Richard died peacefully, at North Bay Regional Health Centre, on Saturday, October 28, 2023. He was 75 years old.
Richard was shaped by the many communities in which he lived. He was born in Bowmanville, Ontario, and from there went on to live in Pembroke, Goderich, London, Woodstock, Kitchener, Clarksburg, Waterloo, and Powassan.
He met his wife, Elizabeth, in London, Ontario. They were married 51 years and loved each other dearly. They had two daughters, Sarah and Heather and their family came to include their partners Colin and Greg. All of whom will miss him dearly.
He will also be missed by his devoted sisters and their surviving husbands, Barbara Plante, Leslie, and Jack van der Meer, Judy, and Steven Flinn and all their extended families. Additionally, his absence will be felt by his sisters-in-law and their surviving husbands, Sue, and Jamie Beardmore, Nancy Robinson, Mary-Anne, and Randy Watson and all their extended families.
As well as having a large and loving family, Richard was known as a memorable and inspiring teacher of the French language, and Instrumental Music. Music and languages were his passions; he sang in choirs and played the tuba in many community bands, and when he travelled, it ignited his passion to learn the languages of the places he visited (including England, Scotland, Ireland, the Caribbean, Alabama, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, Sicily, and across Canada). When Richard was not serenading us on the tuba, he was delighting us with his humorous tales of teaching and travel and always delighted in making everyone laugh.
In his later years Richard struggled with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia. We are grateful that this struggle has come to an end and that Richard is now in a better place.
A celebration of Richard’s life will take place at the Paul Funeral Home, Powassan, on Saturday, November 4, 2023; Gathering from 1:30 to 2:00 pm and service at 2:00 pm.
As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to Parkinson Canada or the Michael J. Fox Foundation are suggested. To leave a condolence or tribute please visit paulfuneralhome.ca or call the Paul Funeral Home, Powassan 705-724-2024.