Thomas Saunders Ransom

He is survived by his four children, Beverley, Cathy, Tom, and Tim; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and his extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Geraldine, and their eldest son, John.

Tom was born in Toronto in 1931. He met his future wife, Geraldine O’Donoghue, at Jarvis Collegiate Institute. “Tom and Gerry” married in 1956 and had five children, remaining devoted to one another until Geraldine’s passing in 2018.

Tom was a professional land surveyor before beginning a second career in education. In 1967, he became a Professor of Civil Technology at Centennial College in Scarborough, where he taught until his retirement in 1997.

His lifelong passions were magic and puzzles, interests sparked by a gift of magic tricks and puzzles from his father in 1938. He collected and repaired books on magic, gambling and mathematical recreations. While living in Belleville Ontario, a weekend pastime of visiting country auctions with the family to collect antiques, led to his role as president of the Hastings County Historical Society.

Tom’s extensive collection of puzzles led to articles about him in newspapers and magazines. Parts of his collection were exhibited in Japan, at the Ontario Science Centre, and elsewhere. In the early 1970s, he appeared as a guest puzzle expert on the TVO program It Stands to Reason.

His many collections included playing cards—also the focus of his magic specialty—dice, magic lanterns, music boxes, puzzle jugs, pop-up books, and Victorian ephemera. He was a founding member and secretary of the Society of Canadian Magicians in Toronto. In 1947, he joined the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Ring 17, as member number 100, and was later awarded a lifetime membership. He contributed to more than a dozen magic magazines and co-authored or contributed to several books on the subject.

Tom also had a deep passion for mathematics and created courses designed to make learning math more enjoyable. His wry wit, warmth, and enthusiasm made him an excellent educator and a charismatic performer. He will be fondly remembered for his curiosity, creativity, generosity, and remarkable ability to bring wonder to others.

A celebration of his life will be held at Giffen-Mack Funeral Home, located at 2570 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, on August 15th. Visitations begin at 1 pm, service at 3 pm.