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 met Tom professionally on a number of occasions and very recently had a very nice conversation with him at a medical event. He always struck me as a caring, organized, and dedicated individual. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. He will be thoroughly missed in our community.
It was an honor to work with Tom for many years at St Anthony’s and at the Priory.
We all know Tom will be greatly missed by his colleagues and by his patients.
Dr David Lintern
I am so sorry to hear about doctor bailey and wish his family the best at this time…dr. bailey saved my moms life once or maybe even twice and he saved my life once. Dr bailey knows more about family medicine than any doctor I know and I have known have few. He is serious and sincere and knows exactly what he is talking about…with me we built a relationship of trust over the past years. I put my life in his hands and he handled me with sincerity and care. He was funny when it was needed and serious when he had to be. I will never forget this man and will miss him as a friend. Goodbye by Tom my family and I will always be thankful for your care and we know we will meet you on the good side. All respects to your family.
Dear Nancy, Stephen, Andrew, Michael, Peter, Janet and your families,
I am very sorry to hear of Tom’s death. He will live on in your and our memories as a wonderfully dedicated family man in spite of his complex involvement in so many aspects of medicine- practice, politics and teaching.
He is known as being among the best ever General/Family physicians and has been a great example to all doctors in Victoria and across Canada. He also was a quietly tough defenseman for the Oak Bay Wanderers Hockey Club for several years.
We will miss his influence, caring manner, expertise and humour greatly.
Best wishes to the Bailey family.
Ross McKay
My sincerest condolences to Tom’s family; this is a sudden and tragic loss, for you and our community. I have been the Co-chair with Tom in the RCI Initiative since 2015. His vision and understanding of how to improve the lives and care of those in long term care will make a difference for years to come. I loved his sense of humour, his attention to detail and he was a terrific mentor. Thank you for sharing him with us.
Victoria Medical Society
Dr. Thomas Bailey was real, funny, dedicated, well loved and a very well-respected family physician who will be greatly missed by his colleagues and friends in our medical community. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, we are thinking of you during this difficult time and hope that you will find some comfort in the memories of laughter and fun shared with him. He was an amazing man!
I and my family are so saddened and shocked to hear of Dr. Bailey’s passing. I have always been happy and felt blessed that I was referred to Dr. Bailey during my first pregnancy over 34 years ago. He delivered and cared for both my children, myself and my husband for the past 34 years. And when my aging mother came to live with us he welcomed her as a patient also. He was an amazing doctor and I trusted and respected him more than words can express. My sincere sympathy to his family and staff. He will be missed.
Jodi Dyrda
Such shock and sadness to hear the news today of such a beautiful man’s passing. Deepest condolences to his wife and family. Dr. Bailey was such a fine example to us all in the health care profession on how to make a difference with ease…he will be missed so terribly much. The paint could be coming off the walls with chaos at the shop (Labour and Delivery) but his joyful presence and snappy ties would make it all doable. Rest In Peace Lovely One.
Heartfelt condolences to Dr. Tom Bailey’s Family & Friends,
I had the privilege to know Tom from two perspectives.
I’ve played hockey with him for almost 20 years on Thursday nights at the UVIC raquet club. “Doc”, as he was nicknamed, typically played wing and could be counted on for his accurate wrist shot. He was also well known for his quick wit in the dressing room and knowledge of older NHL players.
As I work for the health authority, I would often cross paths with Tom at work. He was well recognized for his dedication to his role as Medical Director and to his patients. I was gifted a few months ago with travelling with him to Nanaimo for a leadership workshop and gained a much broader insight into his many other volunteer activities to promote improvements to healthcare. I was exhausted just listening to the hours he put in helping others.
Tom was a true gentleman and healthcare advocate who will be greatly missed by his teammates and this community.
My deepest sympathies,
Martin Poulin
So blessed to have you as mine,my sons,my Families Dr for over 25 yrs. An Ace Doctor.So caring. One of a kind. So shocked,Sad.
My deepest condolences to the Family