[van-announce] Torvald (Tom) Patterson

[Tony Tracy]

Many people in Vancouver will remember Torvald (formerly known as Tom) 
Patterson from his years living on the west coast in the later part of 
the 1980's. With much sadness, I must report that Torvald died last 
Thursday. A political memorial event will be held this coming Saturday 
in Toronto.

While in Vancouver, Torvald (Tom) was very involved with Socialist 
Challenge (which later merged with the New Socialist Group in the late 
1990's), and was a left queer activist and involved in the longstanding 
Vancouver-based queer liberation community paper "Angles".

For the past fifteen years, Torvald has lived in Toronto, where he has 
continued his activism, both within the queer community as well as 
within the revolutionary socialist left as an active member of the New 
Socialist Group. In addition, Torvald was an active member of the 
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) for a number of years, and 
volunteered his time as a translator for the Fourth International in 
Europe.

I enclose below an announcement of the memorial event for Torvald which 
is taking place next Saturday. I encourage people who knew him to send 
greetings to the gathering by emailing newsoc at web.net.

- Tony Tracy

----

“Life is beautiful.  Let the future generations
cleanse it of all evil, oppression and violence, and
enjoy it to the full.”

Our comrade and dear friend Torvald Patterson passed away Thursday 
March 31st, at St Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada.

The Toronto branch of the New Socialist Group will be holding a wake to 
celebrate his life. Join us as we recognize his contribution to the 
struggle for a  better world.

Saturday April 9th from 2:30pm to 6pm
The Living Well (Upstairs Private Room)
692 Yonge Street (South of Bloor & North of Wellesley)
Cash bar.

People outside of Toronto (and those who are unable to attend next 
Saturday’s event) are invited and encouraged to send personal and 
organizational statements to newsoc at web.net  (please “cc” them to both 
raghu at sympatico.ca and julia3 at rogers.com)

A full obituary highlighting Comrade Torvald’s work in the New 
Socialist Group, the Fourth International, Queer activism and 
anti-poverty organizing will be posted on our website 
(newsocialist.org) and in the next issue of New Socialist magazine.

www.newsocialist.org
newsoc at web.net