Thomas Robert HURD

Husband (Rita Bertoldi), father (Emilia Hurd), father-in-law (Kevin Cooper), new grandfather to Baby Linden, brother (Molly, Jack, Jim) uncle, colleague, friend and mentor, cyclist extraordinaire, Commonwealth Scholar and Professor of Mathematics at McMaster - died way too soon on April 28, 2022, at age 65.
A bolt from the blue - two weeks after the birth of his first grandchild, a few weeks after negotiating his retirement, Tom was diagnosed with a brain tumour on March 20, 2022, later to be confirmed to be a Grade 4 glioblastoma. It consumed Tom with devastating speed despite his steely resolve. Strong arms and loving hearts surrounded him and kept him at home, until his last few days at St Peter's Hospital. Fellow cyclists became fellow walkers. Meals silently appeared to keep "Team Tom" going. This daily grind proved much harder than going up Sydenham Hill or the "Hurd Locker". These were Tom's favourite bike climbs with his cycling buddies, the Westdale Wastrels.
Thanks to connectors of dots: Dear friends, doctors, nurses and the McMaster community mobilized teams with lightning "Tom-time" speed to donate his beautiful math brain to the Sheila Singh lab at McMaster University. We are honouring Tom's inquiring mind and generosity of spirit to help advance the study and research of this awful disease.

Tom was cremated at Circle of Life Centre in Dundas. A celebration honouring Tom will happen at a later date. A death notice will be published in The Globe and Mail on Saturday, May 7.

A small mercy was that all his family was able to be with him at the end. He is greatly missed.

Condolences, memories and photos may be left at www.circleoflifecbc.com