Born in Vancouver, BC, Dr. Tom Bailey devoted his life to family, medicine, and to family medicine. Growing up in Victoria, Beamsville (ON), Oxford (UK), and Vancouver, by his late teens Tom knew his vocation and knew the love of his life: Nancy, a young woman he had met in 1970 while both were Easter Seals camp counsellors. He married her in 1973 and earned his medical degree from UBC in 1976, his first son born the same day as his final exam.
He completed his residency in family medicine at Dalhousie University in 1978. He became the proud father of two more sons as he set up a medical practice in Victoria’s Western Communities, where he worked as a family physician for more than forty years.
His family grew to include four grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. His workload grew as well. He served in numerous capacities supporting family medicine, including everything from maternity through eldercare, from exam writer to committee organizer to president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (2006-2007). He did all his work without boast or complaint.
Tom is profoundly missed by his wife Nancy; children Stephen (Christine), Andrew (Elena), and Michael (Emily); grandchildren Presley, Hayden, Isaac, and Bergen; siblings John (Brenda), Peter (Janet), and Maggie (Don); nieces; nephews; friends; family; colleagues; teammates; and patients. Tom’s death was sudden and unexpected but he spent every day of his life doing what he loved with people whom he loved.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. John’s Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra Street, on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice in keeping with Tom’s life.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
86 Responses
I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Bailey’s passing. Dr. Bailey has been my Doctor for 35 years, almost my whole life, he has been in my life through every up and down I have experienced, from delivering my daughter, then grandchildren, to sicknesses and hospitalizations. Through it all he has always been so kind and caring, he always took the time to listen to me, never rushed an appointment, and we normally ended with some sense of humour. He was one of a kind and will be truly missed.
A great loss and a wonderful Doctor. I was very fortunate to have Dr. Bailey as my Doctor at the start of my family. RIP
I hold high respect for Tom. He was always courteous and friendly. A great loss of an excellent colleague. I am sorry for your loss.
I am still so shocked and devastated to hear the terrible news of Dr. Bailey’s passing. My thoughts go out to his family and friends as the impact he had on my life was so small relative to the role he played in their lives, yet the impact feels so big to me as he was such a friendly, happy and devoted doctor to me and my family. Doctor Bailey delivered me 29 years ago at Victoria General Hospital. Since, he has been there for me through chicken pox, severe childhood asthma, colds, flus, pneumonia, sports injuries, addiction problems in my family, anxiety, depression, car accidents, workplace injuries, workplace absences due to chronic pain, infertility, pregnancy, delivery of my daughter, then a recent hospital admission for her when she was only 3 weeks old. He was there to see her in the hospital every single morning! He has been there for me also every single time with a smile on his face and always a willingness to help, but more importantly to listen and to care. I work in the healthcare field and I sincerely have never met a more amazing doctor than he. He has helped me through every rough period I have ever had in my life. I seriously do not know what I will do without him, as not only a doctor, but as a companion. He knows more about me than anybody does, he even met me before I met my own mother. His passing is a true loss to our community. He will he sincerely missed and never forgotten by my family and I. Thank you Doctor Bailey for everything. You were a one of a kind man and a one in a million doctor.to his family, I am so so very sorry for your loss.
I’m very saddened by this he was a great dr and person he will be missed
Our family has been fortunate to have been in Dr. Bailey’s care for very close to 40 years. I can’t imagine a kinder, more dedicated physician. We will miss him very much, please accept our heartfelt condolences.
It is with deepest condolences that we send prayers for comfort and healing as you mourn the loss of Thomas. He will be missed by many who he cared for, doing what he loved. We would also like to thank you for all he did in helping my father and me. We realize to many of us he was our Doctor; but to you he was more. He was family, Father, Grandfather, Husband, Brother, Uncle. He will always be remembered as a great person because of his role in life. On behalf of my family, I wish you deepest and heartfelt condolences..
I am so sorry for your loss, dr Bailey was my family doctor for many years he will be greatly missed.
To Tom Bailey’s family
I am so sorry for your Loss.
Tom was a great guy and Doctor, he was my Maternity Doctor with my Daughter and became our family doctor just after she was born almost three years ago. He will be greatly missed as our Doctor. Again im so sorry for your loss.
Dr.Bailey delivered three of our four children. He was my maternity doctor for all four. His knowledge and compassion always made me feel safe. He went above and beyond for outstanding care. He was a brilliant doctor and will be very missed! Our condolences to his loved ones durning this difficult time.