Gary Tomlin

1940 - 2018  (77 years)

• Name	Gary Tomlin
  Born	6 Jul 1940	Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada
  Gender	Male
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-104312
  Died	2 Apr 2018
  Person ID	I104312	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

• Notes

  Lifetimes: Highly accomplished musician inspired generations of drummers Gary Tomlin of Conestogo, born: July 6, 1940, in Toronto, died: April 2, 2018, of brain cancer Apr 15, 2018 by Valerie Hill Waterloo Region Record CONESTOGO \\ As a musician, Gary Tomlin was always the quiet, contemplative guy in the background making the most noise. Of course it was good noise, his rhythms as a drummer making him one of the region's most sought after percussionists. "He played right up until shortly before he died," said Andy Macpherson, musician with "The New Vibes Jazz Quartet." Gary had been the band's longtime drummer. "We rehearsed all through November for a December show," said Andy. "He didn't play the show, he wasn't up to it." Gary's final show was in the Conestogo home he shared with his wife Karen Tomlin, an educator and fellow drummer. The house was filled with guests and family that day and Gary was in his element, though his brain tumour and the subsequent surgery and treatment destroyed much of his ability to use his hands and feet. He also couldn't speak but Gary compensated, playing with whichever limbs were still at least partially functioning. "He did a lot of practising," said Andy. "He was very determined." Karen said "the disease did not define him, we did so many things these past four months." She spoke of his "grace, dignity and good humour" through the illness. "I can't imagine the frustration with his not being able to talk," she said. "He couldn't find the words." Karen and their children, Aaron and Alyssa, learned to ask Gary questions that could be answered with a simple yes or no, using gestures. He never stopped trying to communicate. Gary was born in Toronto, the only child of a stay-at-home mom and a successful salesman father. The family moved to Kitchener when his dad was transferred. Gary was around 10. He didn't grow up in a musical household, but Karen said her husband's parents were supportive of his music, even though he had a rather rocky start after joining the music program at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate. "He started playing on a trombone but he needed orthodontic work and switched to drums," she said. Once Gary had those sticks in his hands, it was an awakening of sorts. "He began playing professionally at age 15," she said. "After high school he was working for the Waterloo Music Company as a salesman and a clinician."..... Hill, V. (2018). Lifetimes: Highly accomplished musician inspired generations of drummers. TheRecord.com. Retrieved 13 July 2018, from https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8395731-lifetimes-highly-accomplished-musician-inspired-generations-of-drummers/

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 6 Jul 1940 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth