It is with sadness that the members of the Firm of Walsh LLP learned of the passing of its founder, Tom Walsh, on June 30, 2016. Since establishing the Firm in 1959 and long after his retirement, Tom was an integral part of the Firm and the values that he instilled will live on. Tom loved his Firm and in many respects, the members of the Firm were his second family. The qualities on which Tom built the Firm include loyalty, leadership and comradery. All of which have contributed to the success that we enjoy today. Loyalty was always a very important quality to Tom and it is evidenced by members who have been at the Firm for over 40 years, by past members who continue to return and consider the Firm their own and by those new members who are bring the Firm to new heights.
Tom’s example of leadership is evident not only with his legacy to the Firm, but through his accomplishments in the community, including the Law Society of Alberta, Canadian Bar Association, Calgary Bar Association, Calgary Chamber of Commerce, The Rotary Club of Calgary, Calgary Parks Foundation, Calgary Stampede and Calgary Airport Authority. He was officially recognized by the Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence and received both a Diamond Jubilee Medal and Queen’s Golden medal. He inspired each of us.
Comradery was important to Tom and is still foremost for the Firm today. We continue to honour and guard the culture of the Firm that has evolved through Tom’s example. As Tom continued to visit the Firm after his retirement from law, his booming voice never failed to bring a smile to us all when we heard him coming through the door. His family has said that he “brightened the corner where he was” and all of us at the Firm can attest to that. We were very happy to be one of the corners where he spent time and we will miss him in the halls of Walsh LLP but his memory and his work will be carried on.
