Tom Reavley

1943-2008

Tom Reavley, a Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch stalwart who had been counting raptors at Beamer CA since 1992, died on 19 October 2008, just two days after his 65th birthday.

A high school History teacher who worked in Kapuskasing in Northern Ontario, Tom retired early due to Chrohn’s disease. Urged by his mother to find a hobby to help with the transition from teaching, Tom took up hawkwatching after reading a Hamilton newspaper story about the migration over Beamer. He soon teamed up with the late Jack Ryan and between them many week days were covered over the years. When George Meyers had to step back as our main weekday counter, Tom came forward. Until just two years ago he looked after three days a week, and often came out on weekends to help where he could.

Tom’s interests were many and varied. In spring and summer he led weekly hikes through the Grimsby area for the Bruce Trail Association, and he was active in a local cycling club. His interest in reading led him to the local library where he also discovered the Internet. He often said that the best years of his life were the last ten, spent with his wife Ria in their home not far from Beamer CA and hawkwatching. One of Tom’s favourite activities was looking after the small native plant prairie he established on his front lawn.