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
Dear Joanna,
I only heard about your sad loss through Boyd as I am now working in Budapest. I thought I’d drop you a line to offer my heartfelt condolences. Tony was not only a pillar of FAO but also a good human being. I have good memories of him, as will many others I imagine. They say nobody really dies as long as there is someone left behind who remembers them. In this respect, Tony will remain with us for many, many years.
Best wishes e corraggio.
Tony Alonzi (FAO)
Ciao Joanna,
Kay mi ha informata della triste notizia, sono veramente dispiaciuta e vorrei esprimerti tutta la mia sincera sympathy e partecipazione alla tua grande perdita. Ho sempre molto apprezzato nei tanti anni passati alla Fao la grande umanità e professionalità di Tony, la sua intelligenza e il senso dell’ironia e voglio ricordarlo così.
Ti sono vicina con affetto, un grande abbraccio,
Love
Tata (FAO)
My dearest Joanna,
We were extremely saddened to learn this morning of Tony’s passing away. No words can possibly express how much we feel for you. The loss must be devastating for you all. He was certainly a most amazing person and will always be remembered in our prayers.
Our most profound condolences and sympathy to you and all the family. May his soul rest in peace.
Serge, Helen and Family
Dear Joanna,
My heart is broken. I would love to hug you, but I’m so far away that I could do it only in my mind.
I’m coming back on Saturday, so sad I’ll not be there to attend the services for our Tony. Please, be strong and know that you are much loved.
Lillian Tomorad
Dear Joanna,
this is Sandra here. I was very distressed to learn of Tony’s passing and had been thinking about him a great deal lately. One of our daughters is currently living in New York and I had been dwelling on whether I should try to visit you two sometime, but sadly I will not be able to do that now. As you know Tony was my very favourite boss and colleague and we had such a good working and personal relationship. He was always so understanding and appreciative, always taking responsibility for everything that happened in the office and never “blaming the secretary”! What a lovely person he was. I know I am not alone in thinking that. So many retired staff members over the past few years have asked after him.
There is not much else one can say. I know you must be overwhelmed by sadness at this time and can only pray that in time happy memories will replace sad thoughts.
Perhaps one of these days you will feel up to visiting Rome again and should this happen, I would of course love to see you! In the meantime, this message comes to you with much love.
Sandra (FAO)
Dear Joanna
I was so sad to hear about Tony.
He was a special man, and I admired him from afar, back in those days before I started to get to know him. I recall his performances in the FAO governing bodies, telling some of the recalcitrant delegates to sod off, which he did so firmly, diplomatically and nicely, but they got the point. And then later on, I got to know him better through you and Hélène, and I well remember our weekend up with you both in Tuscany. I feel had I got to know him better, we would have become friends but there wasn’t enough time for that. But I’ll maintain fond memories.
You will have a large space to fill, and it won’t be easy I know. I just hope that the love of your friends and family will help you through this difficult time. But above all, you will always have Tony’s love with you, and that will never go away. You were a wonderful wife to him, and no-one could have done more.
Love,
Jeremy Turner (FAO)
This is the email Jo Zambri of Zambri’s Restaurant sent to her staff who knew & loved Tony.
It conveys how I felt about him and about Joanna.
I have a cousin who I really didn’t know until the last 10 years. She moved to Rome when she was barely 20. She worked for the UN & met a man she fell madly in love with. They went through trials to be together but they persevered and spent the last 30 years together. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about 12 years ago & they knew they couldn’t stay in Rome any longer as it is not an easy place for anyone not able bodied. He was an Irish born Australian so they spent time looking in Australia & Canada for places to move to. After researching & visiting places all over the globe they settled on Victoria and connected with me & Peter.
You all know I am talking about Joanna & Tony. Tony was dashing (do people still use that descriptive?), intelligent, funny (as in really smart-funny, witty & a bit obscene like any good Irish-Australian) & had something inexplicable about him that I think can only be described as a magnetism few people possess. It had nothing to do with physical looks but rather came from & radiated from deep inside of him.
He had soul! He loved food, wine, conversation, flirting, ideological debate and conversation. He was respectful to all but irreverent. He deeply loved his wife Joanna.
As his Parkinson’s took away his ability to walk he kept a positive outlook. As it took away his precious ability to communicate he always smiled & kept his eyes looking forward. To watch Tony & Joanna together sharing everything from happiness to grief was a special thing. Yesterday he died. I have been on this planet for long enough to know that people die. I know many people who are no longer here but something about Tony leaving is an especially hard one to accept.
I am sending this as a kind of need to share & pass on that there are amazing people in this world who aren’t necessarily lauded by everyone but whose presence here impacted others deeply. Please, when you are going about your day today at some point can you honour Tony by telling someone you care about how much you love them.
Thanks
Jo (Victoria)
Dear Joanna,
Kay informed us about Tony’s passing.
I can only say that I have very fond memories of him. If you remember, I used to work in the then Policy Assistance Division and it was only when I worked with Kay for the World Food Summit of 1996 that I got to know Tony. I remember his witty remarks and his capacity to use irony and lighten the work atmosphere.
His warmth and affection will remain with you and will help you to go through this difficult period of your life.
Please let us know if ever you plan to come to Italy. Bob and I would be happy to meet you again.
With warmest regards,
Maria Grazia Quieti and Bob Sonnabend
Chère Joanna,
Hélène a appris la triste nouvelle du décès de Tony.
Nous sommes profondément attristés de la disparition de celui
qui a partagé ta vie et que tu as tant aimé. Nous nous souvenons
avec émotion des moments que nous avons partagés à Rome, via
Appia dans votre si agréable appartement, chez Hélène et plus tard
en France chez nous. Toi et Tony vous avez toujours su nous accueillir
avec tant de sympathie. Nous nous rappelons nos conversations toujours
passionnantes. Nous repensons à Tony grand amateur de bons vins et
surtout de Bordeaux.
Nous nous associons à ta grande peine et nous te prions de croire
à toutes nos meilleures pensées. Nous t’embrassons bien affectueusement.
Loli et Bernard
My wonderful friend, Tony Wade, died today. He was an inspiration, a man who never gave up, cared, was fun, a listener who gave good advice and had a great sense of humour, a man who was accomplished in so many things and who loved, who believed in the power of the heart, who was inclusive, interested, a trooper and a good friend to the end. Rest well, Tony. I miss you!!
Joy