Note from John Gear
Dear all, "Tony" as we knew him, died 5 weeks ago after a long and debilitating illness bravely born and with quite wonderful support from his wife Annalee and his family. We will all have different memories of Tony but all will agree he was a gentle, softly-spoken and kind person who will be sorely missed by family and friends. Go well dear friend. Your journey is complete; your legacy enduring.
Alan Reichman
I didn't know him well but I remember him as a kind and friendly person who was liked and respected by all.
Condolences to all his family,
RIP Anthony,
From Alan Reichman
Alan Richards
Tony Thomas was one of my best friends for the past 62 years. He was also best man at our wedding 39years ago.
I am sure all will remember this enormous 6ft4in gentle man from our Medical School days. As a student he excelled both in academia and in sport.
He matriculated at St Johns College in Johannesburg, where he played in the first rugby team. At university he went on to play in the Transvaal under19 rugby team. However, his main and longest lasting sport love was golf. Whilst at Wits he was chosen for the SA Universities golf team. For the rest of his life he played every week, most of the time with a scratch handicap. Last year he could still play his age for a round.
Tony specialised in Orthopaedic Surgery following in his father's footsteps. He did his registrarship at Wits, followed by fellowships overseas. He then ran a very successful private practice in Johannesburg until recently, specialising in spinal surgery.
What we all liked most about this man was his great sense of humour. His timing was legendary, and nobody could compete wiith him in delivering the same joke.
He was a real family man, always surrounded by children and grandchildren. His petite wife of more than 50 years, Annalee, was always at his side, except on the golf course! He has 3 wonderful children, Joanne, Caroline and Neil.
We went to South Africa in April and spent a wonderful afternoon with Tony. Even though he could not see well, because of a brain metastasis in the optic cortex, he still had his sense of humour. He passed away three weeks later. Of the 6 surviving members of our firm, 4 of us were at the funeral service, where Keith Wimble delivered the eulogy. Rob Girdwood could not attend because he tested positive for Covid, and Mike Thompson was overseas.
We are very sad our best friend is no longer with us. May he RIP.
Heather Crewe-Brown
I am sorry about the suffering and loss of Tony Thomas.
Sincere sympathy to his family and also to you Alan and his other close friends and colleagues.