Clarke, Richard

The wind in our sails was swept away with the sudden passing of Richard Clarke on Monday, June 7th, 2004.Richard was born and raised in Belleville, Ontario and moved north to study Forestry at Lakehead University. He continued his education at the University of Toronto then moved his family to Thunder Bay in 1973 to build a life in a place where he was spellbound by the grandeur of Lake Superior and the natural environment.He practiced forest management and silviculture with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources before joining the Faculty of Forestry at Lakehead University in 1978. There, he shared with his students an understanding of the complexity and the value of our environment, encouraging and challenging them to become lifelong stewards of this world's natural habitat.Possessing a passion for the wind and the water, he was an accomplished sailor and a spirited racer.Richard competed actively on Lake Superior and ventured to the Apostle Islands annually to compete in Bayfield Race Week and the Lake Superior Yachting Association Off-Shore Racing Series.He also enjoyed the more tranquil side of sailing and cruised on all the Great Lakes.Last winter he accomplished his dream of sailing his boat with his family and friends to the Bahamas.He was a long-time member and past commodore of both the Thunder Bay Yacht Club and LSYA.His vision helped create the Thunder Bay Yacht Club facility at the CN Station.Typically, his determination to complete any pet project played a large part in its successful completion.In particular, he was happiest when undertaking grand projects with his friend Michael at his favourite place, Silver Islet where he spent every available moment.Richard was a passionate and giving person and will be sorely missed by family and many friends who shared his diversity of interests and passion for life.His passing is grieved by his wife Kerrie-Lee, children Greg, Toronto and David and Astaria, Aruba, grandson Dennis, Thunder Bay, mother Rea Clarke, Belleville, brothers Jim (Fran), Halifax, Ted (Jacqueline), Peterborough, sisters Eleanor Robertson, Toronto, Beth Barton, St. Catharines.He will be missed by Kerrie-Lee's family, sister Lynne Mercer (Larry Graves), California, brothers Charles Meagher (Jacquie), Victoria, and Robert Meagher, (Belleville), and numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Frank Clarke.Cremation has taken place.A memorial service will be held at the Avila Centre Chapel at Lakehead University, Reaume Street, off Central Avenue, at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 11th, 2004.Following the service, friends are invited to a reception at the Thunder Bay Yacht Club, CN Station at Marina Park. A special thank you is extended to the doctors, nurses and support staff of the Emergency and Cardiac ICU, Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre for their exemplary, steadfast and compassionate care.As an expression of gratitude for Richard's life, donations may be made to Lakehead University in care of the Department of Development.