Obituaries (May 16, 1988)

Thomas M. Crandell, vice-president mining for Orofino Resources, died in Orillia, Ont., May 6 after a brief illness.

Crandall, who was also general manager operations for Orofino’s parent company, Northgate Exploration, devoted most of his time over the past few years to the successful development of Orofino’s Scadding property near Sudbury and the nearby Norstar mine. Earlier he had supervised the plans for and construction of the 200-ton-per-day Scadding mill.

Born in Brantford, Ont., in 1922, he served with the RCAF in its overseas bomber command operations from 1940-46. He then enrolled in mining engineering at the University of Toronto, where he met his wife, Nancy, who was librarian in the geology department. He graduated with a B.A.Sc. in 1951.

In the mid-1950s he represented Pioneer Consultants, directing much of its work for Stanleigh Uranium Mines at Elliot Lake. Transferring to an associated company, Temiskaming Construction, in 1957, he later directed construction of the mine plant for Kam- Kotia Porcupine Mines and joined Kam Kotia as mine superintendent in 1961.

In 1964 he moved to Saskatchewan, to spend 20 years in positions of increasing responsibility at Allan Potash Mines. Next came four years with the Botswana department of mines where he was appointed mining commissioner in 1976. He returned to Canada in 1978 and worked for Saskatchewan Mining Development Corp., latterly as manager mining and engineering, before joining the Northgate organization in 1981.

Crandall was a professional mining engineer in all respects. He contributed much to Orofino’s success as a profitable and growing junior gold producer. His occasionally gruff exterior masked a heart of kindness. He did not give in easily to his illness, but put up a good fight with courage and determination.

He is survived by his wife Nancy, daughter Catherine Jane Disbery, sons James Thomas and John Earl and grandson Thomas M. Crandell, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, brother and sisters, to all of whom his colleagues extend deepest sympathy.