1941 – 2025: A well-lived life
A life well-lived and well-loved, Tom passed away as he lived his life, gently and peacefully, with family at his side.
Born in Edmundston, New Brunswick, to Herb and Jessie and welcomed by big sister Joan, Tom had a fun-filled, loving childhood full of escapades and family. It was also when his love of golf first began.
He attended Mount Allison University, where he made lifelong friends and met his life partner and love, Sue (nee Gillis). Married in 1963, shortly after graduating, they soon welcomed Cathy, Lynn, and John, of whom he was so proud. He did not miss a single activity of theirs or, later, of his grandchildren’s. Many hot chocolates were enjoyed, and friends were made in arenas everywhere, on soccer fields, at school plays, and at recitals. No child or grandchild had a bigger fan or champion.
Tom started his career straight from university at KPMG’s predecessor, Riddell Stead Graham and Hutchison, in Halifax. He earned his CA designation three years later and became a partner in 1972. Tom spent eight years in the Montreal office, where he and his family lived in Pointe-Claire; in 1978, they relocated to Oakville when Tom joined the National Office in Toronto. Later, he led the tax practice in the Mississauga office, and following that, he specialized in International Tax, working out of the Toronto office. He retired in 2003.
Tom served on KPMG’s first elected Partnership Board for several years. He was also a member of the Toronto Regional Council and the firm’s Tax Practice Committee. He was a CICA Tax Course lecturer for many years and sat on the CICA Tax Courses Committee.
A busy executive and family man, Tom still found time to serve on many community committees and boards, such as the United Way of Oakville, Canadian Red Cross NS division, Mount Allison University, Mississaugua Golf and Country Club, Community Foundation of Oakville, Renascent Foundation, St John’s United Church, and Oakville Hydro, while maintaining a 10 handicap.
A true gentleman, Tom valued integrity, fairness, honesty, community and, above all else, family. He would quietly help anyone in need (and was a canvasser’s dream at the door), impart wise advice when asked and do anything for his family. He will be dearly missed by Sue, Cathy, Lynn and John; son-in-law Todd Carter, daughter-in-law Christin Moss, and his cherished grandchildren Matthew (Liz) and Sarah Carter; Ben, David and Rachel Hamburg; and Aiden and Charlotte Hierlihy; and by sister Joan and her husband Reverend Brian Gee, sister-in-law Sally Caldwell and husband Ed, brother-in-law John Gillis and wife Shari, and dear cousin Kathy Mullin, her husband Blake and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family gives immense thanks to the incredible staff of 5B at Wellbrook Place.
A Celebration of Life will be held on March 29, 2025, from 12 to 2 pm at Mississauga Golf and Country Club.
The family is establishing a scholarship in Tom’s name at Mount Allison University. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tom Hierlihy Scholarship by going online at www.mta.ca/donate, by phone at 1-866-890-6318 or by mail to University Advancement, Mount Allison University, 62 York Street, Sackville, NB, E4L 1E2.
