“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”
- Timothy Keller
Obituary
Beloved husband, father, friend and public health expert. Thomas was my very dear friend, research buddy for 13 years, and for the last couple of years he was my boss, who always checked in on me, his “worker”, to make sure I was okay while I was working from home.
We were a research team of four: Thomas and me, Linn and Peter. For the past 13 years, ever since Thomas arrived in Canada, we have done numerous studies together on sun exposure, workplace chemical exposure, and starting with the Pandemic, research on supervisors and their issues with workers working from home. Thomas was always our “valiant leader”. As the three of us started to reduce our workload, Thomas was the youngster of the group who was the one working full time.
And working full time is what he did.
By far, Thomas’ favourite time was spent with Katie and the children. He tried to spend as much time with them as possible including picking Hudson up from school and taking Abbie to her dance competitions.
He talked about you all the time. He was so proud of you, and loved you enormously.
But when not with family, Thomas was a dedicated teacher, a researcher in occupational and public health, and especially during the Covid epidemic, a media commentator on public health. He was on numerous national and international committees. One of his big international studies was funded by Global Affairs Canada. He did this study with researchers from Vietnam's National Institute of Nutrition. The project has so far directly benefited 15,000 of the country's most malnourished children in three rural regions in northern Vietnam.
He was an Associate Professor and the Director of the School of Occupational and Public Health, at Toronto Metropolitan University, formally known as Ryerson University.
Thomas had over 30 years of experience in the occupational and public health field starting in Australia. He worked for government and with industry for 10 years before moving to academia, where he became the Graduate Program Director at the Queensland University of Technology. In 2011, Thomas moved the family to Canada to take up his position as Director of the School of Occupational and Public Health.
Having an Aussie as a Director of the School was very unusual. But Thomas was one in a million. The School wanted someone with expertise in both occupational as well as public health, and they had searched high and low for someone with such an integrated approach. They had to go all the way to Queensland, Australia, to find that very special person.
Thomas had qualifications and degrees in environmental health, occupational hygiene, education, management, and risk management. His doctorate in Public Health was from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He certified as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional and received a designation as a Canadian Risk Manager.
He was an innovative and creative person with many talents who taught many classes. He was really liked by his students, and it is lovely to read their comments. This is a really sweet quote from one of them:
I enjoyed his lectures every week and Mr. Tenkate made the content easy to digest (his experience in the field helped bring everything to life). His tests and assignments were very fair, and the material tested was always covered in class. Mr. Tenkate is the best professor I've had, he genuinely cares about his students and I'm thankful I had him.
Thomas initiated new programs and courses at the School. He created an Environmental Applied Science and Management master’s degree (MASc) and a doctoral (PhD) graduate degree program. These degrees were uniquely designed as a third option for students who wanted to specialize in Environmental Management. Another course he developed was particularly for our time. It was an online course in Psychological Health and Safety that is now part of a Leadership program for First Responders. He also supervised a large number of graduate students.
Thomas had three ongoing fields of research. His first passion was trying to prevent workers’ exposure to skin cancer because of being exposed to the sun, and, because of his father’s career as a boiler maker, an interest in the impact of welding flash arcs on workers’ sight. Shortly after arriving in Canada, Thomas received a large grant from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer to lead a national Sun Safety at Work project, which was a cross-Canada, multiple workplace project on workers’ exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. This study led to a number of off-shoot studies on sun-safety messages for workplaces, directly measuring workers’ sun exposure, and evaluating the effectiveness of sun safety interventions.
His second field was looking at different chemicals in a workplace and the risk they have on workers’ health. Through this program of study, with the help of many workplaces, we have developed a CHAP (Chemical Hazard Assessment and Prioritization) tool that is available for small and medium-sized workplaces for free. It helps rank the health risk of the different chemicals in a workplace and helps companies identify which chemicals they should prioritize to replace or eliminate.
Thomas’ third big area of research was looking at supervisors and how they manage their occupational health and safety obligations in difficult times. This study started during Covid when workers were all working from home. What we found from this cross-Canada study was that supervisors were incredibly stressed. The follow up study with supervisors from four organizations is still ongoing.
Thomas’ sense of responsibility to his students, his colleagues, his collaborators and to the profession of occupational and public health was huge. He was active in a range of professional associations including the Health and Safety Professionals of Canada. He developed a two-day course on Ethics for that organization that is integral to the Canadian Registered Safety Professionals certification. He was also constantly responding to requests from professional organizations to speak at their conferences and seminars. A week before he died he was giving a talk in Edmonton on “Supervisors as Safety Leaders in a Hybrid Environment.” What Thomas had to say was relevant, important, significant and highly sought after.
