Tom McIllwraith

It is with both deep sadness and thankful remembrance that the family of Thomas William Eric McIllwraith announce his passing at The Carleton Place Hospital in Carleton Place, ON, on February 3, 2025. Tom was born in Liverpool, UK on May 20, 1945, and was the son of Eric Gilbert McIllwraith and Marguerite Aileen Nield.

In addition to his parents, Tom was pre-deceased by his wife, Mary, and, in 2019, by his dear daughter Eileen Alice McLean of Stittsville, ON. He is survived by his son Angus (Angela MacKay) of Halifax; his son-in-law Brian McLean of Stittsville; his sister Susan and brother Peter. He also leaves behind his much-loved grandchildren Clyde, Grace, Lily, and Thomas McLean of Stittsville; and Kieran McIllwraith of Halifax, NS. He leaves, too, many nieces and nephews whose lives he followed closely over the years. 

Tom grew up in Saint John, NB, graduating from Simonds High School in 1963. He would go on to study at St Thomas University, UNB Fredericton, University of Maine, Saint Michael's College, and St Stephen's College, earning bachelor's degrees in English and education, master's degrees in English, education, and theology, starting PhD's in English and education but not finishing the dissertations, then finally ending his student career when he received his doctorate in ministry at age 53. 

While continuing his part time university studies, Tom taught high school in Stanley, Nackawic, and Saint John with a 2-year interlude as a lecturer in English at Bethlehem Teachers College, Malvern, Jamaica from 1976-78. From 1980-1991, Tom worked as the social action coordinator for the Roman Catholic diocese of Saint John.  In 1991, Tom and his family moved to Halifax, NS, where he worked at the Atlantic School of Theology (AST) as the director of distance education until his retirement in 2009. At AST, he was a pioneer in online education. Today, people who took the online classes he established make up the majority of the school's in-person full time students. For this accomplishment, Tom was awarded the title of Fellow of AST at the 2023 convocation.

Tom enjoyed painting, building boats, and learning to play the fiddle.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church, 28 Hawthorne Ave, Carleton Place, Ontario on Friday, February 21 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation from 10-11 am at the church.  There will be a reception following Mass in the Church Hall.

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