Obituary for Thomas Graham Kinsman
Born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario, Tom was a beloved member of a family that excelled in two rather divergent skills: music and gymnastics. His life was certainly a testament to both of these passions, among others. Though it might seem a bit commonplace to say, he was also simply an all-round nice guy, as anyone who met him will confirm. It was always one of life’s simple and rewarding pleasures to spend time in Tom’s company. Fiercely independent, he was also a very gentle soul with the quirkiest and quickest sense of humour.
Tom is survived by his daughter, Lindsay (Owen Carter), of whom he was enormously proud. Lindsay inherited from her father the musical talent of the Kinsman clan, and she benefits from the culinary skills Tom patiently taught her from a very early age. Tom is also survived by his sister Andrea (Bill Dow) of B.C. He was predeceased by his mother, Elsa, and his father, Bob, as well as his two brothers, Rick (Leslie Sguigna) and Paul (father of Nico and Jesse of British Columbia). Tom is also survived by his niece Nico and nephew Jesse, and their families, all of British Columbia, and by and his former wife, Anne, with whom he shared a lifelong friendship. He has dear friends and many colleagues in the world of Canadian amateur sport who will be saddened by his passing.
Tom graduated from York University in 1973 after earning a BA in Physical Education and an MA in Business Administration. While at York, he was selected as a member of Canada’s national gymnastics team and represented this country at the World Student Games in Torino, Italy (1970) and in a Yugoslavia tour. Tom competed for the university for five years, during which time York collected four consecutive Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union titles, from 1969 to 1973. At the CIAU national finals, he placed second all-around twice (1970-71 and 1971-72) and third all-around on two other occasions (1969-70 and 1972-73). Tom was also York's top diver for several years, placing third in the Ontario university championships in both 1972 and 1973. For his excellence in athletics, he was named York's male athlete of the year in 1971. In 1981, he was ultimately honoured by his induction into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame as “York’s first truly outstanding male gymnast.” He was appointed in 1973 to the position of technical coordinator for the Canadian Gymnastics Federation under the umbrella of the National Sport and Recreation Centre, which was set up in advance of the Montreal Olympics. In his role as technical coordinator for CGF, he developed a gymnastics coaching certification program that became a landmark document. He went on to establish a boys’ gymnastics club in Ottawa, where he mentored many who will remember him with fondness and great admiration. His last professional position was with the Coaching Association of Canada, where he worked on the professionalization of coaching as a career.
After retiring in his hometown of Peterborough, Tom was able to more fully embrace his passion for music. He successfully completed the Royal Conservatory’s requirements for Grade 10 flute, which he thoroughly enjoyed playing as a member of the Peterborough Concert Band. But flute was by no means Tom’s only instrument; throughout his life he was proficient in piano, saxophone, trumpet and just about any other device that he could find room for in his home—or car—including, but not limited to the penny whistle, didgeridoo, kalimba, talking drum…. Many evenings with Tom were centred around bringing music to life with anyone willing to take a chance on connecting with their inner child!
As soon as he had a kitchen of his own, Tom expanded on his Kinsman musical and gymnastics heritage, exploring the art of cooking, which became another of his life passions, and one that anyone lucky enough to have enjoyed one of his creations will always remember. The longer the ingredient list, the better! Though Tom’s guests might not have gotten down to the business of actually eating until the wee hours of an evening, get-togethers he hosted invariably centred around an appreciation for the entire process of bringing the meal and the participants together. An invariably delicious and often adventuresome feast was then consumed with copious amounts of good wine and even better conversation. Tom had many signature dishes that he could “execute” at will: an old friend recently recalled his reaching the “white-wine point of no return,” but nevertheless producing a delicious puttanesca dinner. There was a certain very special dining room table that had been in the family for years—if only it could talk!
Tom’s joy in living extended as well to white-water kayaking, canoe camping, cottaging and road trips to anywhere. In fact, his travelling life began during his working years in amateur sport, when he visited many far-off places. He often enjoyed recalling a certain visit to a certain country, when he couldn’t resist the lure of exchanging jeans for the local currency, which he then used to buy champagne from a taxi trunk and a great deal of amber. He also told of being treated to a heartwarming and generous display of hospitality by a family who, though they had little, insisted on giving—and he was grateful.
