Conal Tompson

The family is sad to announce the death of Conal Tompson on May 23rd, 2025. He was predeceased by his parents Captain Henry Frederick Tompson and Caroline May Tompson. He is survived by his wife Margaret and his son Douglas (Diane) and grandson John and his daughter Caroline (Jon) and his grandson Tyler.

Conal was born in London, England. His early childhood was spent on British army bases with his father who was a regular army officer. In February 1942, when the Japanese invaded Malaysia, Conal was evacuated with his mother from Singapore to Australia. His father stayed behind and became a Japanese prisoner of war. It was not until the end of the war, four years later, when he and his mother were reunited with his father in England. He completed his schooling in London and in the well-known Abingdon School near Oxford. In 1955 he qualified as a physical therapist and did his two years of British National Military Service in Malaysia. In 1965, following a three-year training program at Guy’s Hospital, he qualified as a teacher of physical therapy. A year later he came across an advertisement for a teaching position at the newly established School of Physical Therapy at the University of Saskatchewan. He made enquiries, and was interviewed in a London pub by a visiting Saskatchewan physician. Following the interview, he was invited by Joyce Manton (Head of the program) to join her as a founding member of faculty. For the next few years, they were the only faculty for the program.

During his years as a faculty member, he obtained a baccalaureate degree from the University of Manitoba, and a graduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan writing a thesis on the development of physical therapy in Saskatchewan. In addition, he acquired advanced skills in the field of manual therapy and manipulation, traveling to Australia and England to study with international experts in the field. As a result of these studies, he developed a specialized manual therapy program at the Saskatchewan School of Physical Therapy which was held in high regard across Canada. Its graduates and students acquired skills well beyond the scope of a typical undergraduate physical therapy program. In 1996, after 30 years of teaching, he retired.

Conal was an avid reader. He particularly enjoyed anything related to military history. His home in Saskatoon bears testament to his do-it-yourself skills and his attention to detail. Water sports were another great interest. In his earlier years in England, he was an avid rower. Later when he arrived in Canada, he pursued sailing and kayaking at Redberry Lake. Over the years he traveled to many places such as New Zealand, Thailand, England, France, Holland and Germany. In his later years he particularly enjoyed river cruises. His family meant everything to him and he enjoyed following their various exploits and successes.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: The Saskatoon Community Clinic Foundation (Conal was a member of the clinic since 1965) foundation@communityclinic.ca or a charity of your choice. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, please contact the family or email tompsonfamily736@gmail.com for further information.

Martens Warman Funeral Home is honoured to be entrusted with Mr. Conal Tompson's care and arrangements.