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
110 Responses
Joanna, We are so sorry to hear of Tony’s passing. Since we first met you at the Parkinson’s Newcomers Meeting, we have spoken so highly of your positive attitude as you travelled the path of Parkinson’s disease.
George and I send you our heartfelt condolences.
Carol and George Lawson
Dear Joanna,
We were so very sorry to hear of Tony’s passing and your loss. You took such good care of him. He was a wonderful person and a good friend during those years we worked together at FAO. He will not be forgotten but sorely missed by all who knew him. Our deepest condolence to you and family. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Fred and Janet Heim
De Land, Florida
no words Joanna, I miss you and Tony…he will always be on your shoulder…he’s an Aus…
Carissima Joanna,
Giannicola ed io siamo stati molto tristi nell’apprendere la scomparsa di Tony. Siamo felici di avervi rivisti anche se per un solo breve soleggiato pomeriggio a Victoria qualche anno fa. Tony mi é mancato in quesi anni e continuerá a mancarmi. E’ stato un mentore discreto, nel quotidiano, diventando per me un riferimento, per la sua gentilezza ed umanitá, passione, capacitá intellettuale, arguzia, esperienza, ed intelligenza politica e manageriale. Sono tanti gli spunti ed i ricordi che mi ha lasciato, ma ancora di piu é cio’ che ancora vado scoprendo dei sei intensi anni di lavoro insieme, spesso fino a notte fonda. Il suo senso dell’umorismo e l’accento stretto australiano da incubo per me appena arrivata alla FAO divennero presto un diletto. Tony rimarrá nei nostri pensieri.
Ti abbracciamo molto forte in questo momento difficile, e speriamo di vederci presto a Roma.
Sentite condoglianze,
Minà e Giannicola
Dear Joanna, our thoughts are with you at this trying moment. The Tony that I knew was a giant in FAO for his ceaseless commitment and incredible dedication and effectiveness. The organisation and myself and many others owe a lot to him. We remember him with great admiration. He was a friend, inspiration and a (hard to beat) example. Wish you and Tony’s other loved-ones strength and courage.
Dear Joanna,
I want you to know that Betta and I were so sorry to hear of Tony’s passing. This is also true of my daughter Nicole who remembers him too. And I specifically remember that I thought about Tony on the 11th. I don’t know why, he just came into my mind. I hadn’t thought about him in a while and I just wondered how he was doing.
Tony meant a great deal to me and I think of him as a friend and a mentor. Advice that he gave me has helped me on many, many occasions. Not just at work but in life in general. As time passes, I realize more and more, alas, what a rare thing that is and it makes me realize how lucky I was to have had the opportunity to work for him and to know him.
I know that it is immensely difficult to lose someone that you love, but I hope that you can take some solace in knowing that part of Tony lives on in our memories of him. I will not forget him. And, as far as work goes, he is unquestionably to gold standard to which no one lives up.
Un abbraccio,
Adam
Dear Joanna.
We heard with great sadness that Tony passed away.
He was well known as a brilliant professional who successfully steered FAO’s budget process, under difficult financial conditions. Because of his friendly character and great sense of humor, he made many friends among which I am honored to be. My family join you and the children, in these times of mourning,
to pray for him. May his soul rest in peace.
Sincerely yours.
Jacques Diouf former Director-General of the Food and Agricultrue Organization of the United Nations
Dear Joanna, ho saputo solo ora, ti abbraccio forte. Ho incontrato Tony brevemente poche volte e mi ha lasciato un bellissimo ricordo, una persona speciale, con un grande cuore, una mente brillante, un sorriso accogliente.
emilia
Dear Joanna,
Thank you for forwarding the Obituary for Tony as it allowed me some precious time to reflect about Tony’s life, times past, of friendship and of the beautiful relationship you shared.
I will always cherish the time we shared, albeit briefly, in Tuscany. You were both so generous and great, caring friends.
Sally, Jonathan and I were smiling with pleasure as we reminisced about the pizza oven, great meals and swimming in that lovely pool.
But that’s just a bit of the bigger picture.
My love to you, Joanna, as you adjust to a different life.
Jillian
Dear Joanna,
Our hearts go out to you at this time. How much we admire the devotion you have given to building a new life with Tony in Victoria and caring for him. We can only guess how hard it is now going to be to develop another life alone.
Tony was a huge support to me in FAO, demanding but never under-mining and always encouraging. I shared his hopes and fears for the Organization and his belief in what we were trying to achieve in the world. Pretentious as it sounds, he believed in FAO as a servant of humanity and so did I. On a personal level we were friends.
Tony’s bravery, but also your bravery, as you both realised the implications of his illness and pressed on, has been an example to us all.
We hope that you will visit Rome and will get in touch when you do.
Your friends, always,
John and Jenny