Thomas Foster Isherwood

Born May 17, 1922 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and died peacefully on November 13, 2011 in Victoria BC.  Predeceased by his brothers, John and Joseph, and is survived by his wife, Constance; sons, Charles and George; his brother George; as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.  He obtained a BA degree at UBC and an MA (Fine Arts) at Case Western, USA, before serving in WWII with the RCAF.  On discharge he joined the Young Liberals and ran for Parliament in Vancouver-Quadra in the federal election of 1949.  He attended Law Schoolat UBC graduating in 1951 and opened a law practice in Hope,BC.  There he served on a number of organizations and incorporated the Fraser Canyon Hospital Society and The Hospital District.  Active in the Anglican Church, he was a Synod delegate and lay reader, and assisted in the rebuilding of St. John’s Church, Yale, and Christ Church, Hope.  He was Branch President, Zone Commander, and Provincial Vice-President of the Royal Canadian Legion in Hope, and Secretary of the Hope Chamber of Commerce.  Involved in community efforts, he helped in the building of the first Curling Rink in Hope, formed the Fraser Canyon Jade and Rock Society, and joined in many projects of the Rotary Club of which he was a proud member.  A park in his name is located on land he donated to the Fraser Valley Regional Board, as open space next to the Old Yale Cemetery.

He moved to Victoria in 1961, and again ran in the federal elections of 1962 and 1963.  In 1963 he married Constance Dora Holmes and they practiced law in the partnership of Holmes & Isherwood until his retirement in 2006.  His community work included Vice-President of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, President of the Art Gallery Foundation, President and Director of the Hallmark Society, President of the Victoria Senior Citizens Housing Society, President of the English Speaking Union, Victoria Branch, Founding President of the Asian Art Society of Victoria and Founding President of the Goward House Society.  He was a Councillor on Saanich Municipal Council for two terms, in the 1970’s. In 1996 he moved to Sooke and was active in the Sooke Philharmonic Society, Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society and Holy Trinity Church, Sooke.

A Memorial Service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria on November 26, 2011 at 2:00 pm.  Bishop James Cowan, Dean Logan McMenamie, and Rev. Dr. Alex Nagy are officiating, followed by a reception at the Union Club, where he was a long-time member.  Interment of ashes will take place in a private family service at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Royal Oak.  Thanks are extended to the staff of St. Charles Manor Care Home for their kindness and care in his last days.  Flowers gratefully declined.  Donations, if desired, can be made to Holy Trinity Church, P.O. Box 519, Sooke, BC, V9Z 1H5. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.