To write this Eulogy, I had to re-read through Thomas’ resume. What was most notable to me amongst his many achievements and awards was how all of his work was done collaboratively with others. Thomas believed that research should be conducted with workplaces and with workers. He respected the opinion of workers and solicited their feedback. He valued and truly appreciated what Industry had to say. He dedicated his life to making sure that occupational and public health professionals would be effective in the workplace, and that HIS research would be important and significant to workers.
As Dr. Cheryl Peters, one of his collaborators has written:
“Thomas was just one of the kindest, gentlest men you could ever meet!”
A couple of days before Thomas passed away, the four of us had one of our regular summer lunches in my garden. Peter brought champagne, Linn the dessert, and Thomas brought me a huge bouquet of sun flowers. As usual, we toasted each other with raised glasses: “To our valiant leader Thomas, to friendship, to health and to love”. We had no idea at the time how important those words were going to be.
I have lost my closest friend, a colleague, a buddy, and a dear man.
May he rest in peace.
Desre Kramer
Colleague and Friend of the Family
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What a truly beautiful person we had the privilege to call our friend. May his influence and seed sown in places far and wide continue to grow and multiply. May a comfort that surpasses all understanding envelop the three who were his world, and his family in Australia, work colleagues and friends.
Love
Lisa & Phil
Outback steak house in Birmingham, Alabama. As we ordered, we all, but one, had this thought, ha! An
Australian who doesn’t drink beer! A bad Fosters commercial we thought. That is how Thomas walked into our
lives. Our group were a bunch of researchers from across the globe- a truly international mix- adding a new
yorker for extra credit who felt foreign in the deep south. Now, we had a ‘Yankee Thomas’ and an ‘Ausie
Thomas’ or ‘our Thomas’ - with no offence to the Yankee one. We all were attached to the University of
Alabama at Birmingham in different disciplines but with one emotional need; a sense of comradery to mitigate
a rather distinct culture shock.
I met Thomas a couple of weeks before as we all settled into YMCA style bunk beds at the UAB international
house until we found our way in this new environment. He was extremely polite, soft-spoken, and very kind,
but quiet initially. Later I learnt that he was quiet because of being terribly home sick, quite different to our
Mick Dundee image! But soon Thomas became an integral part of our group. Often, he was the person who
would ask ‘where are we going next week’ even before this week’s dinner ended. We also realized, now he
was all but quite but as always extending his warm friendship to us all. Did not matter that we came from all
walks of life, he cared, as to him, we all were god’s children.
He was a very empathetic and sensitive character. I recall our group visiting the Civil rights institute in
Birmingham, Alabama. He walked out visibly shaken and upset. He asked us, “guys can you imagine that all
these happened in our lifetime and not 100 years ago”? While it was just a museum with an episode of dark
history of our country for us, to him, it seems like he was walking side by side with Dr King.
But there was a bit of a mischievous side to him too, we thought. He would take us shopping, as he was the
first with a car in our group, and once when we were at Walmart, I told him, ‘Thomas you check out first’. The
checkout clerk, probably expecting a thick southern drawl was hit by something completely alien to them. All
we heard was “say whaaaaat’ from the clerk. While we were in the parking lot laughing, we realized Thomas
lay a rather thicker accent than normal to add more confusion. This was probably his extent he would go to do
anything ‘bad’.
He was always a great friend that we can count on. Thomas drove me to my driving test. On our way back he
expressed disappointment and anger for my not using his car instead using a rental. He did not talk to me for a
long time, about 45 minutes. Then he was fine. I realized; this guy cannot be angry at anyone for too long. Even
after the group dissolved as they returned home, Thomas and I used to hang out at his place with his
roommate, Cory or at mine to cook, eat and chat. Sometimes they were serious topics and at times
lighthearted topics like the use of words, doohickey and y’all.
Although time separated us into two continents he always kept in touch (little that can be said about the rest
of us), and it was a pleasant surprise when he moved to Canada. My family and I got to meet his lovely wife,
Katie, and her family on their brief visit through Maryland and we had closer contact since.
