Charlotte Khouw (Niece)

Entered November 8, 2020 from Toronto, Ontario

My deepest condolences to the family on your loss. I will always remember Uncle Tom for his witty and dry sense of humour, his Cookie Monster references and green thumb.

My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

David Guardia (Family friend)

Entered November 8, 2020 from Hartford

Dr Ing was a supportive father and husband. His inquisitive mind helped him become a great investor. He will be missed.

Vivian Khouw (Niece)

Entered November 8, 2020

My deepest condolences to Uncle Tom’s entire family on his passing.

One of my fondest memories I have is helping Aunty Sandra and Uncle Tom move from Windsor to Toronto. We wanted to open up a computer to destroy the hard drive and couldn’t do it. So, Uncle Tom, in typical pragmatic fashion, picked up the computer, and dropped it on the ground cracking it open. He picked the computer up again, and smashed it onto the ground again, widening the crack. He reached in, took the hard drive and then, out of nowhere, produced a hammer. This he used to pound the hard drive into pieces. Adjusting his down vest, he looked at me and said, “Good? I’m going in.” He sauntered back into the house, while I stood there looking dumbfounded, amidst plastic shards of an old mac computer.

I hope that the many decades of wonderful memories you have all shared together will give you strength during this difficult time and envelop you in love.

Diane Peterson 

Entered November 8, 2020

Dear Melissa,

I want to extend my condolences to you and your family during this difficult time. Prayers to you and your loved ones.

Angela Yap Sam & Family (In Law)

Entered November 8, 2020 from Toronto

Please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of Tom and hopefully you get some comfort knowing that he is no longer suffering and in a better place.

The Yap Sam Family

Dad used to say that everyone had just 24 hours in a day, so do not waste it. If he felt I was sleeping too much, he would wake me up and say it is time to study. Dad would always wake up at 5 a.m. to feed his birds, water his plants, and prepare his rice breakfast. When I started university, we started this rice breakfast ritual. He would always have my plate ready when I came down in the morning. Sometimes we talked and sometimes not, but it still felt comforting having him there.

Dad was strict with us. As a child, I did not understand why he kept pushing me to study and do well in school. He made me memorize the multiplication tables by the time I was in Grade 1. He would push me to find my own solutions instead of asking him for help. His favourite sayings included "there are no stupid people, just hard workers", "an education means that you can be independent", and "money is power. If you have it then no one can tell you what to do". It may have taken years for me to understand his ways, but I am thankful for his guidance.

Dad did not speak much, but those rare times that he did, I treasured. I remember failing my first Physics test and was so ashamed. He came into my room and said "try harder, I have faith in you." I took his advice and managed to get an A in the course.

I will treasure those memories of us apple picking as a family, me riding on the trailer as dad drove the lawn mower to rake leaves, or him laughing at me when I almost backed into our fence when I was first learning to drive.

Thank you Dad

Dad was not a man of many words. He was philosophical and loved quotes. Nevertheless, Dad lived large in my world. My father is the greatest positive influence in my life. Dad taught the 3 of us kids to be independent; to understand the importance of equity; to value education and knowledge; to stand up for what is right; and to understand the importance of service to others.
Some of my stand out memories of Dad will always include how he was on ER call quite a bit and how much he enjoyed helping patients. He always accepted call during holidays, weekends, and middle of the night. We would be in the middle of dinner or our family would be out with friends and Dad would always get a phone call to come to the hospital right away. Dad never looked at these calls as being disruptive. Dad loved being a surgeon, a healer; he loved his patients, and believed in his service to the Windsor, Ontario community.
Since I grew up seeing this as a normal part of a health care giver’s family, Dad was my role model to follow for the same dedication for patients, colleagues, and students.
When my dad had just a few days left to live, my sister Sabrina, who is a general practitioner, sat at the dining room table, so she had full view of my father, lying in his hospital bed. She told me that she had to contact her patients that needed follow up. Duty and service before self-something Dad taught us well.
Because of my father, I became interested in health service-learning initiatives and STEM. I wish he was well enough in the last few years to see what I have achieved. He would have been tickled pink!
Dad’s encouragement to teach and leave a legacy rubbed off on both my brother and me. We are both professors while at the same time work on patients. Dad said some profound words to me over and over again while I was a teenager and also as an undergraduate student: “I hope that you become a better scholar than me.” Since Dad is pretty darn intelligent, I did not quite know what to make of that until maybe a lot later on in life. He just meant that he hoped that I use his teachings to leave a mark on life, a legacy. I try to pass on knowledge as best as possible with my students and peers so that the next generation can carry on.
Thank you, Dad, for Everything. I love you.