Obituary of Thomas Charles Belmont Roberts

Halifax, It is with great sadness that the family of Thomas Charles Belmont Roberts “Tom” announces his passing on August 22, 2020 at home after a brief battle with brain cancer at age 68. Tom was the oldest child of the late Thomas and Marjorie (Lewis) Roberts. Tom married the love of his life, Brenda (Brewer) in 1977, and they went on to raise two daughters together, Amy and Ashley.

Tom started working with his father at age 12, learning his hard work ethic and true respect for others from his Dad. Tom became a red seal electrician, and spent time as a volunteer fire fighter with the Harrietsfield Fire Department, where he was named Firefighter Chief of the year in 1981. Tom joined the Canadian Coast Guard as a marine electrician, where he was able to discover Sable Island, a love that he carried with him always. Tom left the Coast Guard to work as a Civilian with Department of National Defense, but missed the Coast Guard so much that he returned to them again, finding his passion for lighthouses. He spent 20 years caring for Maritime lighthouses and buoys as a Marine Aids Technician, devoting himself to learning solar and LED technology, securing himself a reputation as an expert in the technologies while using them as a way to protect the future of the lighthouse sites he worked on.

Above any other role,Tom enjoyed and treasured his role of husband, father, grandfather, and brother the most. He will forever be missed by his wife and best friend, Brenda; his daughters, Amy (Christopher Henebury) and Ashley (Peter Gosse), both of Halifax; and his three little buddies, his grandsons, Landen, Beckett, and Mason. He will also be dearly missed by his brothers, Edward and Victor; his sisters, Kathy (Manson Malay), Lena, and Shelley, and his entire extended family of sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews. Tom was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Marjorie; his mother-in-law, Stella Brewer and father-in-law, Douglas Brewer, and his brother-in-laws, Perry Hamm and Barry Brewer.

The family would like to thank Dr. Emma Chiasson for her care and devotion during Tom’s illness, the Continuing Care Team, the staff of the QEII unit 7.3 and the VG unit 5A, the team at the QEII Cancer Clinic, and the numerous nurses and care workers that they have met during his final months. Your kindness, compassion, and respect mean so much to us.

Arrangements have been entrusted to J. Albert Walker Funeral Home (2005) Ltd., 149 Herring Cove Road. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a public visitation will be held Thursday, August 27, 7-9 pm, with a family memorial and burial to be held on Friday, August 28 at 1pm. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, the family would like any donations in Tom’s memory to be made to the Sable Island Institute, or the Metro SPCA.