We would be criminally remiss if we continued a moment longer without offering tribute to the great Richie Lord, one of the city's great characters, who has been battling health issues recently.
Lord is about the most delightful person you'll ever meet, an amazing raconteur who grabs you onto his world of stories with a beautiful sing-song voice about the way the city was and became.
Lord was born in iLittle Burgundy in 1929, son of a Bahamian soldier who came to Canada after fighting for the Empire in WWI.
He went to school up the hill in Westmount and excelled at sports, gaining a scholarship at the University of Michigan.
Lord was involved at the highest levels in the Liberal Party of Canada and came within a few votes of getting the NDG nomination which was instead won by his longtime friend Warren Allmand who went on to serve several decades as MP.
Lord traveled the country in his early years, leading a federal commission on poverty, promoted black entrepreneurship, and was later hired to arrange the technical stuff, including the phone system for the city of Montreal during Expo '67.
Much has been made about the fact that Lord was a black man in a world dominated by whites and while he's aware of being considered a little different never focuses too much on the issue.
Lord has been living on Clarke just below Sherbrooke in Westmount with his wife, who he married late in life. We here at Coolopolis have always felt a bit guilty that we never got a video camera in front of him because he's a treasure and a delight to listen to.
5 comments:
I only met Richard once, and do have to agree that he was certainly a delight to have met. My prayers are with him during this time of poor health.
Interesting, I happened to meet Richard for the first time at a cocktail party just before Christmas. We had a lovely time chatting with him and Carol, they are a delightful couple. I had no idea that he was struggling with health issues. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery!
Onkel Charlie.
He richly deseves an Order of Canada - often nominated - never received. One of the most generous activists in the city helping people of any race but particularly blacks, who have needed help for the last seventy-five years. And a great athelete.
Wow, overseeing the phone system during Expo 67 was, I imagine, a pretty complex logistical endeavour. Impressive!
Simply having broken the colour barrier in U.S. Varsity Hockey is accomplishment enough!
Believe late nephew of his was one of my best friends ever.
Fantastic family. Best wishes.
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