Richard (“Dick”) Lawrence Richards

Our beloved Dad, Husband, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Uncle Dick, passed away peacefully, June 11, 2025. He was a good and faithful servant of God.

Dick was a man of faith, integrity, conviction, and a deep love for his wife, Marilyn, his family and friends. He was respected by his peers and the many young people he mentored over the years.

Richard Lawrence Richards was born in Kingston, Jamaica, to Karl and Joyce Richards on October 31, 1935, the fifth generation of a family from Great Britain. He is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn (of 65 years), sons Dave (Sharon) and Rob, grandchildren: Bethany (Matt), Will, Nathan, and Rianna and great granddaughter Payton. He is also survived by his younger sister Judy (Douglas Cover), and was pre-deceased by his youngest sibling, Harry, and Harry's wife, Bev. He will be fondly remembered as Uncle Dick to nieces, nephews and dear friends' children.

After graduating high school in Jamaica, and working for Shell Oil for a few years around the West Indies, Dick immigrated to Canada in 1956. He obtained a B. Comm. from the University of British Columbia (1960), and then qualified as a Chartered Accountant (1964), in both instances winning the gold medal. In 2001, his peers elected him a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Dick met Marilyn at Granville Chapel on his first Sunday in Vancouver. He quickly won Marilyn’s attention and heart, and they were married May 5, 1961.

In 1964, he joined a small private real estate development and management company, MacKenzie Management Ltd., buying control from the founders and expanding its agency portfolio. He actively managed the commercial real estate brokerage and property management operations and personally brokered large transactions. Twenty years later, he sold it to Colliers International where he became a Senior Vice President, managing the Real Estate Management Services Canadian Division. The portfolio included office, industrial, apartment and retail buildings across the country, with Vancouver having the largest grouping.

Dick had many other interests, always helping others. He served as a Board member or Trustee and/or Chair of many charitable organizations, including his local church, Regent College at UBC, World Vision and VisionFund, the Lisims Fisheries Conservation Trust, the Nature Trust of BC, and the Sovereign Order of St. John, Knights Hospitaller, a partner in the development of the St. John Hospice at UBC. He also served as Board member and/or chair in the real estate industry at local, provincial and national levels, and at the Vancouver Club.

Dick enjoyed the outdoors, particularly fishing and bird hunting, He and his brother, Harry (Bev), owned a condo in Secret Cove for many years, often hosting family and friends. He enjoyed going out in the boat for picnics at the Gap as well as pulling his grandkids on inner tubes, swimming in the lakes close to the condo and reading books in the shade. He delighted the grandkids by letting them fish with rods and toy fish in the hot tub.

Dick traveled extensively through his charitable work with World Vision and VisionFund, where he met many of the poor being served, as well as local government officials and the wonderful staff who managed the projects. He also travelled extensively with Marilyn and his family on holidays. His travels took him to Jamaica, Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

He and Marilyn have been active members of St. John’s Vancouver for over 30 years, often hosting friends and family for meals, Bible Study, board meetings, and social gatherings with lively conversation. He was deeply loved by many members of the congregation who knew him well and will be deeply missed by his church family.

A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 1:00 pm, St John’s Vancouver Anglican Church, 5350 Baillie St. Vancouver, BC. A reception will follow. For details, please RSVP if you plan to attend the reception, by emailing: dick@richardsfam.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to World Vision Canada, a cause close to Dick’s heart.