Richard Lamoureux

Richard Allen Lamoureux, most cherished husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2022, after an incredibly brief battle with metastatic liver cancer. Predeceased by his son, Paul, and his brother, Michael, left to mourn and pick up the pieces of their shattered lives are his wife, Leanne, children Joel (Tanya Bewzak), Danielle (John Vipperman), and Jennifer (Kirk Walters). Rick was a very proud Papère/Papa to Connor, Luke, Cassidy and Kingston. The eldest child of his family, he will be dearly missed by his siblings Catherine (Don Bedford), Kim (Bill North), Jason (Becca) and Aimee (Liz Lightfoot), his sister-in-law Kim (Mark Geldhof), his many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and other extended family as well as his huge community of friends.

The son of Richard Lamoureux Sr. (Julie) and the late Margaret Milburn, Rick was born in Toronto and spent his formative years both in Sudbury and Toronto. As a youth, he loved Scouting, earning the level of Queen’s Scout, the last year it was conferred. He put these skills to work in 1969 working for the Ontario Department of the Lands and Forests as a junior ranger. He loved swimming (butterfly), and downhill skiing on the small ski hills in Sudbury.

Rick attended Malvern Collegiate Institute, his favourite part being the band program offered there. Working as an orderly for Toronto Western Hospital, he was able to finance his own university education allowing him to unlock his dreams. He was a very proud graduate of the University of Toronto (B. MUS.) and the State University of New York at Buffalo (M. MUS.).

A true Renaissance man, Rick was a man with a broad range of interests and abilities. He enjoyed a 30-year long teaching career, the highlights of which were the many bands he conducted and travelled with to National and International competitions.

Throughout and beyond his teaching career, he worked professionally as an accomplished woodwind musician. He was a member of various marching bands and especially loved playing in a big band, Sophisticated Swing, for many years. He taught privately, worked as a studio musician, and was part of the house band on several TV specials.

Retirement provided Rick a wealth of opportunities to travel the world with Leanne and to further develop and indulge in many of his passions including photography, hiking, canoeing, backwoods camping, snowshoeing, fly fishing, fly tying, stamp collecting, cross-country skiing, cycling, tennis, pickleball, geocaching and flying his trusty drone, Dorothy. He continued to share his love of music, playing in the Muskoka Concert Band, the Lady Muskoka Swing Band, at church and at many event functions – weddings, funerals, butterfly release days, hospital fundraisers, hospice vigils. The highlight of every year was playing in at least one musical – Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver, Cabaret, Willy Wonka, The Drowsy Chaperone among many others. When on earth did he find time to be a voracious reader as well?

But far and beyond all these passions and experiences, Rick’s favourite thing to do was spend time with his children and grandchildren – taking them camping, canoe-tripping, building snow forts, geocaching with them, mastering the most difficult of Lego builds, teaching them senior high school math and Grade 3 science during the pandemic years.

Rick was a principled man, kind and humble, and always available to help a friend. His awful Dad jokes and quick-witted repartee endeared people to him. He was a bird whisperer extraordinaire – the tiniest of birds would fly to him to eat out of his hand, get a quick snuggle, or be nursed back to flight. His hands were warm and gentle, and birds intuitively knew they were safe. Rick made us all feel like this. His Grandpa bear hugs and his warm embraces will be so missed.

Rick made this world a considerably better place with his contributions to it. His photos and music will be a legacy to cherish for years to come.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Bracebridge United Church on Saturday, October 1 at 1:00 (doors open at noon), followed by a reception and a private family interment.

Donations may be made in Rick’s memory to the Muskoka Conservancy, Bracebridge United Church, or Andy’s House (Hospice Muskoka).