Tatum Macneil Passes

Published: August 21, 2016 08:50 pm EDT

Trot Insider has learned that Standardbred owner Tatum Macneil passed away on Saturday, August 20 in Toronto at the age of 36 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Tatum was the cherished partner of eight years of Tommy Larocque. Predeceased by her mother Heather Emberly (nee Copan). Survived by her sister Michelle Macneil. Always a step-daughter to Mike Willmott. Tatum will be sadly missed by many, and missed by her dog Cujo as he was the god of her life (even if he bit anyone and everyone).

"With profound deep sadness, we announce the passing of my angel and love Tatum Macneil," said Larocque. "Tatum fought a lengthy courageous battle with cancer and never gave up one single moment. We travelled to other parts of the world to try to solve this battle, and again, she met it face to face. At her bedside, with her hand in mine, she passed with total dignity. What a trooper! I am proud to say that her last moment of strength even now makes me stronger."

Tatum was a proud teaching graduate of Downward Dog Yoga (Toronto). She was fit as a fiddle and her routine brought her from the two-hour stairmaster followed by a shower and then an hour of personal practice of yoga class at Moksha. When teaching her own classes, Tatum was thrilled when her students commended her on their great classes with her.

Her other biggest love was horses and so looking forward fondly to going to Camelot in Stouffville and riding or going hacking, particularly with Kim and Julia. She was very fond of her ride on Humber and cried often to see Humber. She loved her lessons with Kim and her novice competition on with equestrian dressage, which she couldn’t get enough of. She loved getting on the road to watch her horses racing at Mohawk Racetrack with her hair in the wind.

Tatum loved all animals alike and would shoe flies and ants out the door at her home. She loved driving our 500 HP Corvette very fast and was a great driver. She would make her partner stop to take injured birds off the road and bury them. Tatum and Tommy wintered in Sint Martenn annually and she would rescue drowning wasps from the ocean and bring them back to life, and was thrilled when they dried and flew away. These things put a big smile on her face. Her smile and big eyes could light up a room. She adopted two dogs named Bruno and Dora in Sint Martenn and fed them daily, and would rather feed them than herself.

Tatum loved swimming and was an accomplished life guard. She would often stay in the ocean in Simpson Bay for hours at a time. Tatum’s spirit of adventure was lovely and she loved her life, and she enjoyed lighting candles and making home meals. She loved washing her hair and getting in her jeep, and called it her “hair drive” with the roof down and amazing sun. What a spirit she had, and will be fondly missed by Tommy and family, and any other person who knew her. Tommy's mother loved Tatum just like a daughter and they laughed so much when together.

A special thank you to Kim Mustill, Julia Ross and family, her mother, Mike Willmott, Lydia Tordicilla, the nurses and staff at Sunnybrook, the staff at Palliative Care of Mackenzie Health, and the staff and nurses from CCAC, who came to her home and made her feel so wonderful.

There will an open celebration of Tatum's life on Tuesday, August 23 between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Marlowe Restaurant and Wine Bar, located at 155 York Blvd., Unit #1, in Richmond Hill, Ont. (905-771-8645). Refreshments and food will be served. Dress very casual. All are welcome. Visit www.themarlowe.ca for further directions.

A private ceremony in Montreal will be held at a later date in which Tatum will be buried in Larocque Family plot.

In lieu of donations or flowers, please send them to Ontario Cancer Society. Online condolences are welcome at http://www.aftercare.org.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Tatum Macneil.

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