Thomas Richard Laver

John Cleese of Monty Python fame had it right. This parrot is not resting! It has permanently left the aviary. Its goose is cooked, so to sbeak!

Tom leaves behind his wife, and only “bird”, the always-beautiful Margaret, who said she married him for his steely blue eyes and his colour TV. Without her, he would have been so much less. He also leaves his wonderful sons, Drs. Mark (Erin) and John (Serena), all of whom have so many “feathers in their caps”; his lovely granddaughters Nora, who first called him “Tom” when she was two, and Mary, who once upon a time jokingly addressed him as “Gigi,” the same name she used for Margaret; and his beautiful grandson Miles, whose favourite comment is, “Grandpa is sleeping.” As for “his sisters and his cousins and his aunts,” he doesn’t “reckon them by the dozens,” as enumerated by Gilbert and Sullivan. He is survived by his lovely sister Linda, (there was always only one), and Linda’s sons, who long ago left their nests: Matthew (Leslie), Luke (Sarah), and Dan (Dara), and their children, Ella, Riley, and Quinn. Other relatives by marriage: sisters-in-law Trisha (Ian) and Elizabeth (Grey, d. 2024), nieces and nephews Corinna, Alan (Sara), and Jonathan (Rebecca), and their children Linden, Leith, Cece, Kira, Elia, and Hanna. He loved all of you – madly. Cousins? Seven. Aunts? Sorry G and S. There are no aunts. Nor are there any uncles either. They are all dead.

Some other of life’s accomplishments that one is supposed to list: He was a professional classical singer, a tenor that is, who performed in oratorios in England, Canada and the United States. He was an educational writer for TV Ontario. His writing also appeared in a number of journals in Canada and the U.S. It also appeared in this obituary. In fact, as you probably guessed already, he wrote the whole thing.

Finally, he was a high school teacher of history and philosophy and a guidance counsellor. He loved every moment that he spent with his students. Margie informs him that too much money was spent on this obituary! There is nothing left for the usual gatherings, wakes etc. Therefore, a state funeral will be held as soon as a state can be found to host and pay for it.

Thank you for reading this.

[Written by Tom, December 2022]

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After a short illness, Tom slipped away peacefully in the wee small hours of the morning on Friday July 31, 2026, at Scarborough General Hospital, with his beloved wife Margaret by his side. His humour, wit, and caring will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at a later date. For those who wish, memorial donations can be made to a charity of your choice. And give a hug and a pat to your loved ones.