husband for nearly 60 years to The Bride (Theda). Dear brother to Mouse (Mary Kent), brother-in-law to Dancin’ Dave (David Kent), son of the late Danny (Dorothy) and Doc (Reginald) Deacon. Proud father of Bucko (Jake) and Gillykins (Gill), irascible father-in-law to Lady Sara (Sara Deacon) and The Brute Gill Married (Grant Gordon). Grandfather to The Register (Reg), The Harpsichord (Harper) and MilesyBoy (Miles) Gordon of Toronto, The Foz (Foster) and Princess (Pippa) Deacon of Port Hope.
Tom practiced law for 35 years, coordinating deals for many prominent Toronto buildings, including the Eaton Centre. He managed to find fun and camaraderie in most things he did but many of his fondest moments were spent at Woodbine racetrack watching River Maid, Avalon Gold and other winning horses from his Very Dry Stable.
Tom was an indefatigable force whose impact on those who knew him could never fit neatly into this limited copy—a few lines were never enough for Tom. He never met a long paragraph he didn’t like. Words were his playground; loquaciousness, his calling card; multi-clause sentence structure his Olympic sport.
That love of language was formed throughout his education at John Ross Robertson elementary school, Appleby College, Trinity College at University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School.
But he might argue his greatest education took place on a giant slab of Canadian Shield overlooking the foothills of the Laurentians. Lance Island at Petawawa Point on the Ottawa River was hands down his favourite place for nearly every one of his 85 years. Seated on a simple wooden chair, some member of his River family by his side, Tom learned the undying value of laughter, loyal friendship, and a well-mixed gin and tonic.
Tom filled every room he entered. His playful and joyful love of a good time, his irreverent and masterful wit will not soon be forgotten.
The family is incredibly grateful for the warmth and patience provided in the critical care unit at Sunnybrook, and also for Bailey Hollister and her wonderful team at the Reactivation Care Centre. Your kindness at the end of Tom’s life was invaluable and we cannot thank you enough for it all.
Service to be held Friday April 29 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Clement’s Church, 70 St. Clements Avenue, whose congregation was an important part of Tom’s entire life, including many years of service as a sidesman. A celebration of life will follow, 4:30-7 p.m. at Toronto Botanical Gardens, 777 Lawrence Avenue East.
Should you wish to make a donation in Tom’s memory, the family suggests The Scott Mission or a charity of your choice.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Thomas Gerald Deacon 2022..
Morley Bedford Funeral Services Ltd
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario
Hello Theda and family,
I knew Tom for 3 weeks in 1968 In the bar admission course as a student at Osgoode Hall in Toronto, where Tom was an instructor teaching real estate. Notwithstanding that I have been conducting a real estate and related practice since 1970, I never came across Tom after that, until I noticed his death notice in Thursday’s Globe and Mail.
I remember him clearly from amongst the many instructors that I had in those days. He conducted his class as if it were a living room. He smoked his pipe, had a calm and patient demeanour, and always had a smile on his face. He was unofficially a mentor to me, and I hope that I have conducted my practice over the years in a manner similar to his.
His funeral service was sincere, moving and very beautiful. , and I appreciated hearing about his life and character after all these years.
Please accept my deepest sympathies on his passing. .You and he were and are blessed..
Stephen Ponesse