LENNOX, Richard Bruce Munro (Dick)
April 28, 1932 – June 16, 2015
LENNOX, Richard Bruce Munro (Dick) died peacefully at Nanaimo General Hospital on June 16, 2015 surrounded by family. Born in Charleswood, Manitoba on April 28, 1932 to Helen Ross and William Henry Lennox, Dick grew up loved and doted on by his brothers, Alan James and William Ross (Bill). Dick is survived by his wife and best friend, Katharine, their children Duncan, Jenepher (Kevin Terrion) and Andrea (Alex Russell), and grandchildren Keziah, Claire, Jack, Samuel, Richard and Katie. All remember him as a loving, gentle, and inspiring father and grandfather.
A champion golfer as a young man, Dick was described by the Winnipeg Free Press in 1953 as “the youngster who cracks them a mile at Charleswood golf course.” He spent his career in international sales and travelled to more than 100 countries marketing Canadian agricultural products and industrial equipment. Many of his designs were patented and he was respected internationally for his integrity and creativity. In Japan he was christened “Soba Taro Shigamori” (Buckwheat King). In retirement Dick was an inventor and designer who worked tirelessly in his workshop. His many inventions, ideas, thoughts, and musings were evidence of the depth of his brilliant mind and kept him busy until the day before he died.
Dick was creative, determined, witty, generous, kind, classy and charming. He played piano, loved to dance, recited poetry, and was a gifted storyteller. He was an original thinker whose many skills – and perseverance – culminated in the Katharine de Montrose, the 46-foot ocean-going sailboat that he crafted with help from friends and family. The boat was featured in many newspaper and television stories and was the subject of the Life Network documentary “Magnificent Obsessions.”
Dick’s life ended as he lived it, with grace, dignity and good humour. In fact, in the hospital just hours before he died, he quipped to the nurses and family, “You’re probably wondering why I called this meeting?” He will be deeply missed.
A celebration of Dick’s amazing life will be held later this summer.