Hi, I knew Tom since he was born. My mother was his mom’s best friend so I saw him growing up. He was precocious very funny and an absolute delight. He used to call me George and said he wanted to marry me when he grew up. There was a big age difference. I was about 15 and he would’ve been about five. I used to babysit him when his parents were down visiting in Montreal. I have so many fun memories of him I miss him.

Mariza Vocisano

marizavocisano@icloud.com

On Nov 3, 2024, at 12:19, Ever Loved <no-reply@everloved.com> wrote:

My mother Louise has not been able to travel as late and would like to extend her sincere condolences to Bob and the rest of the Richardson extended family and friends.

My Mother would also like to express her deepest regrets  not being able to be present today.

My mother expressed and I express that  Tom was a shining light and we always appreciated his interesting conversations and insights that inspired us.

Louise Genereux 

And Dominic Vocisano.

I have some wonderful memories of Tom from our time as colleagues at the Library of Parliament. I can't remember how the one conversation started – knowing Tom, he was talking about something or everything, and I grabbed a thread at the first chance I got. I told him about an early experience of failure in my life, and how badly it had shaken my sense of who I was. Tom listened intently, and when I was done speaking, he thanked me for sharing the story, and opened up about some of his own struggles. I hadn't realized until then how sensitive he was, and how thoughtful. I'm grateful I got to see that side of him.

My favourite memory of Tom was a time he stopped by my office late in the day to talk about something or everything, and he told me his cat had amassed a bit of a following on instagram, including a “D list celebrity". I asked who the celebrity was, and Tom replied “Ann Magnuson”. I slammed my hands on my desk and said “Ann Magnuson, who got eaten by David Bowie in The Hunger Ann Magnuson? Ann Magnuson, who starred in a Night in the life of Jimmy Reardon with River Phoenix Ann Manguson?? Ann Magnuson, legend of the New York art scene Ann Magnuson??? SHE IS NOT D LIST!!!!!”.

It was the only time I'd ever seen Tom speechless. He laughed for a long time after the shock wore off.

I'm sending my heartfelt condolences to all of you who knew and loved him.  ❤️ 

Tom…

Uplifting, dynamic, engaged, handsome, funny, so damned clever, deeply compassionate, irreverent, kind and caring, conscientious, generous, dependable, exacting, aware, champion of the underdog, an ally

We shared almost daily greetings and chats on all kinds of subjects. Tom loved his garden and was often pottering about in the garden, taking pictures, calling to me from across the street to come and see this or that, throwing small stones at my window to get my attention, so I could come and see the latest garden miracle, or try out some new gadget that he thought I might find useful or hear his thoughts on something that was going on in the world that he just simply had to voice to someone...right now.

There is, in the middle of Tom’s garden, a unique piece -an old iron post – I think he said it was an old gas lamp post(?) It had a decorative finial on top, with the lilac tree growing all around it…a very pretty spot. One time, we were standing right there on the walkway in his garden, chatting about plants or politics or planning our next trim of the lilac tree. I don’t remember what. As we stood there, we heard cheeping sounds and then a mother bird swooped in over Tom’s shoulder where her chicks were, not a foot away from us, so close we could see the mother bird’s head dipping to share her offerings. We watched silently – me, eyes wide open, mouth agape; Tom, eyes dancing with laughter and beaming an excited smile toward me. Mom flew off and Tom laughed and said “I know!”

It is these little moments with Tom that I will miss. The neighbourhood is less lively, less interesting without him. I will miss his infectious energy, his sense of humour and the way he so generously shared his delight in things big and small.