Tom Rae had passed away while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with his two sons. He had been experiencing shortness of breath and died hours before reaching the summit. His body was brought down by one son while the other finished the climb in tribute. Tom was a close friend and mentor who provided fundamental support to the author's business, Emerald Risk Transfer. He leaves behind a wife, daughter, and two sons.

1. TOM RAE
On Saturday morning, 10th December 2011, I received the desperate and shocking news that
Tom had passed away on Kilimanjaro.
Tom had for many months been planning to climb Kilimanjaro with his 2 sons, Alexander and
Jonathan, each having chosen his own charity. Tom’s chosen charity was Help for Heroes.
On the morning of 9th December Tom had sent me a text, and appeared in high spirits. He
joked about the rain, and the fact that he couldn’t see the mountain. The next day, the 10th,
was to be the summit. They were just hours away.
Details are sketchy as I write this; I can only tell you that he was complaining of shortness of
breath. Jonathan returned down the mountain with his father’s body, whilst Alexander, as a
tribute to his Dad, finished off at the summit.
At an industry level, Tom was the ultimate communicator. He forged relationships at all levels
of the financial services industry in South Africa and London.
At an Emerald level, his influences on our strategies in our early years were fundamental to
our Reinsurance structures, and are still in place today.
Irrespective of any risk to his own personal status or wellbeing, his support of Emerald, and of
me in particular had no boundaries. I often ‘joked’ that he would ‘chew his own arm off’ rather
than let me down. He was always there when I needed him.
Tom, like all of us, was not perfect. He had his own demons, and I just hope I was a good
enough friend to help him when he needed me.
I like to think that this year was an enjoyable one for him, and that the planning, training and
trip were everything he had hoped. This was as much about bonding with his family as
anything else. The fact he couldn’t finish if off is cruel, he was so close.
Tom was godfather to my son, Thomas, and best man at my wedding to Cathy. He was an
uncle to my daughters, Emily and Alex. We will all celebrate his influence on our lives, as
others will I am sure.
Tom leaves behind a wife Lynn, a daughter Lorna, and his 2 sons Alexander and Jonathan.
My thoughts and best wishes are with them.
Gary Corke
11/12/2011
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