It is with sadness we announce the passing of Tom Rust on May 6, 2012. Tom was predeceased by his wife Mary and is survived by his wife Hope, son James (Patty) Rust, daughter Anne (Ross) Kirkpatrick, and grandchildren; Timothy (Claudia) Rust and Bentley Rust; Jane (Mike) Stark; Andrea (Jonathon) Britton;  Katie Kirkpatrick;  great grandchildren, Elizabeth and Isla Stark; sister, Mary Moore and nephew, William (Mary) Moore.  He is also survived by his step-children Pat Wotherspoon (Barbara Ash), Tracey Macy (David Ticoll), Susan Morgan and Allan Wotherspoon (Deborah); and all those who benefited from his advice and friendship.

Born in Stratford Ontario on September 23, 1919, Tom graduated from Queens University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1942.   From 1942 to 1945 he served as a captain in the Canadian Army Ordinance Corps.  After the war he entered the forest industry for the balance of his working career, working for Ontario Paper Company in both Thorold Ontario and Baie Comeau Quebec.  In 1964 he left Baie Comeau for Vancouver to join B.C. Forest Products as Executive Vice President.  He joined Weyerhaeuser Canada as President from 1970 to 1976 and from 1976 to the date of his retirement in 1984 he was Chairman and CEO of Crown Zellerbach Canada and subsequently Fletcher Challenge.  He was known as a steady influence in his business dealings and was highly regarded by both his peers and by the labour union movement.  He was a constant advocate for worker safety in the woods and in the pulp and paper mills.

Tom served as a director of Bank of Nova Scotia from 1974 to 1990, director of Canadian Pacific Ltd. from 1978 to 1990, director of Trans Mountain Pipeline Ltd. from 1979 to 1990, director of
B.C. Gas from 1973 to 1993, and several smaller startup companies who sought his profound advice.

His public life saw him spend many hours as Chairman of the Forest Sector Advisory Committee in Ottawa.  He served as Commissioner of the B.C. Pavillion at Expo 86, Chairman of Canada Harbour Place Corporation 1987 to 1991, Chairman of the Vancouver Foundation 1987 to 1995, Chairman of the Council of Forest Industries of B.C. 1978 to 1979, Chairman of the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association 1982 and Chairman of the Employers Council of B.C. 1975.

He served on the Boards of the B.C. Cancer Agency 1982 to 1989, Shaughnessy Hospital 1975 to 1982, Holy Family Hospital 1968 to 1972, the Rick Hansen Man In Motion Tour, the Vancouver Symphony Society and the United Way.  He was also deeply involved in establishing the Simon Fraser downtown campus.

Tom received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Simon Fraser University in 1987 and was inducted into the Order of Canada in 1988 and in 2012 received the Queens Jubilee Medal.

Outside his busy work life, Tom had four major passions:  reading, travel, model railroading and golf.  He joined Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in 1965 where he and his friends would play every weekend whether it was sunny and warm or cold raining and snowing.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Robert Wakefield and to his caregiver Mavie, both of whom did their utmost to make Tom’s life as comfortable as possible these last several months.

A memorial will be held on May 15, 2012, at 2:30 in the afternoon, at Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church, 2733 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver followed by a reception at 4:00 p.m. at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the West Coast Railway Association, P. O. Box 2790, STN Main, Vancouver, B.C.  V6B 3X2.