Obituary for Thomas Henry Kineshanko
“Mom, If I had lived in Christopher Columbus’s time, I would have been on board his ship bound
for the new world.” (Kineshanko, T.H. 2000)
Tom was an explorer and a philosopher. The new worlds he sought to discover could not be
found by compass or reached by wind-powered ships but rather by keen understanding and
brave ventures into the unknown, unexplored opportunities afforded by evolving technology
and innovative thinking.
Thomas Henry Kineshanko – March 20, 1985 to March 15, 2023. Born on the first day of spring
in Nanaimo, BC, but raised on the grasslands, lakes, and mountains of the Okanagan Valley.
From an early age Tom relished nature, the outdoors and physical pursuits. Tom’s early years
were spent on a small hobby farm on the outskirts of Vernon BC. As a young boy, Tom loved to
run in the fields, ride BMX bikes, race GT snow racers on the hill in the back pasture, help care
for the farm animals and dig in the garden. Tom attended high school at Pleasant Valley
Secondary School in Armstrong where he played soccer, volleyball, basketball, rugby, ran track
and field, skipped school to go snowboarding and earned his high school diploma.
Tom attended Simon Fraser University where he was an integral member of the SFU track and
field team, competing in high-level international meets in Canada and the US. After graduating
with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Tom immediately embraced his entrepreneurial
spirit and went on to found and/or co-found numerous green tech corporations, all with the
intent of making the world a better place. He travelled the world initiating projects either on
his own or in partnership with like-minded entrepreneurs. Tom passionately worked in this
space for more than 15 years
Tom passed away on March 15, 2023 in Squamish BC. He is survived by his mother Madelaine,
brother Ben, sister-in-law Jessica and children Kye, Eyla and Syrsha; step-sister Natasha and
niece Ashlee, step-brother Todd and family as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and his much
loved, canine companion Indy.
Tom had a profound impact on everyone he met. He was always scheming ways to insightfully
challenge conventional thinking; He was a philosopher at heart, as everyone who spent time
with him can attest. He had a delightfully quirky sense of humor, eclectic and even eccentric
tastes in food, fashion and lifestyle. His passing leaves a gaping hole in his family and he will be
missed by the many, many wonderful friends from all parts of the world whose lives he
touched.
A Celebration of Life for Tom will be held on Saturday, April 8, at Totem Hall, in Squamish BC
from 1 – 4 p.m.
Those wishing to acknowledge Tom’s life, may:
Attend Tom’s Celebration of Life
Post memories and pictures on his memorial board: Thomas Henry Memorial Board:
https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/DEoxkOVL/thomas-kineshanko
Continue his support for social venture entrepreneurs by contributing to the Thomas
Kineshanko Memorial Fund at the HollyHock Cortes Island retreat centre:
https://hollyhock.ca/stream/next-economy/
Plant a tree honouring Tom’s quest to make the world a better place
for the new world.” (Kineshanko, T.H. 2000)
Tom was an explorer and a philosopher. The new worlds he sought to discover could not be
found by compass or reached by wind-powered ships but rather by keen understanding and
brave ventures into the unknown, unexplored opportunities afforded by evolving technology
and innovative thinking.
Thomas Henry Kineshanko – March 20, 1985 to March 15, 2023. Born on the first day of spring
in Nanaimo, BC, but raised on the grasslands, lakes, and mountains of the Okanagan Valley.
From an early age Tom relished nature, the outdoors and physical pursuits. Tom’s early years
were spent on a small hobby farm on the outskirts of Vernon BC. As a young boy, Tom loved to
run in the fields, ride BMX bikes, race GT snow racers on the hill in the back pasture, help care
for the farm animals and dig in the garden. Tom attended high school at Pleasant Valley
Secondary School in Armstrong where he played soccer, volleyball, basketball, rugby, ran track
and field, skipped school to go snowboarding and earned his high school diploma.
Tom attended Simon Fraser University where he was an integral member of the SFU track and
field team, competing in high-level international meets in Canada and the US. After graduating
with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Tom immediately embraced his entrepreneurial
spirit and went on to found and/or co-found numerous green tech corporations, all with the
intent of making the world a better place. He travelled the world initiating projects either on
his own or in partnership with like-minded entrepreneurs. Tom passionately worked in this
space for more than 15 years
Tom passed away on March 15, 2023 in Squamish BC. He is survived by his mother Madelaine,
brother Ben, sister-in-law Jessica and children Kye, Eyla and Syrsha; step-sister Natasha and
niece Ashlee, step-brother Todd and family as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and his much
loved, canine companion Indy.
Tom had a profound impact on everyone he met. He was always scheming ways to insightfully
challenge conventional thinking; He was a philosopher at heart, as everyone who spent time
with him can attest. He had a delightfully quirky sense of humor, eclectic and even eccentric
tastes in food, fashion and lifestyle. His passing leaves a gaping hole in his family and he will be
missed by the many, many wonderful friends from all parts of the world whose lives he
touched.
A Celebration of Life for Tom will be held on Saturday, April 8, at Totem Hall, in Squamish BC
from 1 – 4 p.m.
Those wishing to acknowledge Tom’s life, may:
Attend Tom’s Celebration of Life
Post memories and pictures on his memorial board: Thomas Henry Memorial Board:
https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/DEoxkOVL/thomas-kineshanko
Continue his support for social venture entrepreneurs by contributing to the Thomas
Kineshanko Memorial Fund at the HollyHock Cortes Island retreat centre:
https://hollyhock.ca/stream/next-economy/
Plant a tree honouring Tom’s quest to make the world a better place