Terence (Tery) Victor Poole

Terence (Tery) Poole passed away suddenly in his home in Port Hope Ontario on May 20, 2026. Born on April 27,1944 in Liverpool England, to parents Victor and Margaret, Tery always had fond memories of playing football and chasing his sister Maureen and his uncle Tony around the neighbourhoods. He traveled across the Atlantic on the Empress of Canada with his mother and sister, arriving in Montreal in 1948 moving to Windsor and eventually Brampton Ontario. Growing up, Tery was passionate about music and picked up the guitar in primary school and later, the trombone in middle school. During his collage years, Tery discovered the incredibly unique instrument, the gut bucket, which he began to play in bands that performed in the folk clubs of Toronto’s Yorkville.

Tery attended Glendon College, at the time a bilingual liberal arts institution within York University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He then went on to work as a market research consultant for Elliott Research Corp. Ltd, where he became the Vice President eventually starting his own company with colleague and friend Sharron Adamson. Poole-Adamson Research Consultants Ltd. went on to publish many reports on the efficacy of advertising through Creative Lab Test research techniques for which they were recognized in numerous national newspapers and industry periodicals.

Tery met his wife Gail on a High Park Ski Club bus trip down to Smugglers’ Notch resort in Jeffersonville, Vermont. They bonded over their love of skiing, the outdoors and their joie de vivre. They wed in August 1984 in a small ceremony in Gail’s home town of Thunder Bay, Ontario. They had two children, Chris and Sarah, on whom they centered their whole life. As a family growing up in Toronto, they spent time enjoying the convenience of the big city, biking, going to parks, driving from one activity to another, ensuring that both children got exposure and were supported in every interest they had. In February 2014 Tery experienced the devastating loss of Gail who passed away following a long battle with cancer.

In 2016, light and vigor returned to Tery, after selling the family home in Toronto and relocating to Port Hope Ontario. He started doing projects around his new home and property, always in the vision of what Gail would have liked and what brought him joy. He became a member of the Cobourg Yacht Club where he met Phillis, who became a fast friend, travel companion and partner. In 2017 Tery threw himself back into his first love, music. He picked up the trombone once again and joined the New Ventures Band becoming a member of the Metzo, Avanti and Big Band. He often remarked how music brought new joy and purpose into his life. Most recently, in 2025 Tery recorded his first full length album with musicians from Northumberland County. That album, At The Crossroads featured Tery prominently as a gut bucket player and vocalist.

Tery was predeceased by his wife of 30 years Gail Poole (Dilley), parents Victor Poole, Margret Poole (Blackler); His aunts Josephine McDowell (Blacker), Sheila Blackler and his uncle Tony Blackler. Tery is survived and will be dearly missed by his son Christopher and daughter Sarah and a long list of nieces, nephews and friends that were as close as family that will hold him dear.

Friends are invited to a celebration of life on Sunday June 14, 2026 at the MacCoubrey Funeral Home Ltd. 30 King Street East, Cobourg, Ontario K9A 1K7 from 1pm to 4pm., with words of remembrance at 2:30 pm. There will be a live stream available on the day of the service for those that cannot attend in person through www.maccoubrey.com current services. (Live stream will commence at 2:25 pm.)