A Markham councillor for three terms until 1994, Tom Newall, who championed many cultural and recreational facilities enjoyed today, has died.
He was 75.
A proponent of our town’s open and green spaces, the popular Ward 4 councillor and Markham resident is credited with helping preserve Milne Park. Mr. Newall was instrumental in establishing Information Markham, a central repository of town-pertinent information.
He also worked to extend Bullock Drive from Hawkridge Avenue to Markham Main Street.
His civil service legacy includes serving as Markham Library Board chairman.
“Tom took great pride in the design and construction of the Unionville Library and Markham Village Library,” longtime friend Bill Pickering said. “Those are very high quality buildings.”
Born in Toronto, Mr. Newall attended Parkdale Collegiate. He earned a masters degree in history from Sussex University in England and spent two years teaching the subject at the National Department of Defense school in West Germany.
During his career as an educator, he taught at several North York schools. These included A. Y. Jackson Secondary School and William Lyon MacKenzie Collegiate.
Mr. Newall was history department chairman at St. Andrews Junior High School in North York when Mr. Pickering joined his staff.
“He was my boss, but we became good friends,” he recalled. “He was vividly alive. He was a political junkie, but his interests were wide ranging, particularly the arts, including theatre, music, film and television.”
His son, Russell, remembers his father as well-read, intelligent and outgoing.
“He was gregarious, fun and easy-going,” he said. “He was a great father.
“He was a single dad for quite a while, but he loved taking us (brother Trevor) camping. He loved Canada and our history and took us across the country.”
His son said his dad enjoyed cooking and baking.
“His pies were famous in the neighbourhood,” he said.
Active in the community, Mr. Newall wrote film reviews for the Markham Economist & Sun and was on-air movie critic for York Region’s fledgling ClassiCom cable TV company. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti served as the newscaster at the time.
Few know Mr. Newall organized the region’s first Beaver Group, Scouting Canada’s youngest tier, Mr. Pickering said. It was based at St. Andrews United Church in Markham.
Mr. Newall was also proud of helping bring Ward 4’s first bocce ball courts to the community, his son said.
His first municipal election run was unsuccessful, losing to Al Rayner by 12 votes. Undeterred, Mr. Newall was elected in 1985, the year of his retirement as a teacher.
In failing health for several years, Mr. Newall passed away at Lakeridge Health’s Oshawa hospital July 14. Services were at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home in Markham followed by interment at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Mr. Newall is survived by his sons Russell and Trevor and brother, David.