Thomas William Laviolette

Thomas W. Laviolette

B.Sc. Eng., M.Sc. Eng., P.Eng., APEGGA Memb

The very fine and much beloved Tom Laviolette of Canmore, Alberta passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2011 in the Stroke Unit, Foothills Hospital, Calgary, AB.

Married for 56 years to Irene (nee Condon) Laviolette, Tom leaves behind the devoted Irene, five children, Mary-Beth (Douglas MacLean), Maureen, Barry (Leslie McGlennon), Diana (Dale Saunders) & Thomas (Cheeying Ho); eight grandchildren (Duncan, Thomas, Haley, Amanda, Abbey, Jack, Lucy & Wei Tien). He is also survived by brothers, Jim & Lawrence.

Tom was born in Edson, AB. to Harvey and Ellen (nee Walsh) Laviolette. A train engineer on the Coal Branch, Harvey together with the resourceful Ellen, raised four boys in Edson including John (deceased). After service in the Second World War, Tom earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Alberta, followed with a Masters of Science in Engineering specializing in structural engineering. During those years, Tom worked as a surveyor for the Geodetic Survey of Canada. This happy and adventurous work took him to the remote areas ? often on horseback? of northern British Columbia & the Yukon. While stationed on the Alaska Highway, he named Mount Ellen after his mother.

In 1954, Tom met the lovely Irene and married in Edmonton, October 2, 1954. Together, they raised five children in that city. His professional career includes, among others, Whittaker Laviolette Engineering and later on, Laviolette Engineering where he was assisted by his wife, Irene Laviolette & Hugh MacDonald. He finished his career as an instructor at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and as an associate with Kin Ho, P Eng. His son, Barry Laviolette, now operates Laviolette Engineering, with whom Tom was his partner in retirement.

Tom was passionate about teaching and to his last days he never lost his fascination with the natural world and the universe beyond. In his early years, Tom was one of the founding members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Calgary in which he lectured on the physics of space flight. He loved to camp, snow ski, read, play the piano and argue. He rode his electric bike to the very end and with Irene was a terrific host and supporter of the family.

Our thanks to Dr. Watson and his attentive staff in Unit 112, Foothills Medical Center in Calgary.

Funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at Our Lady of the Rockies Parish in Canmore.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in Tom's memory, to Our Lady of the Rockies Parish Building Fund, 810-7th Street, Canmore, AB.

T1W 2C8.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.