It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved brother and friend, Michael Andre Thoma on Sunday, August 28, 2011. Michael was predeceased by his mother Erna Elizabeth Kneisel and his sister Ursula Elfriede Thoma. Michael is survived by sisters Barbara Echeverri of Port Moody, BC and Monica Forbes of Sydney, NS; niece Danielle Forbes and nephew, Ian Forbes; brothers-in-law Freddy, Franklin, Diego and Abel Echeverri and Ralph Forbes and sister-in-law Amparo Echeverri. Michael was born August 4, 1952 in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany. He came to Canada when his parents emigrated in the 1958. He grew up in Montreal and later moved to Sydney, Nova Scotia with his family in 1966. He completed his high school at Sydney Academy. He left Sydney after the death of his mother, after which he enrolled in Dalhousie University and lived in Halifax with his sisters Barb and Ursula. He travelled to Toronto where he was part of the rich political scene in the 1970’s. He enjoyed political debates and in that milieu made many friends who still love and cherish him. He went on to get his diploma in Computer Programming from George Brown College in Toronto. His work as a computer programmer took him to many cities across Canada.
Michael thoroughly enjoyed his tenure as computer programmer with Canadian Airlines in Richmond, BC. With Canadian he had the opportunity to travel to numerous exotic destinations where he played volleyball, snorkelled and enjoyed himself greatly. Eventually Michael settled down in Victoria. He most recently worked with his many beloved colleagues on the Pharmacare project at Maximus.
Michael (Mikey to close friends) was a quiet, soft spoken, gentle and kind hearted man who was a student of languages and history. He loved bookstores, enjoyed and collected any kind of reading material, including comics. He loved playing his guitar. He took much pleasure going to the movies, eating out and taking long walks with his friends and colleagues. He enjoyed simple pleasures like walking around Elk Lake or perched on a bench at Cattle Point, reading quietly.
Michael will be missed by all who loved him dearly.
The funeral service will be held at The Chapel at Royal Oak Burial Park at 10:00 am on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 4673 Falaise Drive. Burial will be at Royal Oak Burial Park immediately after the service. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.sequoiagardens.com.
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Graham Hayes
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Debbie Bennett (nee Harris) Monica: you might not remember me. I lived in the townhouse directly across from you (long red hair) on Buckingham in 1968-69. We moved back to Ontario in 1969. So sorry to hear of Michael’s passing. I remember him as a tall, lanky, shy, very smart 16 year old. He has been taken much too soon. Please accept my condolences.
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Barbara and family Dear Barbara and family
I am really sorry to hear about the sudden loss of your brother Michael. Please accept my condolences.My prayers and thoughts are with you today.
Take care,
Marie-Ange Ha Kow-Yee
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Andrea Waywanko Barb and family,
We’re so sorry to hear about the loss of Michael. Andrea and I remember him fondly from those times in Toronto. I remember when he lived upstairs from the El Mocambo, and enjoyed the Rolling Stones playing live, sitting on the roof.
It’s nice to hear of the happy times he had in his life, but so sad it ended so early.
Greg McMaster, Andrea Waywanko
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Amparo, Franklin and Diego Echeverri We met Michael in different opportunities and we always enjoyed the way he treated us. At the beginning because of our lack of the English language, he spoke to us in Spanish to make us feel comfortable and between friends. Through the years we shared with him christmas and some birthdays celebrations. We laughed together, we ate together, we lived together.
We learned to love him and always will.
Peace be upon him.
I was a working colleague of Mike Thoma briefly in 1989 at Canadian Airlines in Richmond, and again I re-aquainted with him on various occations from 2000 – 2010, as we both worked in the Data Processing industry in Victoria. What I miss the most about him was his passionate embrace of political debate. Several time in pubs and restaurants, over the years, his views on Quebec’s place in Canada stirred up a lot of controversy with those with pro-western views, to the point of table thumping and shouting etc. etc. In one instance a bunch of us from Ministry of Health were upstairs on the balcony at Isabels Ribs one lunch time, and provided an interesting floor show to the rest of the restaurant, when Mike suggestion that Quebec should be offered more from Confederation, causes a roar of rage from a western separatist in the group. Hilarious. It was so refreshing, to hear Mike swim against the tide, and stir up some thought on these matters. Mike provided a great tonic for the general apathy that abounds in BC on most matters political. Good old Mike, I will miss him. Sad he went before his time.