John Warren Nevil Thomas

1938 - 2021

JOHN WARREN NEVIL THOMAS February 7, 1938 - September 22, 2021 Nevil passed away at his home in Toronto at 83 years of age. Husband of 47 years to dearly loved Susanne (predeceased). Beloved father to Rebecca, Jeremy, Julian (Wendy), and Ryan (Sarah). Grandfather to Kyle and Andy. A strong believer in the power of a good education, Nevil completed his B.Comm. (Trinity College, University of Toronto), M.A. (Queen's University), M.B.A. (York University), and C.F.A. (University of Virginia). Chair and Director, BCC Advisors Inc. (formerly Bedford Capital Corp., which Nevil founded); President & Director, Nevcorp Inc. Director, Elizabeth Arden Inc.; Old Republic Insurance Co.; Reliable Life Insurance Co.; Templeton Growth Fund Ltd. Dominion Securities Ltd. Toronto and London, England; Pitfield Mackay; Midland Doherty. Businessman, philanthropist, and lifelong boatsman, Nevil lived life fully with his own sense of determination, and will be remembered by his family, friends, and colleagues, for being a one-of-a-kind man. He will be remembered for his stories, told with a glint of mischief in his eye, his daring sense of style, his passion for business and building companies, and his love for his family. His English gardens at the family cottage and his waving presence in his vintage Greavette on Georgian Bay will be remembered, and will be missed greatly by many Nevil's philanthropic work includes, the University of Toronto Chancellor's Circle; University of Toronto Trinity College, Nevil Thomas Scholarship, and the Nevil Thomas Wing at the Lawson Centre for Sustainability; Founding Donor and Co-Chair of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Head and Neck Discovery Program; and the University Health Network, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre Library and Online Resource Centre. Member of the Toronto Club, Lyford Cay Club. Past member, Metropolitan Club, Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Coral Ridge Yacht Club. A private family interment will take place at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, and a small Memorial Service for family and friends will be held at St. Clement's Church in the coming weeks. A livestream link will be available on www.morleybedford.ca The family wishes to thank Nevil's medical team at the Princess Margaret Hospital, led by Dr. Karen Yee, as well as the team in the Malignant Hematology Day Unit, and all of those who have cared for him over the past years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia Research Fund at the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation https://supportthepmcf.ca/ui/NevilThomas/donations/start or 416-946-6560 or 1-866-224-6560 (option 1).