Thomas Robert Foote

Born in Grand Bank Nfld. he was the son of George and Sarah (Patten) Foote. He was predeceased by brothers Ambrose (died in infancy) and Harold (d.2010). Tom is survived by his wife Joyce (Taylor) and sisters Betty (Luther) and, Joan (Burdock) and, sons David (Colleen) and Bryce (Adele), and his grandchildren Gemma and Kyran in Western Australia. In addition to his immediate family Tom will be fondly remembered by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and strangers whose lives he touched. Tom spent his childhood in Grand Bank Newfoundland and cherished his years growing up there with his brother and sisters, parents, relatives and friends. He always felt at home in Grand Bank and loved his little “magical moments” like fishing in a dory or chatting with fishermen on the dock. Tom was a dedicated student, always at the top of his class at school. As a teenager Tom attended Nfld Methodist College in St. John’s (later Prince of Wales Collegiate) and then was accepted to study at Mount Allison University and moved to Sackville NB. In 1951, while in Halifax working a summer job paving the runways at Shearwater Airport, Tom met his wife to be, Joyce (Taylor) on Dartmouth Natal Day, 1951. When faced with the choice of returning to Mount A and leaving his new found love, Tom decided to remain in Halifax. After trying a number of different jobs he started work at the Naval Research Establishment in Dartmouth then moved on to the newly opened Bedford Institute of Oceanography for a total of 35 years of Federal service upon his retirement in 1987. Tom was successful at his work and participated in CSS Hudson’s circumnavigation of the Americas in 1970. His work ethic and expertise in Ocean Physical Science technology was captured briefly in the book Voyage to the Edge of the World (McClellan and Stewart 1973). With the approaching arrival of their first born, Bryce, Tom and Joyce bought a plot of land and built a house in Dartmouth. It was magical time and place to bring up a family with so many young couples and their children making new homes at roughly the same time. Tom was serious about his role as a father and served as role model for many of the children in the neighbourhood as well as his own two boys. Tom loved to pit himself against the elements, the wind and the waves. His recreational interests included sailing, building and racing DN class iceboats and flying light aircraft and gliders. Tom perfected his sailing technique at Dartmouth Yacht Club, often winning the club’s handicap races during his summer sailing. Winter meant packing away the sailboat and bringing out the iceboats. His passions soon moved to the air. He learned to fly at the Shearwater Flying Club and purchased a 4 seat Cessna 172 light aircraft before learning to fly sailplanes with the Bluenose Soaring Club and acquiring a Sirrus glider. With Tom it was always: "Safety First” and he was rated by his peers as one of the best gliding instructors around. When he no longer felt safe piloting his own aircraft Tom took up building and flying radio control airplanes and gliders and joined the Halifax Electric Flyers Association. Tom was also a shy but talented musician. At Mt Allison he played violin in the orchestra and after a 20 year break he rediscovered his musical talents with the Metro Fiddlers in Dartmouth. Numerous trips to Australia to visit with his son Bryce and family and hosting an Australian exchange student in the late 70’s resulted in Tom mentoring a number of Australian Ocean Science students studying at Dalhousie University and developing a strong affinity for “down under”. In addition to visiting family during these trips, he loved to include a little soaring and exploring and made many good friends all over Australia and New Zealand. Over 20 years ago Tom fought his first major battles with cancer. In the following 10 years he fought 3 different types of cancer, prostrate, bowel and thymus. In each case Tom acted quickly and opted for surgery. These surgeries took their toll on body and mind and although he has been able live the past 10 years relatively free of cancer, you don’t really get over cancer, you live with it. In the end he just wore out, tired but fighting stoically to the end. Arrangements entrusted to A. L. Mattatall Funeral Home, 217 Portland St, Dartmouth. Visitation to be held on Friday March 10, 2017 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm.

Funeral Service at Grace United Church, Dartmouth on Saturday March 11, 2017 at 2pm.

Online messages of condolences to: www.mattatallfuneralhome.com