May 5, 1953 – November 5, 2015
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Frederick Slater. After a brief battle with a complication of his lymphoma, Tom passed away in the early hours of November 5, 2015 at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria surrounded by love with his family by his side.
Tom was predeceased by his granddaughter Sophie, father Thomas Sr., mother Joyce, fathers-in-law Ted Mangles, Bill Wylie and mother-in-law Rose Mangles/Wylie. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Kathy, son John, daughter Tricia (Shane) Rush, grandchildren Paige, Jackson, Lucas and Sonny, sister Susan (Rod) Slater/Pearson, sisters-in-law Valerie (George) Noble, Shelley (Bill) Merrifield, brothers-in-law John (Cheryl) Mangles, Wayne (Melinda) Mangles, Mike (Jeanne) Trullinger, several nieces and nephews, cousins as well as a large extended family.
Tom was born in Vancouver on May 5, 1953 and was raised in Richmond until the age of 16 when his family relocated to the Comox Valley to run their dairy farm. He attended high school at G.P Vanier Senior Secondary and following that he helped run the family farm. At the age of 22 he began his trucking career which included transport, logging and dairy. Through this career he travelled throughout the province, Alberta, Yukon and most of the states west of the Mississippi.
He joined the Courtenay Volunteer Fire Department in 1991 where he climbed the ranks to his eventual promotion to Captain in 2009. He served proudly in the Honor Guard and was a member of the BC Training Officers Association. Tom dedicated a large part of his life to serving the community and was honored to be able to do so.
Tom had a vast variety of interests including his stock car days, Lacrosse, participating in the Fire Fighter Challenges and World Police & Fire Games not to mention being a ten time Ironman finisher. Some of his happiest times in the last few years was cruising the open roads with Kathy on his Firefighter Special Harley Davidson.
Tom will be remembered for his sense of humor, integrity, hard work ethic, and quiet leadership.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin and a great friend to all that had the privilege of knowing him.
He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends and will forever be in our hearts. May you be resting comfortably with a rum & coke in your hand watching the Leafs win in your honor.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Society for Lymphoma Research, The Children’s Health Foundation and to Y.A.N.A.
We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to the Air Ambulance crew and the doctors and nurses at St. Joseph Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital I.C.U. for their excellent care and compassion.
Memorial Service to be held on December 13, 2015 at 11 am at The Florence Filberg Centre, Courtenay.