Kochouseph Paul Thottam

Words escape me now, but let me try, after just watching the beautiful visitation service.

I did not get a chance to meet you KP, the last 36 years since we left school, but have wonderful memories from the time we met in Don Bosco in junior kindergarten in 1975, and spent 14 years together, and being together from 6C to 12C and fairly close during these years. Our lives did take us separate countries and ways and out of touch, until we reconnected about 5 years back during Covid.
Yes, you were surprised that I still remembered your full name!

My memories of us waiting at Chetput bus stop (with no inclination to take a bus until we knew who was on the bus), or as another friend mentioned, bunking school to go to support the wonderful athletes of the (girls) schools nearby on their sports day; these are memories with you that will always be cherished; not to forget us singing songs at the back of the school bus during our class excursions.

Your last message on our school WhatsApp group was a reply to my dig about someone's colleague on the Delta flight to Toronto (which overturned) being vaxed. You just chuckled at this, appreciating the dig and our views on your stand. Little would we know that in just a few hours, you would leave us and move on to a better place.

For your idiosyncrasies on vaccines and digital and social media privacy and security (you were hesitant to put on your video during our Covid WhatsApp chats for the first few times, until we pressed you and your once did for 5 minutes), KP, you were a guy who had his heart in the right place.
We ribbed you about your anti-vax stance; being a Mallu converted MAGA redneck; for all that, you never once did get angry (or retort angrily), just laughed it off, and were confident in what you supported.

I can only end with these lines that I know, you would sing along with me.

We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone

All our lives we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time!

Goodbye to you my trusted friend!

Kouchouseph Paul Thottam, Rest in Peace bro, till we meet again.

Jisha, Anagha and Anamika, my heartfelt condolences to you. You have lost a lovely husband and father, but being the gem of a person that he is, he would look at you with pride and bless you all from above.

P.S. I do have some photos with KP of our school trips in the 80s, and will need to dig them out from the albums, and will try to send them across to you.

Heartfelt condolences and prayers. May his soul rest in peace.

Our heartfelt condolences to Jisha and children. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Our sincere condolences 💐.

I am yet to come to terms with the fact that my best friend KP is no longer here.

After I got the news this morning, I quickly opened my Teams app to check if KP was online, as I did not want to believe the Facebook post that I saw.

I found KP to be a very down to earth person, committed family man and a dependable friend.. a true friend whom you can count on. Our conversations would some time go on for a long duration. He always had an ear for hearing the pain of someone and to do find a solution for it, which made his role as workplace rep meaningful. Echoing the sentiments that many of my colleagues at OPS shared, KP was a gem of a person and a great colleague. He was very knowledgeable in his area of work and beyond, and never hesitated to share his knowledge.

To his family - I wanted you to know that KP talked very dearly whenever I would enquire about you. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.

My friend KP.. Rest in peace.. You will be missed dearly!!!

I am shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden and untimely departure of KP!!

Soon after I joined OPS, got to know KP through a project which we both worked together. Interestingly, there was a connecting factor; both of our roots are from the same place back home in Kerala. So i felt home the first time i spoke to KP.

KP was very knowledgeable, with a sense of humour, carried strong leadership qualities and had the fire in him to stand for justice and serve the community. Whenever we had a chat our conversation always go beyond the technical discussions to various topics on vaccines, politics, Cyber security and he had his views and opinions on all topics. I always cherish the conversation i had with KP and he was there to give me suggestions.

It is too early KP, but your legacy will remain in our hearts and in your loved ones. My deepest condolences to your daughters and your beloved family. May God Almighty, comfort you. May KP rest in eternal peace in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. My prayers !

Dearest Jisha and Family, Our heartfelt sympathies to you and your family. Words cannot express how saddened we are to learn of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this difficult time. May his Soul Rest in Peace.

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of my Friend KP.

His passing is a tremendous loss for us. KP was a shining
example of integrity, compassion, and dedication to his
work. His high moral principles and unwavering work ethic
inspired us all to strive for excellence.

I'll always remember the friendly conversations we shared
with KP. His kind heart and warm smile made him a
beloved friend to many. His absence will be deeply felt,
and we'll miss his presence dearly.

We will take comfort in the cherished memories of KP's
time with us. May his legacy continue to inspire us to
uphold the high standards he set for himself and others.

With sympathy and respect,

I only got to know KP in the last year. In this short time, I learned how committed he was to justice for workers. He would call me whenever he had a concern and always had good advice. I learned from others how he had helped them and stuck to his principles even in the face of an abusive employer. I always felt that I could trust KP.

I finally met KP in person at the AMAPCEO annual conference in December 2024. His warm and friendly personality will be missed.

Please accept my most sincere condolences,

I am shocked beyond words, and deeply saddened by the sudden and untimely departure of KP. I met him through another friend in OPS, and instantly came to develop a liking for his vibrant personality, which quickly evolved into a friendship based on mutual respect and appreciation.

