Thomas Vann
Celebration of Life
Friday, September 25, 2026
2:00 PM
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 43
471 Simcoe Street S, Oshawa, ON L1H 4J7
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Gathering of Friends
Sunday, October 4, 2026
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 148
4350 Hastings Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 2J9
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Obituary for Thomas Vann
February 12, 1949 – August 26, 2026
Thomas Vann passed away in Vancouver on August 26, 2026, at the age of 77 following a brief respiratory illness. He leaves behind his brother, Bill, and sister, Pat. He was predeceased by his mother, Doris in 2021 at the remarkable age of 99; and father Doug in 2006.
He was born and raised in Oshawa Ontario and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. When a young boy, Thom was encouraged by his Dad to play lacrosse and he excelled from a young age and played on a number of Canadian championship Junior A teams in the 1960s with the renowned Oshawa Green Gaels. In his final Junior A season he finished second in league scoring with 73 goals and 69 assists for 142 points in a single 28 game season. Thereafter he played for a number of Senior teams in Ontario as well as professionally with the Maryland Arrows and the Quebec Cariboos. He was a prolific scorer and popular with both Teammates and Fans throughout his career.
In the late 1970s Thom relocated to Vancouver where he had a long and successful career as a self-employed house painter. When his apartment building was threatened by fire Thom played an instrumental role in saving it from destruction. The city of Vancouver wanted to present Thom with an award for his firefighting efforts but being the self-effacing person that he was he politely declined.
Thom was bright, witty, personable, fun loving and saw beauty in simple things and had a love of animals, especially his cats. He made a lasting impression on everyone he met. He will be sorely missed by all he knew and loved him.
Tom’s remains will be returned to Oshawa and buried with his grandfather at Union Cemetery.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Oshawa on September 25 at 2 pm., at Royal Canadian Legion, 471 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa.
A gathering of friends will be held in Vancouver on October 4, 2pm - 4pm at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 148, 4350 Hastings Street, Burnaby.
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