GARRISON, Thomas (Tom)

Thomas Samuel David Garrison, formerly of Elora and later of Oakville and Toronto, passed away suddenly in Copenhagen, Denmark. Thomas was a charismatic, compassionate, and encouraging person who made friends easily and had a unique gift for bringing people together. He was a thoughtful listener, loyal friend, and creative storyteller who loved writing fantasy stories,playing Dungeons & Dragons, and building his business venture, Friends with Dice. As a computer programmer, he worked at the forefront of emerging AI technology. Throughout his life, Thomas faced significant health challenges, including Celiac disease and fibromyalgia, yet he persevered with strength, resilience, and compassion for others. His experiences shaped his strong sense of social justice and deep care for people facing hardship. A number of times he grew out his hair so he could donate it in support of cancer patients. Thomas loved learning, reading, music, laughter, and adventure. His scope of interest would range from Harry Potter to Pride and Prejudice. He liked to dance, and to participate in family sing-alongs to movies like White Christmas and A Muppet Christmas Carol. He backpacked through Central America, scuba diving and volcano sledding. He explored his family roots in Ireland, and most recently made his home in Denmark. He was an animal lover and devoted “fur dad” to his dog, Appa, going for frequent, long walks together, and to his cat, Nebbie. He also found great peace in nature, especially near the water, drawn to it from a young age. Thomas was a devoted partner to Robyn Dalgleish; beloved son of Ron and Anne Garrison; cherished son-in-law to Rob and Kelly Dalgleish; treasured grandson of Doris Monteith; loving brother and brother-in-law to Andrew and Lauren Garrison,Sarah Garrison and Bob Van Hout, and Laurel, Matt, and Graham Dalgleish; and proud uncle to Rea, Seth, Shea, and Kylee Garrison. He will also be deeply missed by his extended family and many friends. He was always happy to have a chat, whether long or short, genuinely interested in hearing about your life and enthusiastic about what mattered to you. He had a rare gift for making people feel seen and valued. He strove to do his very best for the people he cared about without complaint. If you were fortunate enough to be counted among them, you knew unwavering support. Thomas was always in your corner with the warmest hugs, the loudest cheerleading, and the biggest smile. Thomas will always be remembered for his huge heart, helping hand, and the blessings he brought to everyone he met. We are devastated by his passing and it has left a hole in our hearts and lives that can never be filled. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. A visitation to celebrate Thomas’ life will take place on Friday, May 22, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm at Elora Road Christian Fellowship (5696 Wellington Rd 7, Guelph, ON N1H6J2).