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
My heart felt condolences to Dr. Bailey’s family. I was a patient of Dr.Bailey’s for just under 2 years, although a short period of time, it was when I needed him the most. I had never experienced a Dr like Dr. Bailey. Dr. Bailey was also my maternity Dr & my daughter arrived 5 weeks early (Nov. 23 2018), after 3 days of having her, the head nurse was asking me to leave, I was devastated, I wasn’t ready to leave my daughter, then an hour later Dr. Bailey visited me & comforted me saying I could stay as long as I needed!! I stayed an extra week before the need to return home to my family. My daughter stayed in the hospital for 5 weeks & Dr. Bailey continued to show his compassion by providing my husband much needed Dr’s notes for his work so he could stay at home to help care for our other child during this very difficult time. I will never forget Dr. Bailey, I wish there were more Dr’s with this level of compassion & care, Dr.Bailey thank you, our family will never forget you. ❤️
I met him through residential care meetings and I was impressed by his leadership skills, medical knowledge, dedication and ethics. My sincere condolences to his family.
To Dr. Bailey’s family,
We are so sorry and deeply saddened to hear of your loss. Dr Bailey was Kristen’s family doctor for 19+ years and it was a great honour and privilege to have him deliver our first born Ava and have him watch her grow with us for her first 9 months. He will be greatly missed but remembered so fondly by our family. Once again, our deepest condolences go out to you during this difficult time.
My condolences to Dr. Bailey’s family. I had the honour of working with Tom in his capacity as Medical Director for Long Term Care. Tom was kind, compassionate, dedicated to his profession and had an encyclopedic memory of hockey. It was not uncommon for Tom to attend an early morning meeting after spending the night delivering a baby and then stopping on his way home to visit a resident. His impact and legacy will live on in his family and the many patients who had Tom as a physician.
It was a great honour and privilege to count Tom as a colleague and friend when we worked together at Island Health. In addition, he was a fantastic family doctor for my two sons. My sincere condolences to his family. He will be missed by more people than I’m sure Tom would have ever imagined!
Dear Nancy and family,
Our sincere condolences to each of you at this difficult time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Tom will be sadly missed.