SMITH, Eric Thomas - On Sunday, May 2nd, 2021 at sunrise, Eric Thomas Smith, known to most as Thomas, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Etobicoke.
He had been very brave in his recent battle with pulmonary fibrosis, a rare lung disease of unknown origin, which rapidly accelerated from mid to late April. During his final weeks he maintained a positive spirit and good sense of humour, while continuing to support his family in every way he could in order to ease their emotional pain.
Thomas was born on the fourth of July, 1950, in Cowansville, Quebec. He spent his childhood and most of his teenage years in Goderich, Ontario alongside his loving parents Eric and Shirley Smith, and his three sisters Elsa, Charlene and Nancy.
Thomas had many talents and interests, including playing pool, painting, collecting music, and crafting scale models; a hobby he picked up from his father. He graduated from Goderich Collegiate Institute, eager to broaden his horizons beyond his small town upbringing. As a teenager and later as young adults, he and his good friends Rae, Lee, Larry, and Dave would hitchhike into the big city on weekends and partake on adventurous cross-continental road trips.
In balancing his need for freedom in both experience and expression, alongside the example of discipline and organization shown by his father, he would go on to attend the University of Waterloo on a Mathematics Scholarship, before becoming a BMO branch manager at the age of 22. It was while working with BMO that he passionately felt drawn to pursue a true calling in art. He earned a diploma with distinction in Commercial Art from Mohawk College in 1973.
In various professional roles and notably in his lengthy career in the outdoor advertising industry as an award winning leasing representative, Thomas drew from his formal art education and practical background to develop and excel in various positions. Always a team player interested in the success of those around him, he offered his qualities of honesty, loyalty, dedication and organization. Leaders in his field owe much of their present day success to the methods and practices he created over many years of servant leadership.
On May 19, 1990, Thomas married the love of his life, Lisbeth, only one week short of a year following their first date on May 26, 1989; the day his instantaneous love affair began "like a thunderbolt." Lisbeth and Thomas would spend 32 years together and raise three beautiful children.
Thomas was a major part of his son’s sports programs, coaching Dorian’s numerous baseball, basketball and hockey teams over a span of almost 20 years. He would eventually find his ultimate calling for community volunteer sevice with the Etobicoke Basketball Association where he volunteered first as coach, then as convenor, and finally as the director of house league operations for both boys and girls. Thousands of youth athletes in the Etobicoke community have benefitted from his tireless efforts and from those same qualities that have enabled his professional peers to enjoy their ongoing success. You could find Thomas every Saturday, often driving between multiple locations and sports gyms, multiple times a day, in order to ensure that everything ran smoothly. Thomas was motivated by his desire to help others and in his quiet confidence in knowing he was best suited in this role.
Thomas was known for his reliability, his constancy, and his word. You could always count on him to do what he said he would do. Thomas was there for you. His infectious humour rubbed off on everyone and will be truly missed. His sensibility and kindred spirit was also evident at home in the amazing connection and affinity he has always had with his pet cats. He especially loved Siamese cats, having raised three generations of them throughout his adult life.
In the last 10-15 years of his life, Thomas returned to his boyhood passion in playing pool. He taught both his sons the game, and he played alongside them on multiple teams in multiple leagues wherein he was often captain of the majority of the teams he played for. He achieved MVP honours and many awards for his play, including individual tournament championships in singles cash games. Thomas met hundreds of people through CPA and TAP and made friends everywhere. He was known as a fierce opponent, yet he was respected by all, and remained a loved teammate to everyone who played with him.
Thomas leaves behind his beloved sweetheart wife Lisbeth, two sons Elias (daughter-in-law, Jocelyn) and Dorian, daughter Arielle, and sisters Elsa, Charlene and Nancy. Thomas’ five grandchildren, Olivia, Savannah, Luke, Michael and Joseph have had a wonderful start to their lives with Grandpa Thomas, as have his prized Siamese cats, Takoda and Kotori.
Thomas was loved and respected by very many people. He would want us to remember the good times. After a life well lived and a heart fulfilled, may he rest in Peace.
Arrangements and a Virtual Memorial Service are entrusted with Rosar-Morrison funeral home for May 13th.
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