A Life Member - NUPGE family remembers Tom Kozar

'The glass was always half full for Tom. No endless hours of hand-wringing over what should have happened.' - James Clancy

Ottawa (26 Oct. 2007) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) joins with all who knew him in celebrating the life of Brother Tom Kozar, who passed away on Oct. 7. At the NUPGE convention in Winnipeg in 2001, delegates voted unanimously to make Tom a life member of the union.

Among his many accomplishments, Tom was a former vice-president of the British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE), a retired B.C. Institute of Technology college instructor and a life-long social justice activist.

A celebration of Tom's life will be held on Monday, Oct. 29, 1 p.m. at the Operating Engineers Hall, 4333 Ledger Ave., Burnaby. Letters of condolence can be sent to Tom's family c/o BCGEU, 4911 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC, V5G 3W3.
 

NUPGE President James Clancy remembers Tom Kozar:

I always welcomed a call or meeting with Tom Kozar. He was always looking ahead – looking for the next step forward in a life dedicated to issues of social justice. The glass was always half full for Tom. No endless hours of hand-wringing over what should have happened but rather always constructive criticism of particular aspects of our campaigning followed by concrete suggestions on how to press on, to win the next step. As a leader, an encounter with Tom meant you were not exhausted but rather charged up about an idea or cause following Tom’s interventions. I really liked and respected Tom Kozar.

His work on behalf of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee was tireless. His analysis and enthusiasm was particularly welcome following the disappointment that fell over the campaign after U.S. President Clinton failed to issue a pardon as expected in the last few hours of his presidency. Just a few short months ago Tom and I spent an hour on the phone reviewing where things stood and as usual he had a number of good practical ideas that we both committed to getting in place in the campaign.

Tom was a good campaigner because he recognized that issues of social justice are often not won by sprinters but rather by marathoners who are tenacious and principled.

No better example of this was Tom’s spirited and successful campaign to build the Spirit of the Republic. This marvelous monument is located at the B.C. Legislature Building. The monument pays homage to Canadian veterans of the Spanish Civil War. These Canadians took action to help the Spanish Republic against the combined Fascist forces of Franco Mussolini and Hitler and for too long their contribution had been ignored. Tom’s passion to see justice prevail was instrumental in the recognition of the “Mac - Paps”.

When I personally congratulated Tom on the unveiling of the memorial in February 2000 his response was typical of him. He went out of his way to congratulate all around him – to downplay his role while thanking all of us who played smaller roles in the campaign.

I think this wonderful characteristic was in part why he was such a respected and well loved trade unionist. He always made people around him bigger with his self-effacing character and his full bodied enthusiasm.

There was no artifice about Tom. What he said he meant. In the union in addition to his social justice causes he was an articulate spokesperson for technical and trades workers. He provided years of leadership to NUPGE members and was a key member of our leadership team dedicated to the protection and promotion of trades workers in our communities.

At our NUPGE convention in Winnipeg in 2001, delegates voted unanimously to make Tom a life member of NUPGE. He was proud but not nearly as proud as we were. Delegates recognized that in our midst was a man – a great trade unionist and social justice activist – a man that served with distinction, grace and humility.

Tom was a brother who we were all proud to call our own. His death is a loss to his family and in particular to his beloved daughter Seana who he often spoke of with such pride and joy. We send them our love. To his friends and co-workers I say with certainty that we will all miss him.

To comrade Tom I say thank you for your compassion and commitment. We miss you brother.” NUPGE