Tom Gray

June 25, 1927 – February 13, 2003

Tom Gray was born June 25, 1927 in Kingston, Ontario. Although Tom was not a native of Sackville, through his many community activities and involvement, it did not take him long to become one. In his youth, Tom worked at various jobs before settling in the military in November of 1953. He enjoyed being a soldier in the Royal Canadian Army Corps for 18 years, serving in Kingston, Ottawa, Whitehorse, Korea and Germany. In 1970, he came to Nova Scotia and worked for McGuinness Distillers and to Sackville's benefit, settled here with his family. In 1985, he joined Peter Mielzynski Agencies Ltd. where he was so well regarded, he still held the title of Special Events Coordinator at the time of his death.

On a personal level, Tom was even busier. As well as preparing many dinners for the Lions Club, he also served as King Lion of the Lions Club in Sackville and President of the Royal Canadian Legion in Ottawa. Many lions’ members will remember him for his renowned onion gravy. As if this was not enough, Tom embarked on a career as Sackville's Town Crier on July 1, 1999. With this new phase of his life, you could find him at parades, graduations, weddings and, of course, the Canada Day Flag-Raising ceremony where it all began. With all his volunteer dedication to the above organizations, we cannot fail to include a commitment he had every year, for many years, which was probably one of the nearest and dearest to his heart. Each year, from mid November to Christmas, Tom hung up his town crier suit to don his Santa Claus suit and entertain the children at Sunnyside Mall.

As you're reading this you're probably thinking Tom was so busy he couldn't possibly have had any time for his family. Not so, family was very important to Tom, from family dinners to a game of euchre, he always found time for them.

Tom Gray was a very valued member of the Sackville community. To recognize his importance, Fultz House dedicated a Memorial Rose Garden in his honour in the summer of 2003. As well, the 1st Tom Gray Town Crier Competition was held during the Patriot Days celebration in July of 2003, with the intent to make this an annual event. The rose garden and town crier competition will continue to serve as reminders to all of us, how Tom served his community - unselfishly and with great dedication.