Thomas Michael Hennessy

THOMAS MICHAEL HENNESSY 

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Thomas Michael Hennessy on June 8 2025. After a tragic accident that caused a stroke, Michael died peacefully at age 73, among family, at Health Sciences North.

Michael was a proud father and is survived by his three children: Sara (husband Damir Jezernik), Jay (wife Michele Klaponski), and Brian, who he raised together with their mother, Brenda Petryna. He is survived by his five siblings: twin sister Maureen of Toronto, Patricia (partner Alexis Bernier), Neil and Bruce (partner Joy Metha), all of Sudbury and Keith of San Francisco. Nieces and Nephews: Nora, Clare, Simon Graham, Kathleen and Charlie Hennessy.

Michael was the first born, to his parents Thomas Lawrence “Spike” Hennessy and Maureen Evelyn Hennessy (both predeceased). Born and raised in Sudbury, he was a proud graduate of Lockerby Composite School. Mike loved to tell bedtime stories to his children of his adventures growing up exploring life on his own terms and the lessons he learned along the way.

After completing his Law Degree from Osgoode Hall (York University), Michael was called to the Bar in 1979 and went on to practice law for over 45 years serving enterprising northerners. A lifelong learner devoted to the north, he also received his MBA from the first graduating class at Laurentian University in 1985. Over the years, he contributed generous volunteer time to the local and provincial Bar Associations and sat as a member of the Consent and Capacity Board to resolve cases related to health care topics of consent and capacity, often involving psychiatric patients. Throughout Michael’s career, he was known to have given wise counsel to his clients, many of whom were or became close friends.

Many attributes describe Mike. He was a brilliant, thoughtful, and fiercely independent spirit and he lived with a deep appreciation for freedom, reason and the simple pleasures of life.

He expressed himself and his ideas with originality and simplicity and was not shy to share the unique lens with which he saw the world. Mike believed deeply in standing up for what was right, fair and reasonable and this led him to advocate all the way up to the Supreme Court of Canada. He lived by a strong, self-defined moral code that gave him the freedom to think outside the box, resist conformity, and be uniquely himself. Gifted as a writer and creative with ideas, those dear to him will cherish his unmistakable notes and cards, artful in both form and thought. Mike found great pleasure in tending to a fire, being on the water, exchanging stories over a cold beer and sitting down with a high quality pen, his notebook and a library of books. So when you find yourself by the water or near a fire, drink in hand, toast to him and a life well lived.

The Celebration of Life will be on Thursday July 10th from 4pm-7:30pm at the Northern Water Sports Centre in Sudbury at 206 Ramsey Lake Road.  Remarks will be at 5:30pm. 

Cremation services provided by Simple Wishes of the North, Sudbury and Crystal Crematorium

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