Remembering Tom

It is with great sadness that I tell you that on Jan. 6th 2005 at 10:47 a.m. my younger brother Tom, 42 was killed in a diving accident off the coast of L.A.. Tom was a commercial diver, an investigation is taking place. He was a very safe diver and so it is all the more puzzling that such an accident would take place during a relatively straight forward inspection dive.

He was a great man who lived his life with gusto. He had friends around the world who loved him very much. My sister and I often were often surprised by strangers in the weirdest places who said "You're Little Tom's sister? We love little Tom!", Including in a village in Papua New Guinea where in the middle of no where, and where we thought we knew no one, someone yelled out, Oh my God it's Little Tom!

He was a strong smart little guy, with a giant heart. He made time to help any one. With the snow storms of late I remember Tom going out for the day in Van., many times, just to help people on the road with his big trucks and snow smarts. When he was young he studied, partied and worked very hard. In 1997 he met Sarah who we all loved immediately, in Portland Oregon - they felt like they were soul-mates, and they began a family. First beautiful Katryna 5, and then little Caleb, 3. He was a great Dad!! Sarah and he taught the kids sign-language when they were tiny before they could speak. He took his job of Dad and husband very seriously with patience, thought, fun and lots of love. And I am so glad they were just here before Xmas for a visit. How we ache for one last warm hug.

Little Tom" was born in Swan River, Manitoba, Canada and raised in Gillam Manitoba where it was apparent that he had an extraordinary love of life. Tom's search for adventure lead him to a career in diving and he found his passion. Tom loved diving, the jobs, the people he met and the challenges that it provided. Tom worked around the world and his sense of humor, mischievous nature and dedication to his craft earned him life-long friends wherever he went.

A patient, devoted and fun-loving husband and Dad, Tom's family became the focus of his life. And he always made time for his friends.

He will be deeply missed by his loving wife Sarah and their children Katryna and Caleb, parents Ernie and Verna Ohryn, sister Lori Ohryn and her husband Byron, sister Lynn Erin , nephew Tyler Lawtey and a myriad of friends from around the world. We will miss Tom's compassion, generosity, laughter and that twinkle in his eye.

A celebration of Tom's life was held at the Little Chapel of the Chimes on January 12, 2005 in Portland, Oregon.

His memorial in Portland was an amazing testament to the kind of person Tom was. The funeral hall over-flowed to the street where his Uni-Mog was parked. We knew too that if it had been held in Vancouver or Manitoba there would have been many more people able to attend. There were many, many funny, and heart-warming stories. Of how he had touched people who met him briefly, and how he touched his long-time friends, family, work and play associates.

We continue to miss him dearly, dearly, dearly however he continues to make his presence known in no uncertain terms, and we like that.