I am very thankful to have met him a couple of times last year in Toronto and to catch up on lost times and
chat about friends from days in Alabama. I realized that he transformed into a big family man, a great husband
and a farther. About 70% of our chat consist of, Katie this, our children that. At one point I thought of telling
him, enough with Katie this and our children that, tell me about what you are up to and realized that his wife
and family was his life, his world. He told me everything was fine and where he wanted life to be.
In our lives we meet very few people who make a lasting impression and make an impact on us to make us feel
better and even wanting to be a better person. Thomas was that to our Alabama friends and I. Personally, it
has been an honor and privilege in my life to be touched by such a kind and caring friend.
I will have a Fosters on the 24 th .
What a wonderful, kind, humble man who I had the pleasure of knowing in the late 90's early 2000"s. We went to church together and shared many a Sunday lunch together. His kindness and wisdom was unique.
I am so saddened by his immature passing. Sending love and warmth to Katie and the kids. RIP Dr Thomas. Xo
Our very sincere condolences to all the Tenkate family.
Our hearts go out to you all.
May God continue to comfort & uphold you all.
Sincerely. Ed & Ann Pitt.
I had many days and sleep overs at their childhood home in Redcliffe.
Uncle Tom and Aunty Freda doted on me like a daughter and tucked me into my own room as if I belonged. I dreaded going home. I always felt safe and loved in that house.
Perhaps the craziness of 3 boys gave me a daughter type advantage. LOL!
Although, I was envious of Craig and Thomas' bedroom - with shelves neatly lined with books, and creative gadets and games.
I'd secretly study the shelves and ponder.
The boys were like energetic brothers - lots of tricks and adventures with no jealousy. Uncle Tom made the best back yard playground using his craftsmanship. There was a tree fort, swings, spinning see saw, and every trike, trailer or bike you can imagine. The shed was dedicated to the boys entertainment.
Craig and David had the brute strength in the play, but Thomas had the crafty ideas. He often protected me from that brute strength.
We all had lots of scrapes and a few stitches too.
Thomas was a busy bee and didn't sit for long.
In later years, Robert and I had many occasions with Thomas at QUT as guest lecturers. Given that neither of us went to university (except Thomas) we felt rather intelligent!!. He held us in high esteem and we had fun especially with Thomas' understated and wicked humour.
Thomas grew into an intellectual being with a kind and gentle disposition. Everyone felt safe, and heard, when with Thomas. Thomas learnt to be a good listener as a child - his brothers wouldn't let him get a word in!
Thomas and I could always pick up a conversation (me talking, him listening and nodding in agreement) no matter how long since we had seen each other. I remember when he introduced baby Abby to me. I thought his face would explode with pride from the beaming smile spread across his face as it flushed bright red. He blushed easily. I had never seen Thomas so proud and happy as when he had a daughter. To complete his family, Hudson doubled that.
When Thomas told me about his intentions with girlfriend Katie, he blushed puple!!
Thomas had a truthful face with a blush-ometer!
Family is everything about who you value and respect, and Thomas was my family despite the distance.
Love you little Tommy xx
Among other good things Thomas was kind, generous, thoughtful and fun-loving in his own kind of quietly cheeky way.
I must admit the quietness was a bit of a shock to us when we first met Thomas as he was totally opposite to Katie in that way. (You know we love you KT and wouldn’t have you any other way. We’ve not laughed so hard that drinks come out of our noses with anyone more than you!) We remember several times when Katie would be finishing a story that Thomas had started 😊 and he would be standing there looking at us with a little knowing & loving grin on his face and then he would say something gold, short & witty that would make us all laugh out loud! It’s that look & that gentle wittiness that I think we’ll always remember when we think of Thomas.
We will forever be grateful to Jesus for bringing Thomas in to Katie’s life as her husband, and so as our friend. It was always so obvious in the way Thomas looked at Katie, in the way that he spoke to her and of her, and in the way he protected her that he loved her so incredibly dearly. As he did Abby and Hudson.
We really miss you Thomas. And we’ll miss seeing you wandering into the background and then saying hello on our video calls with Katie. Thank you for loving our friend so incredibly well. You’re absolute gold.
Until we all meet again in Heaven.
Then Thomas and his family really helped us in the early years of Liam and Levi.
Thomas was always so cheerful, kind and with neat stories to tell.
His soul lives on but his physcial presence is missed.
Service
Donations in Thomas’ name in lieu of flowers can be made to:
Compassion Canada
https://www.compassion.ca/make-a-donation/
Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation https://www.canadianskincancerfoundation.com/donate/
Everton Park QLD 4053
