June 20, 1943 - July 2, 2020
Thomas James Paterson, Major (Retired), The Royal Canadian Regiment, B.A., CD, age 77, has died in Sidney, BC. from cancer.
A memorial service will be held at God's Acre Veterans Affairs cemetery Esquimalt during the summer of 2021.
Tom was born in Vancouver to Elwin L. (Pat) and Muriel Paterson (née Dillon) on 20 June 1943. The family moved to Toronto at Christmas 1949 and Tom continued his schooling at Upper Canada College as a boarding student spending summers and holidays on his Uncle Jim's farm at Meaford, ON. Tom adapted from a member of the Upper Canada College crowd to rural life and was easily accepted as a local whenever he was home on the farm. His Uncle Jim and Aunt Bella Paterson were his summer parents.
In high school he was drafted into the School Cadet Corps and in his final year was Platoon Sergeant of the Signals Platoon and a Prefect in Mowbray's House.
Major Paterson was commissioned into the Regular Army in 1964 joining 2nd Battalion, The Canadian Guards on commissioning and served with that unit and its successor, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment from 1964 to 1972 in Petawawa with operations in Cyprus (1965/66) and Quebec (Oct 1970).
Tom was married to Phyllis Lorraine Paterson (nee MacDougall) on 17 February 1968.
Major Paterson was promoted to Major in 1981.
Major Paterson commanded companies of the Royal Canadian Regiment in Petawawa, Gagetown and London. He was a graduate of the Land Command and Staff College (1977), the Canadian Forces Staff College (1982) and the University of Manitoba (BA 1996).
Major Paterson retired from the Regular Force in 1998 and moved to Whitehorse, Yukon.
In Whitehorse he was Commanding Officer (2002/04) at Whitehorse Cadet Training Centre, President of the Bed and Breakfast Association of Yukon (1999/2004), a Vice-President of the Tourism Association of Yukon (2003/04) and Executive Director of The Association of Yukon Communities (2004/10).
Tom is survived by his wife Phyllis, son James Michael and daughter-in-law Samantha Rose in Whitehorse, son David Craig and Daughter-in-law Hélène in Europe, and grandchildren Lilli, Stephan, Lucille, Lucas, and Celia.
Tom is preceded in death by his father Elwin and Mother Muriel.