Thomas Bolt

Thomas Edward Bolt, age 65, adoring father and husband; unparalleled storyteller and poet; devoted uncle, brother-in-law, and son; and unwavering friend, died peacefully in Toronto on January 21st, 2025, surrounded by family, a year after being diagnosed with glioblastoma. His singular loyalty and affection for his family and friends; his boundless curiosity, tenacity, perspicacity, and playfulness are profoundly missed. Until the end, Tom continued to create, and find solace and meaning - which he shared with loved ones - in the literature that had sustained and inspired him throughout his life.

Tom faced the many challenges of his disease with bravery, good humour, and generosity towards his family, close friends, and caregivers who accompanied him through his illness. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Sophie Claire Forrester, their daughter, Vera Josephine Forrester Bolt - the greatest source of joy and meaning in his life - his mother and stepfather Josephine and Bates Littlehales of Keller, Virginia, and cousin Joey Robertson of Pfafftown, North Carolina. He is pre-deceased by his father, Wade Haskell Bolt, Jr.

Born on November 21, 1959 in Washington, D.C., Tom evinced prodigious creative gifts early on. He won a pre-college scholarship to the Corcoran School of Art and graduated, cum laude, in English and Art from the University of Virginia. Among Tom's literary distinctions are an O. Henry Prize for short fiction, the Rome Prize for Literature, and the Yale Younger Poets Prize, selected by poet James Merrill. His writing has appeared in n+1, BOMB, the Paris Review, Epiphany, Literary Imagination, among other publications. Tom's work has been featured in several anthologies and translated into Italian and Russian. His paintings were shown in group exhibitions in New York City, and a hand-printed book of his poems and etchings, Land, is in the rare book collections of the Library of Congress and the University of Virginia. Tom's collaborations with composer, Sebastian Currier, have been performed in New York City and Philadelphia.

Over the course of his life, Tom resided in Washington D.C.; Reston, Lucketts, and Charlottesville, Virginia; Pendleton County, West Virginia; East Orange, New Jersey; and New York City, where he lived for almost 30 years and met his wife, Sophie. A year in Rome, Italy as Literature Fellow at the American Academy in Rome engendered many lasting friendships and an enduring fascination with the Urbs Aeterna. In 2015, together with his wife and daughter, Tom immigrated to Toronto and enthusiastically embraced life in Canada.

Sophie and Vera extend deep gratitude to family and friends who brought comfort, companionship, and laughter into Tom's and their lives during his illness. In particular, the family wishes to acknowledge the generosity and commitment of friends who came from near and far to share memories and precious moments with Tom as he approached the end of his life. Special thanks to sister Alison and dear friends Jan, Christie, and Ann, for their immeasurable love and support. Also, Darius, Donia, Robert W., Renée, and Dabney, and the dedicated professionals both at home and in hospice: thank you.

Memorial service and celebration of life will be held in the Spring. Donations in Tom's memory can be made to the Toronto Wildlife Centre and the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital, through the Sinai Health Foundation.