What really impressed me about KP were his passion and sincerity
towards things that he believed in, and the courage to fight for them. He was a natural leader with extraordinary abilities to motivate people, and a readiness to help. He will be dearly missed.

I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family and his near and dear ones.

KP and I started our OPS journey on the very same day; at
orientation for the second cohort of internal IT consultants at the
newly established IT Source division. He seemed very vocal,
questioning and sincere. Over the years I observed people gravitate
to him because of his strong leadership tendencies, keenness to
seek out and share information and his unwavering passion. He was
tenacious and charismatic. I will miss him most of all because his
friendship is irreplaceable.

To KP's family,

I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the passing of
KP. Fate arranged for my encounter with KP at a public event at
Chingousy Park in Brampton. Upon chatting we found out we
both worked in TBS. KP suggested to a group of people at the
event to start an exercise group working out at the park. I took
him up on his idea and we met every Sataurday and Sunday
morning at 8 am to exercise. His long time childhood friend
would also join us. Through our workout meetings KP
encouraged me to join AMAPCEO and become a union
delegate. By becoming a delegate I met more of KP's good
friends and understood how important the work of a union
volunteers is.

KP was an outstanding person, of high integrity and values. He
stood for his values, even if it came at a cost. He cared deeply
for his family. He was a dotting dad, mentoring his daughters as
they made career decisions.

I pray his soul is at peace. I also pray that the daughters find
strength in knowing what an exceptional father he was. Surely
he will be their guardian angel playing an even greater role in
their lives.

KP will be missed. He left an indelible mark on all those he met.

KP was a person who acted in love for his fellow human beings. He used his knowledge and life experience to make life for others better.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" Corinthians 13:13

KP, your kindness, courage, and unwavering
loyalty touched so many lives, including mine.
I’ll never forget you stood by me during one of
the toughest times in my life, even putting
your own job on the line. That was who you
were – someone who always put others first,
no matter the cost.

You brought so much light into this world, and
your absence leaves a void that can’t be filled.
But your spirit lives on in memories we shared
and the lessons you taught us. Thank you for
being such an incredible friend. You will
always be in my heart.

My sincerest condolences to KP's family.

I had the privilege of knowing KP for about 15 years. When
we spoke, either just the two of us or in a group, KP was
very thoughtful, helpful, and always easily and willingly
sharing of his knowledge, opinions, and interesting ideas.

He was a true pleasure to know and was very inspiring.
I am so sorry to have lost him as a colleague and friend.

I will miss him.

I extend my heartfelt sympathies regarding
your father's passing. KP was a truly wonderful
individual who had a profound love for his
daughters.

While nothing can alleviate your sorrow, I hope
you find some solace in these words from
Helen Keller: "Goodbye is not forever; farewell
is not the end. It simply means I'll miss you
until we meet again."

I am deeply saddened by KP's passing. It's
hard to find the right words for someone
who brought so much kindness and positivity
to everyone around him. For more than a
decade I have had the privilege to know KP.
He has always been open, resourceful,
responsive and quick with a smile that could
brighten the day. I'm positive that KP's spirit
will continue to resonate with us. You will be
missed more than words can express. You
were taken from us too soon, but impact you
made will stay.

With heartfelt sympathy,

Roosevelt emphasized the social benefit of investigative [union!]
muckraking reporting, saying:

“There are, in the body politic, economic and social, many and
grave evils, and there is urgent necessity for the sternest war
upon them. There should be relentless exposure of and attack
upon every evil man whether politician or business man, every
evil practice, whether in politics, in business, or in social life. I hail
as a benefactor every writer or speaker, every man who, on the
platform, or in book, magazine, or newspaper, with merciless
severity makes such attack, provided always that he in his turn
remembers that the attack is of use only if it is absolutely
truthful.” — Theodore Roosevelt

KP was a passionate colleague, UNION volunteer leader and friend to many who relied on his steadfast support and heartfelt and candid advice in difficult times. He was always ready to step up and speak up for others, those he knew, those he did not and always for his cohort of IT professionals. Not one to mince words or pull
his punches, KP passed along great knowledge usually with a healthy does of sarcasm and humour.

He served as an AMAPCEO Union Workplace Rep; Joint Heath and Safety Member as well as on AMERC and a few other committees. KP also ran for Executive positions on many occasions and in 2022 ran a challenge to lead the entire union as a candidate for president. KP was always quick to answer a call day or night or provide you with insight on the Collective Agreement. He
represented members countless times. He was a wealth of information, energy, smiles and compassion. His presence will be missed in the hallways of the Ontario Government.

