Condolences
Kelly, Jill and Lindsey,
We are heartbroken for you and your families. Your loss is immeasurable but clearly so are the wonderful memories and the love. We’re remembering Tony’s quick and easy smile, his great sense of humour and saw so many times the strong pride and joy he felt for the three of you. Thinking of you, Joan, Scott, Ben and Elizabeth.
Dear Kelly, Lindsay and Jill,
My condolences on the loss of a loving husband and father. I am thinking of you at this terrible and sad time.
Janice Schneider
Tony was the one who brought me into the Tech-Wood fold and one thing was made abundantly clear to me from the start -- he loved his Boston Cream donuts. I was quickly given the assignment of inspecting the donuts that anyone brought into the office and was tasked with the safe delivery of the Boston Cream donut to his desk before it could be "stolen" by anyone else.
But even more than his love of these donuts was his unquestionable love of his family. Even after he moved on from Tech-Wood he was quick to pull out his phone and show me photos and tell stories of his daughters. You could feel the love in his words and see it in his eyes.
There are so many people who were lucky enough to know Tony for a long period of time. I only knew him for short time, but it was still an honour and privilege to have known him at all.
Kelly, Jill and Lindsay I want to express my deepest sympathies again for your lost.
I did get to know Tony too much on a personal basis but it is true, he was so proud of his daughters and would show me some pictures every time we got together and I would ask how his family was doing.
I knew him more on a professional basis and I can tell you that in my 33+ years in this business HE WAS by far the best boss I ever had. As a Mather of fact I never felt I was working for him but with him. In my career I had I lot of controlling bosses who would question and ask what I was doing with my time. In the beginning when Tony was calling me I felt I had to explain what I was doing during the day not because he was asking me just because I was used to it.
Again Tony never ever called me to check on me and to know what I was doing. “Au Contraire”. He was calling me just to check how I was doing. I can still heard him when calling me:
-Benoit!
-Tony ! (Was my answer)…getting emotional…
-It’s been a while since we’ve talked and I just wanted to know how you were doing?
That was Tony. You never had to justify what you were doing or working On. He had total confidence, a concept that I was never used too.
We had a running gag together. We would often call me at 4h45pm on Friday and trle that I could have the rest of the day Off. My answer to him was “Well Tony you’ve could at least give me the rest of the week” LOL.
I cried the day he announced to us that he was retiring. I was selfish. I wanted to keep him until my retirement. But I got around it and of course I was happy for him retiring, he deserve every minutes of it and unfortunately minutes is only what he got.
I knew Tony wanted to travel ( for golf that is LOL) and my now ongoing vacation to Portugal was the last thing he approved for me. So this trip is very special for me and a tribute to Tony for all of those trips he could not do.
Rest In Peace Tony in those short years that we were working together you made me a better person and I owe a lot to you. You are deeply miss. It was a honour knowing you.
Forever your friend.
Benoit.
Sailor Suit.
Can’t tell you the Sailor Suit in Mexico story on this forum, but buy us a drink and either Rob, Laura (she knows most of the story) or I can make you laugh at another Tony memory.
A group of us travelled south almost every winter to golf and Palm Springs was one of our favourite spots. A house on the 18th green of the Palm Springs Country Club. Every day Tony wanted, or forcefully insisted that we be the first group on the course, regardless of what happened the night before.
Tony took great delight in messing with our golf clubs and loosening the straps on the back of the golf cart. We always fell for it and he laughed every time. Payback would surely come and it finally happened one day. Tony had hit his ball into a yard and despite the no trespassing and alarm signs there was no way a perfectly good golf ball was going sit there in plain sight and taunt him. After looking for signs of the owner or armed guards Tony headed into the yard to get his prized possession. Just as he passed the alarm sign on the way into the yard, one of us put the golf cart into reverse and the backup alarm scared the crap out of him. He bolted out of the yard, ball in hand of course, thinking he had triggered the alarm. Our turn to laugh. After coming off the 18th green everyday you had to chip your ball into the pool then dive in the water. Hard to explain why we stopped making those memories.
About 18 years ago we were looking to buy a house in Parkland. Driving up the Deerfoot one day, we got a call from Tony saying he was standing in the living room of our new home. Tony, I said, We don’t have a home in Parkland”. “Oh but you will and I have found it, so you need to get here now”. By the time we got there Tony had done a complete inspection, including the roof and had his list of what had been done and what needed work. The house was being sold by a realtor/owner and by the next evening we were, soon to be, Parkland residents. We are still in this house and continue to love it. Will always think about Tony when we get home or sit in the yard.
Continuing the house story. After moving in we purchased a table and chair set for the patio. The set arrives and it’s time for assembly. Instructions and parts are all over the place and progress was slow but beer breaks plentiful. Tony drops over to see the progress and as you can imagine our lack of effort drives him crazy. Needless to say we continue our drinks while Tony assembles the entire set. We still have the patio furniture to this day and although it needs replacing, who is going to make sure it’s done right and on time.
We so miss you Tony.
Doug, Laura, Justin, Jason, Chris and Katelyn Barber
Kelly, Jill, and Lindsay..... Still in shock, and saddened by the knowledge that Tony's smiling face and infectious laugh won't be heard by me again..... in our many times together, work and play! You three were always front and centre in his life, and as others have said...... you could never leave a gathering without Tony showing you the latest pics of all three of his girls!
Thinking of you, and we will see you next week....
Love,
Brad, and Pat.
Kelly, Jill, and Lindsay,
I'm saddened to hear of Tony's passing and I'm so very sorry for your terrible loss. I'll remember Tony as one of the most positive and confident people I've known. He was always quick to share a story, usually followed by a laugh and smile. He will be missed by all who knew him.
God bless you all!
Todd Lindsey
Kelly, Jill and Lindsay,
Bob and I are so sorry to hear of Tony’s passing. Our thoughts are with you all. Tony’s smile truly could light up the room, and his immaculate front yard is the envy of many in the neighbourhood. I hope your treasured memories, of times spent together, will help you through the difficult days ahead.
Kelly, Lindsay and Jill, we are so sorry to hear of Tony’s passing. You are all in our thoughts! With love from the Galotta family, Paula, John, Carolyn, Katie and Julia
This is sad and wrong. Day bye day we will hurt less.
I do remember in poker club at Jim M house we spilt his red wine on Jim’s carpet in the basement. Tony and I worked on that red wine stain all night and thought Jimmy J would ban us for life (as he won all the time). It is a memory I will never forget.
Love you all.
Blaine
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