TORONTO — TIN Thomas, who worked for Travelweek as Senior Editor from 1988 to 1999 and also wrote extensively for other travel industry and consumer travel publications including the magazine Cruise Lifestyles, which he co-founded, has passed away after a battle with a rare form of pneumonia. He was 86 years old.

Trained as a journalist in his native Wales, TIN worked for five years in Uganda and represented Reuters wire service in the region.

He worked extensively with trade publications in Canada at Maclean Hunter, Southam and two of his own publishing firms.

He got his first look at the travel industry as editor of Southam’s Canadian Travel News before co-founding Druid Publishing which launched Business Travellers.

He joined Travelweek in 1988 and stayed on as Senior Editor until 1999.

After working together at Travelweek, TIN and Lorol Nielsen went on to launch the magazine Cruise Lifestyles in 2003, under the Travelweek banner. Vanessa Lee took over Cruise Lifestyles in 2006 and re-launched it as Cruise & Travel Lifestyles in 2007. TIN then served as Editor of Cruise & Travel Lifestyles from 2007 to 2012, after which he was Editor Emeritus.

“I loved him to bits always,” says Nielsen. “His wife Marlene was such a great match for him. TIN loved to travel and he had a great sense of humour.”

Nielsen frequently socialized with TIN and Marlene, enjoying wine tastings at their Toronto home. TIN was also a fixture at wine tastings with former Travelweek Editor Pat Dineen, his brother Terry and Travelweek co-founder Paul Vickers.

TIN is survived by his wife Marlene. Industry colleagues can reach Nielsen at lnielsen@cliftonblake.com for more information.