On April 14, 2025, the i5 Innovation Community of
Practice (COP) will be at 222 Jarvis holding our annual
volunteer event to celebrate World Creativity and
Innovation Week event for all OPSers. This is thanks to
the generosity of KP who year after year took time to
help us out, book a room, trouble shoot massively
annoying tech logistics out of the kindness of his heart.
He was always a friend to me as a PMP happy to discuss
his passion, project management. And as the co-chair of
the COP for a decade he always had time to chat with me
about AI or the future of work because he cared about
the workforce and the people of Ontario.

I know how much the OPS will miss his passion, wit and
candid spirit, and I cannot imagine the loss to his family
at this time. Our thoughts are with you today, and
especially during WCIW year after year we will think of
him fondly. He was my Work Place Rep at times, he was
a union mentor at others and he remains a
steadfast example of servant leadership.

As I reflect on the brief amount of time I knew
KP, I find myself rather surprised at the influence
he has had on how I spend my time. Somehow,
at his encouragement, I became a delegate and
now a workplace representative of AMAPCEO. If
it hadn’t been for KP’s advocacy, I would never
have done either of these things.

I am an example of the impact KP has had on this
world. I trust he will rest in peace.

God bless his loved ones,

I am really sorry to hear about your huge loss. To
me KP was a very knowledgeable person, full of
energy, honest, and trustworthy. He was always
available for a quick chat and was able to provide
his honest feedback. Learning about the sad
news was a big shocker for me. May God give
you enough strength to overcome this loss.

KP and I have been friends for years.

The AMAPCEO union helped us become friends. KP was an
extraordinary individual.

He consistently pushed for reform and openness in our union. KP had
a magnetic personality that would allow him to recruit individuals for
union operations. People looked up to KP as a leader and a driving
force for change.

Regardless of the subjects being discussed, KP possessed a knowledge
that was unmatched by anyone I know.

KP was truly a one-of-a-kind person. Always quick to help people
when they reached out to him. A lot of people would not be where
they are today if it were not for KP.

He was a shining example of being a great human and treating others
as humans without judgement.

He was a caring individual. Words cannot express the loss each one of
us will experience with KP's passing. I still cannot believe he is gone.

I am reminded of the quote: "When someone we love dies, we get
busy mourning what died that we ignore what didn't." -Ram Dass. KP
will always be remembered for this spirt.

In the quiet moments, we remember, A leader whose light shone bright, With
compassion, he guided us, Through both day and night.

Supportive in every endeavor, His wisdom a beacon so clear, Intelligent and ever so
kind, A presence we held dear.

A go-getter with endless drive, He inspired us to reach new heights, With a heart full
of empathy, He turned our wrongs to rights.

Warm and friendly, always smiling, A helping hand to all who asked, His spirit lifted
everyone, In every role he was tasked.

Passionate about alternative health, A freedom fighter through and through, He
championed causes close to heart, With a vision strong and true.

A father to two precious daughters, Their best friend and guiding star, In their hearts,
his love remains, No matter where they are.

Though he’s no longer with us, His legacy will remain, In the hearts of those he
touched, His spirit will sustain.

We mourn the loss of a colleague, A friend, a guide, a star, But in our memories and
actions, He’ll never be far.

To KP’s Family: My deepest condolences for your precious loss. May your
great memories get you through these difficult times.

KP shone a light in everyone’s life. That's why God/Jesus chose him to go
home and honour him with an eternal life. He’s an anchor and will help
minister the rest of the believers into heaven.

Having known KP for 15 years, I cherished his friendship, leadership, advocacy,
tenacity, resilience, intelligence, and influential ways. I also had the pleasure
of becoming friends on a social level sharing similar beliefs and interests.

Having many memories with KP, there isn’t enough room to share my
thoughts and experiences with KP, his friendship will always be remembered
and always in my heart.

Words can't express how much he be will missed, those moments of seeing
him smile and showing so much compassion with everything he takes on,
always being there to listen, learn and lead. Until we meet up again.

Please know that there is a lot of love and support around you. Do not
hesitate to reach out at any time.

Blessings and heartfelt sympathy!!

I'm really sorry to hear about your loss. Losing a
father like KP must be incredibly difficult. To me
KP was a good friend, honest, and trustworthy, he
was always up for a chat and to give his honest
feedback and to share a laugh, he will be dearly
missed by me as well as many folks here at the
OPS. My deepest sympathies,

He left a place in our hearts in so many special ways, he will be greatly missed!!

Dear Thottam uncle, I want to thank you. Thank you for teaching me valuable lessons, which I will carry with me forever. Thank you for putting everything into raising my two role models, my sisters. You truly were an amazing father to both me and them. Thank you for being so influential in my father's life, whether it be his health or his personality. Lastly, thank you for making every interaction with you so memorable. Every Onam and Christmas get-together was much more meaningful as you were the life of the party. I pray that God takes care of you, and helps you rest comfortably. You will forever be in our hearts.