Tom’s life was a testament to the value of wringing joy out of every pursuit and taking every opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate all life has to offer through music, food and friendship. Alzheimer’s slowly and inexorably robbed him of every ability to live that life. And now, sadly for those of us who remain, but mercifully for him, he is free.
Tom is survived by his daughter, Lindsay (Owen Carter), of whom he was enormously proud. Lindsay inherited from her father the musical talent of the Kinsman clan, and she benefits from the culinary skills Tom patiently taught her from a very early age. Tom is also survived by his sister Andrea (Bill Dow) of B.C. He was predeceased by his mother, Elsa, and his father, Bob, as well as his two brothers, Rick (Leslie Sguigna) and Paul (father of Nico and Jesse of British Columbia). Tom is also survived by his niece Nico and nephew Jesse, and their families, all of British Columbia, and by and his former wife, Anne, with whom he shared a lifelong friendship. He has dear friends and many colleagues in the world of Canadian amateur sport who will be saddened by his passing.
Tom graduated from York University in 1973 after earning a BA in Physical Education and an MA in Business Administration. While at York, he was selected as a member of Canada’s national gymnastics team and represented this country at the World Student Games in Torino, Italy (1970) and in a Yugoslavia tour. Tom competed for the university for five years, during which time York collected four consecutive Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union titles, from 1969 to 1973. At the CIAU national finals, he placed second all-around twice (1970-71 and 1971-72) and third all-around on two other occasions (1969-70 and 1972-73). Tom was also York's top diver for several years, placing third in the Ontario university championships in both 1972 and 1973. For his excellence in athletics, he was named York's male athlete of the year in 1971. In 1981, he was ultimately honoured by his induction into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame as “York’s first truly outstanding male gymnast.” He was appointed in 1973 to the position of technical coordinator for the Canadian Gymnastics Federation under the umbrella of the National Sport and Recreation Centre, which was set up in advance of the Montreal Olympics. In his role as technical coordinator for CGF, he developed a gymnastics coaching certification program that became a landmark document. He went on to establish a boys’ gymnastics club in Ottawa, where he mentored many who will remember him with fondness and great admiration. His last professional position was with the Coaching Association of Canada, where he worked on the professionalization of coaching as a career.
After retiring in his hometown of Peterborough, Tom was able to more fully embrace his passion for music. He successfully completed the Royal Conservatory’s requirements for Grade 10 flute, which he thoroughly enjoyed playing as a member of the Peterborough Concert Band. But flute was by no means Tom’s only instrument; throughout his life he was proficient in piano, saxophone, trumpet and just about any other device that he could find room for in his home—or car—including, but not limited to the penny whistle, didgeridoo, kalimba, talking drum…. Many evenings with Tom were centred around bringing music to life with anyone willing to take a chance on connecting with their inner child!
As soon as he had a kitchen of his own, Tom expanded on his Kinsman musical and gymnastics heritage, exploring the art of cooking, which became another of his life passions, and one that anyone lucky enough to have enjoyed one of his creations will always remember. The longer the ingredient list, the better! Though Tom’s guests might not have gotten down to the business of actually eating until the wee hours of an evening, get-togethers he hosted invariably centred around an appreciation for the entire process of bringing the meal and the participants together. An invariably delicious and often adventuresome feast was then consumed with copious amounts of good wine and even better conversation. Tom had many signature dishes that he could “execute” at will: an old friend recently recalled his reaching the “white-wine point of no return,” but nevertheless producing a delicious puttanesca dinner. There was a certain very special dining room table that had been in the family for years—if only it could talk!
Tom’s joy in living extended as well to white-water kayaking, canoe camping, cottaging and road trips to anywhere. In fact, his travelling life began during his working years in amateur sport, when he visited many far-off places. He often enjoyed recalling a certain visit to a certain country, when he couldn’t resist the lure of exchanging jeans for the local currency, which he then used to buy champagne from a taxi trunk and a great deal of amber. He also told of being treated to a heartwarming and generous display of hospitality by a family who, though they had little, insisted on giving—and he was grateful.
Tom’s life was a testament to the value of wringing joy out of every pursuit and taking every opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate all life has to offer through music, food and friendship. Alzheimer’s slowly and inexorably robbed him of every ability to live that life. And now, sadly for those of us who remain, but mercifully for him, he is free.