Thomas Herbert Wonnacott (Nov. 29, 1935 – July 6, 2024)
Tom Wonnacott died on July 6, at Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care in London, Ontario, surrounded by family, at the age of 88.
Tom was born in London on November 29, 1935, to Gordon Wonnacott and Muriel (Johnston) Wonnacott.
Tom’s love of teaching was evident in his career teaching statistics and actuarial science. He retired from Western University after decades of sharing his knowledge and experience with young learners. His students remember him both for his dedication to excellence in teaching and for his habit of conducting full classes without remembering to take off his bicycle helmet. Tom was the proud author of several highly regarded textbooks with his late brother, Ron Wonnacott.
Tom loved to be in nature and was always happy in a canoe or sailboat, at a campsite, or on a windsurfer or bicycle, whether in solitude or with others. He shared this love, as well as his disdain for wearing shoes, with family over many summers of fireside stories and adventures on the lake at the family cottage in Tobermory. (His enthusiasm was dampened neither by the time he was bitten by a rattlesnake nor by the time he was lost in the woods overnight.)
Music wove its way through Tom’s life: he embodied the phrase “Dance like nobody’s watching” and he shared his deep and abiding love of music with everyone in his life. His rich bass voice rang out through many choirs and he played his violin with equal joy in orchestra concerts and impromptu family ensembles. His family surrounded him with song over his last days.
Tom’s greatest joy was family and his greatest pride was in his children and grandchildren. He looked forward to the annual gathering of his extended family, where he found happiness in meandering walks with his family on their farmland by the Thames River and playing his guitar around the fire. He played innumerable games of frisbee and chase with his many children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, and his spirit will live on in memories of sunset strolls, spirited debates, and rounds sung by the campfire near the Fishhook Tree.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Ellwood) Wonnacott; by his children Rebecca Wonnacott, Cecilia Maynard (Ed), Dan Wonnacott, Matt Wonnacott (Cat), Kit Swartzentruber (Dan), Marion Wonnacott (Matt), and David Wonnacott (Kristine); and by his grandchildren Soren, Seth, Nathan (Kat), Paloma, Evangeline, Emily, June, Graham, Kurt, Felix, Calvin, Sophie, and Elliott. He is predeceased by his siblings Ron Wonnacott (Eloise) and Joy (Wonnacott) Becker (Lorne), and survived by his siblings Paul Wonnacott (Donna) and Alma (Wonnacott) Scovil (Peter). He will be missed by his many nieces and nephews.
Tom’s family would like to express their profound gratitude to the staff of Mount Hope, Marian Villa 2, for their compassionate care and support. A celebration of Tom’s life will be held at Colborne Street United Church on Friday August 2nd, at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Against Malaria Foundation.