Thomas Galbraith BASTEDO

1939 - 2023

THOMAS GALBRAITH BASTEDO, Ph.D., Q.C., UE Thomas Galbraith Bastedo (Tom), born February 24, 1939, in Stratford, Ontario, passed away peacefully in Toronto, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, after a long illness, surrounded by his family. He was two weeks short of his 84th birthday. Tom is survived by his beloved wife and partner of 58 years, Alice; his three children, Ruth (Michael McHale), David (Megan Conacher), and Peter (Debra); and four grandchildren who adored him, Gabrielle and Hallie Bastedo; Robert and Sarah McHale. Predeceased by parents, Dr. George Bastedo and Ruth Bastedo; sister, Jane; brother-in-law, Gordon; and nephew, Mark Conner. Tom was a loving brother to Helen Smith (Doug), Catherine Bastedo-Boileau (Pierre). He was a proud uncle to Paul Conner, many nieces and nephews and their children from across Canada and the US. Starting his educational career in a railway car in Marathon, Ontario, Tom was a boarder at Upper Canada College, and earned a B.A.(Hons) and was awarded the Gold Medal in Political Science and Economics, followed by an M.A. from the University of Toronto, a Ph.D. from Duke University, and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. As one of the leading family law lawyers of his generation, Tom developed a rich and diverse practice, with professional relationships, teaching, and speaking engagements that spanned the globe. He was elected the first Fellow in Canada of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and was also the first Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers to be appointed from the Family Law Bar in Canada. In 2003, Tom was a recipient of the Osgoode Hall Law School Gold Key Award, and in 2004 Tom was awarded the Kroll Lindquist Avey Award for Excellence in Family Law, by the Ontario Bar Association. Active in the community over his lifetime, Tom's volunteer activities and interests were varied, ranging from being Chair of the Legal Aid Plan of Ontario during his 12-year term as a Bencher for the Law Society of Ontario, to serving meals at the St. Mary Magdalene Community Dinner. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Canadian Opera Company and Tafelmusik, and spent many afternoons napping to Saturday Afternoon at the Opera or reading from his extensive collection of history books. More than all his professional accomplishments and interests, Tom cared passionately about his wife Alice, his family and friends. Tom and Alice shared a love of travel and exploration, and in the earliest days of their marriage, lived for a year in India where Tom did his graduate work. From then onwards, they were partners in traveling the world. Throughout his life, Tom was deeply engaged and interested in the well-being of his parents, sisters, sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He loved nothing more than gathering together for family celebrations at the family cottage on Shaw Island in Lake Muskoka. One of Tom's biggest challenges was living with his diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia, which he tackled with courage and honour. Tom and Alice had great support from the Aphasia Institute in the early days of his illness. The family is deeply grateful for the incredible care from Veronica Silva and her amazing team of caregivers, Christian Mark Ugale, Sunnybrook Hospital, the teams at Integra Care and Teddington Park Retirement Home, and the palliative care team from Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care. Tom leaves a legacy of passion, learning, curiosity, discipline, humour, hard work and caring for the community. He was an important and beloved person in all of our lives. We invite you to join us in Tom's Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 4th at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, 477 Manning Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 2V8. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the food ministry at St. Mary Magdalene, or to the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care.