THOMAS PATRICK TARPEY

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THOMAS PATRICK TARPEY

It is with deep sorrow we announce the passing of Thomas Patrick Tarpey of Peace River on April 24, 2025.

Tom Tarpey was a humble man who sought heights in everything he did.

Life began for Tom in Germany, where he was born to an Irish father, Patrick James Tarpey, and a German mother Gerda Tarpey (née Bein). Tom's younger sister, also named Gerda, completed their family.

When Tom was 10 the family moved to Manitoba to begin life anew. His father was a doctor and his mom a nurse. They'd learned of Canada's need for physicians, so chose to make a new start where they could contribute their skills. Tom attended boarding school, first in England while a small lad in Europe, and later at St. John's-Ravenscourt in Winnipeg.

Tom consumed news with a voracious appetite, believed CBC was the lifeblood of Canada and wasn't much for small talk. Instead, he preferred meaningful conversations about current events and the lessons history teaches us.

Tom lived a rich interior life of the mind. At his bedside were books on statistical analysis. On the kitchen table, a textbook about environmental engineering. Tucked inside books or on the back of opened mail, he would work out complex math problems worthy of The Big Bang Theory. (Tom enjoyed the TV show and identified with Sheldon.)

Given his tendency toward a solitary life, it was incredibly lucky for Tom that at the University of Alberta he met the love of his life, Wendy Stefenson. Wendy was a partner to Tom in all his endeavours, but also saw to it that his life existed out in the world as well as in books and contemplation.

While a student tackling three degrees, including his Master's in Environmental Engineering, Tom was also tackling high peaks. Tom and Wendy shared a deep love of the Rocky Mountains and of outdoor life. He was an avid ice climber and mountaineer who embarked on a dream in his 20s to crest the Seven Summits- the highest peaks on each of the world's seven continents. He conquered two of them: Kilimanjaro on his honeymoon, and Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. But then along came daughter Ariel, and suddenly Tom had more important things to do.

As a father, Tom's love language was supporting Ariel in her many youthful and teenaged pursuits - from horseback riding to skiing. When Ariel expressed interest in a new passion, he would do what came naturally. He'd buy a book and learn everything there was to know on the subject. Father-daughter time was often spent conducting science experiments. That included learning that a bar of Ivory soap melted in the microwave turns into a wonderous, fluffy, cloud.

When reaching out to Ariel as an adult, his texts weren't just about daily happenings. He would send a note asking "Can you name all the countries in the world that start with A?" Instantly curious, and not at all surprised by the exchange, Ariel would set about answering the challenge. (There are 11, by the way - Tom would appreciate you not using Google to come up with them all.)

The world of work is, for many people, something to endure to get to the weekend. To Tom, work was a true passion. He immersed himself in his 35-year career at Mercer where he was Environmental Manager and his co-workers were his second family. At age 66, Tom hadn't even begun to consider retirement - he loved what he did too much to leave.

As though work and family activities didn't keep him busy enough, one day in 2010, Tom announced to Wendy and Ariel that he was going to run for Peace River Town Council. Wendy couldn't have been more shocked - or more proud - that her introverted husband wanted to pursue this very public work. On election night in 2010, the family gathered around the radio to hear the results come in: Tom was elected a Councillor. From there he went on to serve two terms as Mayor, where he championed issues large and small with intelligence and kindness. He happily posed for pictures with Santa when that meant raising needed funds for the library, and proudly saw the completion of a second bridge in Peace River.

On April 24, 2025, while in the break room at work to get a drink of water, Tom died from a sudden and unexpected cardiac event. Those who knew him believe it was really from a broken heart, after losing Wendy to cancer in 2017. His coworkers immediately jumped into action to try and save Tom, taking turns performing CPR. We thank them for their kindness and care.

Tom's ashes will be interred in PEI, next to his Wendy.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 02, 2025