Thomas DRYDEN

DRYDEN, Thomas
DRYDEN, Tom
Thomas Robert Dryden - died November 30th at the age of 80 in his home with his family by his side. He leaves Mary-Lou, his one and only love of 55 years, and sons Jamie (Johanna), John, Jeffrey, and Michael (Cathy). 'Papa' and 'Grandpa Tom' will be greatly missed by his loving and adored grandchildren Georgia and Ally, and Pip and Tommy.
Tom was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. His parents were Canadian and moved back to Canada and lived in the beach in Toronto. He attended Malvern High School. Tom enlisted in the American army in 1944, trained at Fort Benning and Camp Crowder. He attended officer training school and as a 2nd Lieutenant joined the 11th Airborne. He shipped to the South Pacific where he served and upon discharge returned to Toronto. Tom attended University of Toronto, Victoria College, and was a Psi U.
Upon graduation he joined the Aetna Insurance Company - Group Department, where he remained for the next 25 years. He then moved to Marsh McLennan and worked there until retirement in 1989.
Lou and Tom were married in 1952. They spent twelve years in wonderful Quebec where all four boys were born. In 1965 the family moved back to Toronto and spent five years there before moving up to Caledon.
Tom had many interests!!! He was a ski instructor at Talisman and Caledon Ski Clubs, played golf at Chinguacousy Golf Club, joined Caledon Mountain Trout Club where he enjoyed fly fishing, loved to go duck hunting, shot pheasant in Wales, and was a great skeet and trap shooter.
He started carving decoys and birds, proved to be extremely talented and went on to win many awards at the Sportsman's Show and the CNE. There was a long waiting list for his carvings.
In addition to a decades long interest in magic, Tom also enjoyed bird-dogs, flying, scuba diving, sailing, photography, tennis, painting and was an avid outdoorsman.
He was generous with his knowledge, loved for his sense of humour and dinner party recitations, and always honoured his backgammon debts to his wife!
'Pour lire avec plaisir' Lou and the boys are very grateful for the care Tom received from the nurses and Dr. McKinnon at Headwaters Hospital. Tom's last days at home were greatly eased by the exceptional and compassionate care provided by Palliative Care Nurse Liz Birnie. The family also wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Duncan Bull, Tom's longtime doctor, for his outstanding care and for always being there. A private family cremation service was held and a celebration of Tom's great life will take place in early May 2008. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to do so may make donations to Headwaters Healthcare Centre, 100 Rolling Hills Drive, Orangeville, Ontario L9W 4X9 or Hospice Caledon Foundation, (Bethel House), P.O. Box 75, Inglewood, Ontario L7C 3L6.