SF Caretakers Retire after 50 Years

Wilma Kenny | Feb 17, 2021

Tom and Dorothy Fish have just retired after 50 years of caretaking for South Frontenac Township in the Sydenham area. They began with cleaning the Loughborough Township hall and then the library addition in Sydenham, and most recently have been at Keeley Road offices ever since they opened, around the time of amalgamation. “A lot of changes, a lot of time,” says Tom. Throughout many of those years until his retirement, Tom also worked full-time for the city of Kingston, and once the children were grown up, Dorothy operated a flower shop from their home; she made lovely arrangements. In later years even though Tom was sick several times, Dorothy carried on with the Keeley Road offices.

The Fishes moved into their home in Sydenham shortly after their marriage, 56 years ago: theirs is the pretty brick house on George Street that celebrates the holidays with the best decorations ever, especially at Hallowe’en, Easter and Christmas. 

(Reporters note - I have known Tom Fish since public school, and we have been neighbours now for many years: we’ve watched each others’ children grow up. I still remember the day Tom came over to proudly show me his new band card: he’s a member of the Upper Cayuga band from Brantford, and flies the white and purple flag of the Iroquois’ Five Nations Confederacy)