THOMAS LAURIE PATERSON

Condolences & Memories (6 entries)

• I've posted a few photos of Dad's Isaac Brock Hockey team that he coached with Jim Walker 1957 - 1964 here: https://isaacbrockhockeyclub.blogspot.ca/ Hope you like it ... Cheers ! - Posted by: Jim Paterson (son) on: Jun 26, 2017

• My it was such a shock to hear of Tom's passing. He had such a love for life as we all know too well. I met Tom when I started with MTS in 1973 and he was a likeable character from the first time we met. When I told him that I knew a Tommy Paterson who my Mom grew up with in Barnsley Manitoba he said that was his cousin. Now I knew two Tommy Patersons and they were both characters. When our Tom retired he spent more time with Tommy in Barnsley. They would go into town and have coffee and occasionally drop by the Agriculture office to tease the girls. One time Tom took his car to the dealership in Carman for service and then rode his bike six miles North to Tommy's home. When Tom thought the car might be ready he suggested Tommy could take him back to town to pick up his car. Tommy's reply was "I dunno Tom, I've been to town once already this week". Tom got his ride but we all heard the story. When I worked Cable Maintenance for Tom I once turned in a Bad Section report on a sheet of paper showing a diagram and relevant details of the cable trouble. The following Monday morning Tom asked if I could write up the report again. He said he was out riding his bike when he needed to find the nearest bush and do some business. He said I didn't want to know what what he did with my report. That night we wired a toilet roll to the back of his bike seat. Tom was one of two people I really liked and admired at MTS and Tom, if you are listening, I'll miss you, and say hello to Dick Laing. - Posted by: Bob Schenk (Co-worker) on: Mar 02, 2016

• Sorry to hear of Tom's passing. He truly was one of the most respected men that I had the privilege to know and work with . My thoughts are with you . - Posted by: Grant Hammond (co-worker) on: Feb 15, 2016

• Our condolences to the Paterson family. Tom was a great person, I met him in 1974 when I started MTS. Tom was an icon. He knew everyone in the company and something about them (that was always positive not negative.) Tom would have held the record for attending the most funerals of MTS employees. Tom also would have held the record at MTS for organizing and being the MC at employee retirements. In Tom's retirement years he spent many hours taking other retired employees to doctor appointments and helping them move. Charlie Wilson and Red Burbank to mention a few. Tom was like an MTS Historian for the "Cable Department." he could explain in great detail the kind of cable troubles and experiences and pranks he was faced with when he started in I believe 1950. So often I would hear stories involving MTS between 1950 -1974 when I started. Tom had a hangout at the Roseberry Street and Ellice Avenue Salisbury House. I believe it stems back to the early 1970's. Tom often went there on his bicycle. He knew all the staff and customers for that entire period and usually new something about them perhaps where they worked or what their hobbies were. What a memory Tom had. He was interested in their lives and listened well and always so genuine. It was something to see customers coming and going always giving Tom a wave on the way in or out. He was a popular guy "Tom is legend at the Sals." Often the counter service section Tom sat in was closed but when Tom showed up it would open up, Tom almost always had the same stool at the west end of the Sals. I recall years ago Tom saying he had dropped his daughter off at the airport at 5 am and was still at the Sals 4 hours later. When time permitted I would meet up with Tom and his coffee chums at the Salisbury. There were five or six close coffee members of Tom's which I knew quite well through time. There was Herb, Tom #2, Gene, Hans and Jack as well as a few more. Tom talked often of his family and always got back to some of the wonderful people he had worked beside at MTS. To many to mention but John Crozier and Art Stordeur, Harry Allen, Joe Berch, Felix Mulion and Red Burbank were often the topic. Red was Toms first foreman around 1950 and provided Tom with plenty of overtime. Tom had a difficult time a couple of years ago when he sold the family home in River Heights. Tom had pictures of each room and gave me a one on one description of the home. This gentleman will be truly missed. - Posted by: Bruce Johnson (MTS co-worker) on: Jan 29, 2016

• Tom was our neighbour when we first moved to Winnipeg. He was a surrogate grandfather as we did not have any extended family in the area. Tom always had a warm smile and kind word for anyone that would pass by. He was a true gentleman who loved life and his children to the fullest. He was truly one of a kind and a gentle soul that will be missed. Our condolences to the Paterson family. - Posted by: Lori Schweiger (Friend and neighbour) on: Jan 26, 2016

• Tom was the kindest and most helpful person you could ever meet. He was my first Manager in the "Construction" department at MTS. He helped so many of us "young guys" in our careers. I just saw him in September, riding through Charleswood on his 10 speed bike. He was cheerful and happy as always. He certainly will be missed. - Posted by: Gerry Rogers (co-worker) on: Jan 23, 2016