We wish to let you know that our good friend Tom Misner passed away on January 4, 2019 from cancer. Many of you may know Tom as one of our voices on the support team or, more personally, when he provided onsite training.
Tom was one of the kindest, most open-hearted and caring people you could ever meet. I know he made personal friendships with many of you, and that was reflected in his work. It is hard to encapsulate the life of a wonderful man in a few short sentences, but we wanted to let you know a little about the Tom we knew.
Tom joined the Arts Management Systems family in June of 2003 when he decided, as the General Manager of the Waterville Opera House in Maine, to implement Theatre Manager. He spent the next two years honing his skills and more than quadrupled donations from the theatre’s annual phone-athon campaign. In September of 2005, Tom transitioned from a user to a member of our team.
For the next 13 years Tom traveled onsite all over Canada and the United States. He worked closely with clients training on Theatre Manager and sharing his years of experience in theatre administration. Tom excelled at supporting our clients with his thoughtful analogies, expert knowledge and charismatic personality.
Those who spoke with Tom couldn’t forget his announcer-style voice, warmth and laughter. He went out of his way to make sure that anyone around him felt included. Tom’s interactions with clients created a bond that was about far more than work. He loved traveling onsite to meet new people and share experiences.
Many of you may not know that Tom also had a lifelong passion for barbershop. He had one of those deep voices that was clear as a bell — and could he ever sing! He would often regale us with stories of his weekends or vacations spent at a contest, organising meetings, or connecting with local barbershop chapters while visiting clients — just for the sheer joy of singing. He was a man who lived life to the fullest; who truly followed his passion.
As we say goodbye with fondness, we are grateful for the many memories he left us and we pass our most sincere condolences on to his wife Renae, children Ben and Alex, and the rest of his family.
Tom took special care with each person he interacted with. He left a lasting impression on all of us. He was far more than just a colleague or support person, he was a member of our family and a cherished friend. We will miss him dearly.
