Tomsons, Gunars, 91, of Benoit's Island, West Arm Tracadie, Antigonish County, passed away on October 31, 2017, in the Queen Elizabeth Health Science Centre, Halifax.
Born in Jelgava, Latvia, he was the youngest son of Martins and Margarita (Medins) Tomsons. During WWII, he fled to Germany where he met his first wife Erika Burg. In Stuttgart, he studied piano under his mentor and friend Georg von Albrecht. Gunars and Erika immigrated to Canada in 1951 and settled in Winnipeg where their daughter Bettina was born.
A pianist at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and organist at Riverview United Church until 1966, Gunars completed his B.A. and M.A. at the University of Manitoba. After Erika passed away in 1964, Gunars decided to pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy at Queen’s University in Kingston. There he met Sandra Facey (Sandy), and he was warmly welcomed into the Facey family when they married in 1970.
Gunars and Sandy raised their three children in Pasadena, Newfoundland, where he worked tirelessly to develop degree programming and philosophy courses at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College until his retirement as a full professor in 1997. Throughout his career, Gunars also taught at Central Michigan University, Lakehead University, University of Lethbridge, and the University of Latvia in Riga. Gunars never lost his love for his homeland. He treasured the opportunities he had to teach there and visit his brother Zigurds and nephew Valdis and family. He took pride in assisting two Latvian students to study at Memorial University of Newfoundland and their subsequent contributions to Latvia.
He left his family a written legacy of his life in two autobiographical books: To Be Fed, which describes his life in Europe and shortly after his immigration to Canada and Seeing the Sun which continues his life story after his move to Winnipeg.
An accomplished pianist, organist, and choir director, music was a large part of Gunars' life. His ability to improvise so valued by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet was also appreciated by those listening to his one-time- only preludes and postludes. As organist at Humber Valley United church and as a piano teacher, Gunars enriched Pasadena’s musical life. When he and Sandy moved to Winnipeg in 2000, Gunars was able to make beautiful music at the First Mennonite Church as accompanist and organist for more than a decade.
A devoted husband, amazing dad, and loyal friend, Gunars was truly special. He will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his wife Sandra "Sandy" (Facey); children Bettina (George) Nyman, Winnipeg; Corey (Donna), Edmonton; Kira (Nora), New Westminster, BC; and Melanie (Joseph Quesnel), Tracadie; grandchildren, Quinn and Faye, Simon and Ezra; and nephew, Valdis (wife Irma and children Inga, Gita, and Martins), Latvia.
A memorial service will be held Monday, November 6, in St. Matthew's United Church, Bayfield, at 11:00am, Reverend Heather Manuel presiding.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com
