Peter Anthony (Tony) Wade

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Peter Anthony (Tony) Wade on Sunday, September 13, 2015.  Tony is survived by his loving wife, Joanna; his son, Alexander, daughter in law, Jacqui and grandchildren, Leopold and Winona of Sydney, Australia; his step-son, Kingsley Longman and daughter in law, Lyndsey and three grandchildren: Jack, Ruby and Matilda of Wodonga, Australia and sister, Penny Sargent and husband, John of the United Kingdom.

Tony was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1947 to John and Isabel Wade and spent the first seven years in Belfast.  He and Penny moved to Newcastle to live with their paternal grandparents.  Eventually his academic and professional life led him to Australia in 1972.  Once there, he established himself as an accountant and worked for the Ford Motor Company.  In 1975, he moved from Ford to help create a new government agency called the Trade Union Training Authority in Melbourne and Wodonga.  This new organization that was built from the ground up, served to fund statutory authority providing education and training programs for union officials. However, Tony’s most significant and defining career was that of Director of Programme, Budget and Evaluation for the Food and Agricultural Organization with the United Nations in Rome, Italy starting in 1981.  He was an extremely gifted leader, blessed with remarkable organizational, administrative and negotiation skills.  During his 25 years at the UN, he was the architect of budgetary systems, policies and procedures and information technology systems that laid down the foundation for effective departmental functioning for years to come.  Tony earned the respect and admiration of everyone with whom he came into contact – his extreme intelligence, coupled with his acute sense of humour, was an unbeatable combination.  It was in Rome that he met and married the love of his life, Joanna and along with their three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, had 31 years of happiness.

In 2003, Tony was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, a condition that despite heroic efforts by many, many medical professionals, experts and scientists, he was unable to overcome.  He and Joanna relocated to Canada in 2006 and over the last 10 years, Tony challenged the disease and the medical profession with his detailed research and investigations.  Every treatment, medication and therapy was pursued with his characteristic intelligence and vigor. He and Joanna were bold and courageous beyond measure and true to form and he died with his elegant mind and dignity intact.

His family wish to extend heartfelt thanks to Tony’s devoted caregivers who lovingly tended to him over many years:  Denise, Stephanie, Kym, Nikita, Amber, Annie, Tina and Dale – each and every one became part of his family as he battled the disease.  By all who knew him, Tony will continue to be loved and remembered for the remarkable man he was.

A viewing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at McCall’s Downtown, Johnson & Vancouver Streets.  A service will be held on Thursday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m. in McCall’s Floral Chapel.  Following the service and thanks to Jo and Peter Zambri, family and friends are invited to a reception at Zambri’s Restaurant:  820 Yates Street corner of Blanshard Ave.  Donations in Tony’s memory would be appreciated to the Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre, Suite 202 – 1640 Oak Bay Ave, Victoria, B.C. V8R 1B2, Telephone: (250) 475-6677. Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Bros. Funeral Home

www.mccallbros.com.

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