Dear Thottam, as we grapple with the loss of your physical presence, we find solace in knowing that your spirit lives on amongst us. I hold such cherished memories of us being benchmates in 11th and 12th and the numerous study sessions we held during our high school years. I had always admired your sharp intellect and wit, and would always reminisce the bus journeys and the shenanigans that came along. You'll be greatly missed and my heartfelt condolences to your family.

Thotti can't believe you are not there with us anymore da. We studied together from JkG to XIiC at DB. You were erudite & sagacious & used to always admire you for your alternate creative viewpoints. I can't forget the debates we had in the COVID period. You used to be an anti vaxxer but me being from a vaccine co used to be pro vaccines. We used to have good intellectual debates on whether to die by not taking the vaccine or die after some years by taking the vaccine.My condolences to both your girls & wife. RIP KPT .

My deepest condolences to the Family. We will miss you Thottam, you will always be in our hearts and we will never forget you.

My deep condolences to the family who lost the most valuable person. The inner pain is irreplaceable by any means. May God give you the inner strength to face such a loss in such a horrible situation. Also pray to God to rest his soul in peace.

Thottam, all my memories With you at class and the playground still remain fresh. You were a joyful and fun loving guy. Pleasure To have spent the time with you. It’s such a shock that you will no longer be with us. We will miss you. Om Shanthi.

Like many have posted and mentioned in various forums…we were close then we lost touch and then we reconnected My last in person memory was when KP was passing through an we met at my place and it was such a fun conversation Our interactions then went digital and even then despite our differences in opinions on various subject matters, it was always met with grace I mourn this loss, your kindness, humor, and dedication touched the lives of everyone around you, leaving a lasting impact that will be cherished forever in our hearts.

My heartfelt condolences to the family. May God give strength, peace and comfort at this difficult time.

Dear Thottam. It was a joy meeting and reconnecting with you in Chennai in 2023. Many years after we finished school in 1989. You had visited the city for the burial of your mother. I will cherish those few hours that we spent at Bikanervala restaurant on College Road and in the cab on the way back to your home at Anna Nagar so that we could spend a few more minutes talking. I will always remember your affection and concern. It was just like the old times at school. You were kind, gracious and thoughtful. You looked healthy and fit. Thereafter, you were always prompt to respond over email after you returned home to Canada. The song that comes to my mind right now is “See you on the other side” by Ozzy Osbourne. I will miss you very much. Rest in peace, buddy.

Shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news. He was truly one of a kind—thoughtful, passionate, and always engaged in deep discussions on a wide range of topics. His insights and strong perspectives on health, vaccines, US politics, Trump/Trudeau and world events made it both enlightening and memorable. His presence and POV will be deeply missed. Wishing everyone strength, comfort, and peace during this difficult time. My heartfelt condolences

Rest in peace my Friend

Hey Thottam, you have shocked us all by your sudden disappearance. I only have fond memories of you at school, you were such a kind and loving person and would mix with everyone and anyone. After we left school we got acquainted on different WhatsApp groups and I realised you were the same Thotam who had not changed and you were a person who always stood up for the right cause. You will be greatly missed buddy.

Deeply pained by the sudden demise of our beloved friend. Will miss you. Rest in peace. May God comfort the family in this time of grief

Remembering one of my closest school friends, K P Thottam…Those memorable years together were truly special which I'll always cherish."You will be remembered for your kindness, laughter, warmth and positive spirit

Dei Thotti, absolutely NOT fair that u “switch off’. You were so pivotal to the group and maintained the balance of contributions when the sun set in this part of the world. No doubt you could get into the DEPTH of things especially when it came to Vaccines. A time came when I said I just DON’T understand this fellow any more and time to move on. You ONLY knew where to get the right information and share with us. And to be honest, being a Cyber Security consultant it amazes how you did so much research on vaccines. For sure, you were so passionate about it. This is NOT DONE my dear. Not a way to say GOODBYE. But as they say, all good things have to come to an end. And if this is what you have chosen, I respect and take a bow. Miss you brother. Will cherish you for all the wit you possessed. Our times will also come. But you WON

Enna da Thotti, where did you run off to? Maybe God likes you more than us mortal souls. Now, where will I get my alternative news, theories and perspectives from? You were opinionated, challenging, witty and always had such great insight into the possibilities (convincing ones though). Our WhatsApp group will be dull without your insights brother. Praying to God Almighty for your soul to rest in peace, and provide your family; especially Jisha, Anagha and Anamika the strength to move forward.

It’s not easy saying goodbye to someone who went to primary school with you. We’re still in shock and can’t process the loss of our very own Thottam. We will remember you for your wit, compassion and intelligence. Deepest condolences, Our thoughts are with Thottam’s family and inner circle.

I will always remember your smile and your infectious hearty laughter. Rest in peace dear Thotti.