Obituary of Thomas Simpson McLaughlan Calder

February 5, 1925 - Edinburgh, Scotland

December 15, 2021 - Calgary, Alberta

On December 15, 2021, Thomas ‘Tommy’ Calder passed away peacefully in the AgeCare Glenmore community of Calgary, AB, at the age of 96 years.

Tommy was born in Edinburgh, SC, on February 5, 1925. During his early childhood, he shared a two-room house with seven siblings and his two parents, Isabella and John Calder. By the age of fourteen, his older brother had left home to enlist in the army, and two of his sisters had been married. One married a Canadian serviceman, and the other moved to live and work in London. Young Tommy began working at a local meat market for two years until 1941, when he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Royal Navy. He always claimed that the thought of three meals a day and an escape from his overcrowded family home had no influence on his decision whatsoever.

Tommy was assigned to his first ship in March of 1942. HMT St. Cathan was a converted fishing trawler built for a crew of nine. It was a minesweeper loaned to the US Navy to hunt submarines along the Carolina coastline. At least Tommy and his 38 shipmates got three meals a day. In the early hours of April 11, 1942, came the defining moment that would influence Tommy’s outlook on life. In blackout conditions, the small trawler collided with a Dutch container ship and sank in less than five minutes.

Thirty souls were claimed by the Atlantic Ocean during that tragedy, and hardly a day would pass that Tommy did not remember them.

Tommy returned to Scotland after the war and worked in the Edinburgh Meat Market. In 1950, he married his first wife, Norah. He soon opened his own meat business and gained a solid reputation for quality and service. He was well known and well liked in the industry.

After Norah’s premature passing in 1975 due to a prolonged illness, Tommy decided he would take a holiday to Calgary, AB, to visit his sister. During that trip in 1976, he first met his sister’s neighbour, Gayle McClelland. Three years later, he sold his business in Edinburgh and moved to Calgary with his son, Jason. Tommy and Gayle married in June 1979.

Tommy became a member of the Royal Canadian Legion soon after his arrival in Calgary and remained a regular supporter of the branch for forty-two years, never missing a remembrance service until the recent changes and restrictions of its social activities during the last two years. His Saturday Crib performances became the stuff of legend, as did his almost psychic ability to know what dominos you had in your hand.

In May of 2018, Tommy accepted that due to his diminishing mobility issues, residential care would benefit him, and he moved into AgeCare Glenmore close to his home.

Tommy dealt with life’s trials and disasters with the stoicism and strength of a contented man. He gave encouragement, support, and confidence to all his family, as well as many others throughout his life; he was much loved because of it.

Besides his wife, Gayle Calder, Tommy is survived by his daughter, Hilda Cunningham and her daughters Kelly and Michelle, and her son Karl; Tommy is also survived by his two sons, Eddie, daughter in law Maggie and their daughter Ruth, and Jason, daughter in law Lin and her daughter, Elise.

Tommy is also survived by his Canadian family, Leigh Reed, partner Dave Love, her son Gerald and daughter Lelland, Laurie Hutchinson, husband Avie,and their sons Brett and Eirik.

Dwayne McClelland, wife Deana and son Joel, Warren McClelland, Darren McClelland, wife Sue and their sons, Jack, Scott and Liam.

He is also survived by his younger brother, Gilbert Calder.

Tommy was predeceased by his first wife, Norah, siblings Sonny, Babby, Betty, Isa, Violet and Josie, and Hilda’s daughter Karen.