Preston Scout House Leader Tom Weiler Passes

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Memorial mass for Tom Weiler, who initiated and helped administrate Preston Scout House Alumni Band activities for 30 years, was held at St. Clement’s Parish in Cambridge on April 13, 2022. At age 76, he passed away unexpectedly at Cambridge Memorial Hospital while undergoing treatment for melanoma cancer. The family welcomes donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, Preston Scout House Band Inc. or St. Clement’s Parish.

He was a charter associate member of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, inducted in 2001.

He was a founding member of Preston Scout House Alumni Band, serving as president of the board of directors for about 10 years after alumni activities began with the formation of a heritage colour guard in 1993. In the three decades following the formation of the guard, the organization grew to include Preston Scout House Alumni Band, Silver Leaves Brass ensemble, Heritage Drill Team, Scout House Cadets drum and bugle corps and Magic of Scout House competitive winter guard.

Through his long association with St. Clement’s Parish and the Preston Knights of Columbus the Band acquired access to the Preston Knights of Columbus building as a winter rehearsal space. That set the stage for the organization’s steady improvement, membership growth and creation of the new performing units. It also enhanced social connections within the organization so that many spouses and friends were encouraged to participate in Scout House events, including travel to many out of town performances.

He was one of the Scout House Alumni members who established a close connection with the Great Alliance of Seniors (GAS) reunion organizers in 1990, leading to a GAS weekend in Preston in 1994 that helped open up GAS participation to other Canadian groups.

He played bass drum and twirling tenor drum in the Alumni Band and helped instruct the colour guard and drill team. He was colour guard captain and instructor with the original Preston Scout House Band from 1961 to 1966, the original Band’s final year of operation.

On retiring from Canadian General Tower after 38 years of service, he took up bird carving. He earned a number of carving awards as a member of the Grand Valley Woodcarvers and the Wilmont Wood Carvers Association.

He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 57 years, who was the Scout House Band’s activities coordinator for many years; children Tom Jr. (Sharon Barnes), Tammy (Ray Cole) and Trevor; sister Pat (Al Dankowsky), brother in law Richard Teet (Sharon) and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by son Todd.

Posted by on Thursday, April 21st, 2022. Filed under Current News, DCA News, FrontPage Feature.