For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar 

VAN TIGHEM, Clarence Joseph (Van) - passed away in Ottawa, on October 26, 2003 at the age of 82. He will be missed by his wife, Noelle and sons; Paul, Mark and John. He was the son of Joseph Leon and Jane Anne (Kelly). He is predeceased by his brother, John Victor (Jack). He is survived by his brothers Leonard and Francis; and his sister Geraldine. After completing his B.Com. at Queen's University and University of Manitoba, he served in RCNVR as a Lieutenant during WWII; commanding a Fairmile. At the end of the war, he joined the Federal Department of Trade and Commerce where he served as 2nd Secretary (Commercial) in Lima, Peru; Consul & Trade Commissioner in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Commercial Secretary in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Commercial Counsellor in Mexico, Mexico; Director, Trade Publicity Br. (ITC) in Ottawa, Canada; Commercial Counsellor in Vienna, Austria; Deputy Consult General in New York, USA; Minister (Commercial) in London, England; Ambassador in Caracas, Venezuela; Consul General in Milan, Italy; Chief of Protocol (ITC) and Special Adviser for Trade Promotion Activities, Public Affairs Branch in Ottawa, Canada. In his spare time, Van was an avid golfer and member of the Royal Ottawa Golf Club. The family would like to thank the healthcare professionals who cared for him for their compassionate care. A Mass In Memory of Mr. Van Tighem will be held Thursday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1758 Alta Vista Drive at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association or to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. (Ottawa Citizen 28 Oct 2003)

Clarence and his two older brothers grew up outside Calgary, AB, and all volunteered to served in WW2. Their mother was concerned about their safety so they each joined a different service to reduce risk.  At the time, Clarence was in university on a scholarship at Queen's. He'd finished first in 6 out of 7 classes in his final year, so when he volunteered he was placed in an accelerated officer program.  Clarence served his commission honourably and on 12 Feb 1945 resigned his commission to join the Canadian Foreign Service. Over the years, he served in many countries. Ultimately, becoming a Canadian Ambassador and finally the Director of Protocol for Canada. (submitted by Paul Van Tighem)