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THOMAS GARY O'CONNOR
Born: Aug 30, 1952
Date of Passing: Dec 01, 2012
Offer Condolences or Memory Make a donation to Winnipeg Humane Society
THOMAS GARY O'CONNOR Peacefully, with family by his side, Thomas Gary O'Connor passed away at Riverview Health Centre on December 1, 2012. Thomas was predeceased by father Thomas Murray, mother Elizabeth Nan, and wife Joanne Patricia. His memory will be cherished by his daughter Christina, his son Thomas, son-in-law Ken, sister Catherine, and brother John. Thomas was born August 30, 1952 in Montreal, Quebec. He attended St. John Fisher Elementary in Pointe Claire, Quebec, and Loyola High School and Loyola College (on a scholarship) in Montreal. He was very well regarded academically. In 1973, Thomas moved to England to attend the University of Oxford, from which he obtained a Master's Degree in Middle English. There he met and wed Joanne Patricia. Christina O'Connor, the person he loved and cherished above all others in this world, was born from this union. Upon returning to Canada in 1979, Thomas taught in the English department at Concordia University in Montreal for several years. He moved to Winnipeg in 1987, where he spent the rest of his days. Thomas loved cats, military history, and anything dealing with England. He playfully dismissed the Irish culture he was from, going as far as to not let his daughter eat the cereal "Lucky Charms" as it had a leprechaun pictured on its box. Thomas was a kind, witty, and loving man to the few who knew him well. He will be missed greatly. In lieu of flowers, the family requests all donations be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society.
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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 11, 2012
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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Thomas Gary was my closest school companion while at university at Loyola. We had met in college where he invariably finished first in our English courses. For him things English were decidedly uppermost, but in his deep melancholy sensitivity he was as Irish as any Irishman could be. He was gifted beyond the usual talents of our class, and his brilliance seemed made rather for some other world. He was contemptuous of the general greed for material advancement and the scramble for social position. Military history became for him, no doubt, a metaphor for the sort of manoeuvering that would bring in a world more worthy of our existence. Of his cats, he once said to me that they were “friends in existence”. They were the only creatures, he said, who knew and understood exactly what you felt and knew yourself without your having to say. Fittingly he called one of his cats along the way “Horatio”. Thomas Gary was a singular individual in a world where individuality is hardly any longer understood. He was my brother. We shall not look upon his like again. - Posted by: John O'Meara (Close friend) on: May 23, 2013
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I want to offer my condolences to Christina. Christina, I'm sorry for your loss of a father who cherished you and deeply valued your closeness. Life's not fair: it's way too soon for you to lose him. For my part, I'm glad to know what a good life, doing things he relished and having family near him, Gary settled into in Winnipeg and had for 25 years. Very warm regards, Rina - Posted by: Rina Kampeas (Friend) on: Dec 12, 2012
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Kind, witty, and loving--Gary was all those to me. We were colleagues and friends for over thirty years. In his career as a teacher, he inspired and encouraged many students. I shall miss him greatly. - Posted by: Marilyn Sims (Friend) on: Dec 11, 2012