Tema Lisa Conter was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was the daughter of the late Dr. Ralph Conter and Deborah Conter, and a sister to Howard and Arlene. She attended the Halifax Grammar School from Grade 1 through 9. She also attended Queen Elizabeth High School and the Beth Israel Hebrew School. She spent her summers from age seven to twenty-one at Camp Kadimah. After graduating with a B.A from McMaster University, she then furthered her education at the School of Retailing at Chamberlain College in Boston, majoring in fashion merchandising. She moved to Toronto in 1985 and began a career in fashion management. She worked as a buyer and manager for an established ladies wear retail chain.
On January 27, 1988 at the age of 25, Tema was murdered by a convicted serial killer who had spent most of his adolescent and adult life in jail. In a fatal error of the justice system, this man, who had been placed in a half way house , in a mid-town Toronto neighborhood, entered her apartment building early that morning and attacked Tema while on her way to work. Her brutal and senseless murder, a nightmare beyond belief, was reported in detail in all of the papers.
There are no words for the devastation of her death on her family and friends. Her loss created a void that could never be filled.
Tema was full of life and happiness, and lived life to the fullest. Throughout her school years, university and career she was known to her many friends for her humour, wit and charm and always as the life of the party. Her special personality connected her with people of all ages; once that connection was made they were forever her “buddy”. At Camp Kadimah, a place that meant so much to her, she made lasting friendships with both her campers and their parents, and of course the life-long friendships with her peers.
Tema was especially loyal and devoted to her family, coming home for visits at every opportunity, also making her grandmother, the late Ruby Hamburg, her top priority. She was generous and caring to her friends, never begrudging the happiness of others but always finding joy in their good fortune.
The Tema Conter Memorial Trust was created by Vince Savoia, who in 1988 was the paramedic called to the scene of the crime. He was so moved by Tema that his whole life was changed from that night forward. Thirteen years later he set up this Memorial Trust in her name as a scholarship fund to help other paramedics and create awareness for Critical Incident Stress.
For those of us who knew and loved Tema, and still think of her each day, it is both a comfort and a miracle that so many years later, her memory would be honored and sustained by someone whom she had never met.
We are so grateful for the opportunity to share our beautiful memories of Tema, who truly deserves to be remembered in the positive and joyful way she lived her life.
Lynda Suissa
Contact us at 1-888-288-8036
Contact us at 1-888-288-8036
Copyright 2010 Tema Conter Memorial Trust | Charity Registration Number 82074 5917 RR0001 0001
Tema Lisa Conter
December 6, 1962 to January 27, 1988
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