GRIFFIN, Thomas Lawrence Patrick was born on April 4, 1957 in Victoria, BC.  Tom’s first taste of celebrity came at the young age of 6 when, holding his pet rabbit Popcorn, he appeared in the Victoria Daily Times.  The article entitled “Bye Bye Summer” was about children starting grade 1.  Tom was about to start at St. Patrick’s School in Oak Bay.  He then attended Arbutus Jr Sec School and Mount Douglas High School.  It was here that he discovered how gifted he was in middle distance running.  In 1975, Tom became the Canadian senior 800-metre champion with a time of 1:53.2.  This record wasn’t broken until 1995 and still is the fastest time for Lower Island High School Track and Field.  It also earned him a nomination as Victoria’s athlete of the year in 1975.  This was only one of many records Tom set in both the 800 and 1500 metre.  Tom was a member of the Victoria Mercuries Track Club and competed in the Commonwealth games, Pan Am games, and Canada Summer games.  Tom was not chosen to compete at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, even though he held the Canadian 800 metre record, because he was only 18 and deemed too young.  This was to be a major disappointment for Tom because while working out in the spring of 1977, Tom suffered a pulled thigh muscle.  The injury resulted in calcium deposits forming in his hip from which he was never able to fully recover. 

It wasn’t until 1982, when Tom landed a job at the Harold Street Café, that he discovered his second calling “the perfect host”.  In 1985 love brought Tom to Vancouver.  Always dapper in his starched white shirts and vintage neckties, he became one of the original crew at Delilah’s where he learned to mix a mean martini and we all learned to drink too many.  In 1995 it was time for Tom (along with his partner and friends) to open a restaurant of their own.  Lola’s was born on a hot summer’s night and immediately became the place to be and be seen.  Tom still with the starched white shirts but now the neckties are Versace.  Lola’s was met with much critical acclaim receiving both Restaurant of the Year and Best New Restaurant for 1996.  This was a very happy time for Tom but unfortunately it was also the time when he experienced the first symptoms of the illness he was to battle for the next 13 years. 

In 2005 when his dear friend Fran moved into at beach house at Sechelt, Tom followed along. Helping with home renovations and taking long walks with Fran’s dog Luna on the beach. This was a golden time but it was not to last.  Tom had a very difficult time tolerating the drugs needed to keep him alive. 

In the spring of 2007 he took a serious turn for the worst and spent the remainder of his life between St Paul’s hospital and the Dr Peter Centre.  In March, Tom gave his final interview to the Globe and Mail talking about his struggle with the nearly forgotten plague.  He was still hoping to get better and return to Sechelt.  He never made it. On the afternoon of January 2, 2009 Tom reached the finish line and is now resting in peace.  His ashes will be scattered in Sechelt when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

Tom was pre-deceased by his father Larry and mother Louise. Tom is survived by his brother and six sisters:  Coleen (Neil) Isbister, Nancy Griffin, Joanne (David) Horton, Kelly (Lisa) Griffin, Bernadette (Mark) Knowles, Loretta (Rick) Riggs, and Patricia (Colin) Robinson along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He also leaves his longtime companions Spencer Dane and Gilles Beaudin to cherish his memory. 

We would like to thank Dr. Silvia Guillemi, Dr. Julio Montaner, Maxine Davis, and the entire team on 10C and at the Dr. Peter Centre that cared for Tom.  You took excellent care of him, treating him with such love and respect.

A funeral service was held on Monday, January 12 at 12:10 pm at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 2060 Haultain Street, Victoria, B.C.

A Celebration of Life was held in Vancouver at Delilah’s on Sunday February 1, 2009.