Richard Allan Spratt

Richard Allan Spratt

Dick the Hick from Manotick passed away peacefully at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on September 1, 2024, at the remarkable age of 93. Despite declining health over the last few years of his life, Dick was able to remain in his own home, surrounded by family, until just the day before he passed. This was made possible by the steadfast courage, love, and devotion of his beloved wife of 66 years, Rosemary.

Richard will be remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather, kind, warm hearted, energetic, enthusiastic about life, always interested in others, dedicated to his career in aviation and family life with a strong intellect and fun sense of humour.

Born on February 14, 1931, in Manotick, Ontario, Dick’s journey took him from small-town roots to an illustrious career as a commercial airline pilot. He took immense pride in his parents and siblings, particularly honoring his older siblings’ service in WWII. Dick was always proud of his mother Cynthia, who raised him after the death of his father Alex in 1935 when Dick was just four years old. Throughout his life, Dick honoured the legacy of the family grist mill in Manotick (one of the few remaining mills of its type in operation today), which ground grain for farmers in the region and produced grains and cereal for sale.

Richard served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Korean Airlift, commanding his unit by the age of 19 and taking on RCAF missions, like being the F/O on "the Ice Wagon," accumulating a record 14 inches of ice on the icing instruments of his converted four-engine North Star. Dick received an honorable discharge with the rank of Flying Officer in February 1955.

After spending the next year as a test pilot with Bristol Aircraft in Winnipeg, Richard joined Canadian Pacific Airlines (later CP Air), where he established a sterling professional reputation, particularly known for his calm and personable demeanor, technical acumen, and especially his precise, smooth landings!

Dick played pivotal roles as Flight Instructor and Check Captain on the DC-8, DC-10, and B-747, Chief Pilot of the DC-10, and Regional Director of Flight Operations in Toronto. Notably, he delivered CP’s last 747 to Pakistan International Airlines in December 1985, and after 30 years of service to CP, Dick joined Singapore Airlines, where he lived and flew the world’s newest fleet of 747s across the globe. He and Rosemary enjoyed an active life of travel, golf, and tennis in Singapore, often flying to Malaysia for golf weekends with visiting family and friends. He retired from flying in February 1991.

Richard’s CP career started in Montreal, where he and Rosemary enjoyed their early married life, having three of their four children there. Moves to bases in Vancouver (where baby #4 came along), Toronto and back to Vancouver followed, creating lifelong friendships along the way. While in Toronto in the ‘70s, many of these wonderful friends purchased cottages at Lake of Bays, where they enjoyed many happy summers together.

Dick also took his family on vacation every summer to Vancouver Island, where many happy memories were made at Two Coves, and where he indulged his love for fishing and boating. Rosemary and Dick loved the area so much that they made it their permanent home following retirement. For over 30 years, their seaside home brought Dick immense joy and peace as he looked out at the ocean every day and enjoyed the birds and wildlife that frequented the property.

In addition to his successful flying career, Dick was a devoted sports enthusiast. He could engage in conversation about any sport but was particularly passionate about basketball, baseball, and football, with an encyclopedic knowledge of statistics that delighted friends and family alike. He also enjoyed playing sports of all types, from basketball in high school to tennis and badminton in adult life. He made sure that all his kids could skate, swim, and ski from an early age and wholeheartedly supported his children and grandchildren in every sport they took up, embodying the role of the ultimate "Sports Dad" and Grandad. Dick was active in the community, coaching kids' hockey in Vancouver and softball in Toronto. Later in life, he accepted the position of president at his golf club. Richard stayed active into his 80s, playing golf several times a week.

Music was always important to Dick throughout his life since singing as a choir boy in Ottawa and playing the tenor sax as a teenager. Although he didn’t continue to play, Dick remained a lifelong fan of music. He would later share his passion of jazz and classical music, including opera, with Rosemary, which they enjoyed throughout their lives together. Their love of music would also be passed on to their children and grandchildren.

During his retirement, Dick continued to have many interests and stayed active. He continued to enjoy reading a couple of newspapers every day from start to finish and numerous periodicals and remained strongly engaged in current affairs and history. He also loved to cook and to entertain his family and friends. Most of all he loved his companionship with Rosemary as they shared many interests together, including travelling, playing golf, listening to music, playing bridge, attending the symphony, opera and plays, and watching sports, compelling TV dramas, music and news programs. He and Rosemary also treasured visits with their children and grandchildren on a regular basis.

This obituary is not complete without mention of the Vancouver Island Aircrew Association where Dick, in later life, found deep friendship, comradery and connection to his Airforce life from long ago. He gathered with his fellow airmen and women in Victoria for monthly luncheons and for significant remembrance ceremonies and events that commemorated their fallen comrades engaged in the global conflicts of the 20th century.

Richard is predeceased by his mother, Cynthia Evelyn (née Edwards); father, Alexander Moore Spratt; and siblings, Charlie, Helen, Ken, William, and Hubert. He is survived by his adored wife, Rosemary Margaret (née Long); four children, Marguerite, William, Michael (Meg), and Madeleine (Mehran); grandchildren Michael, Emily, Benjamin, Owen, Oliver, and Ethan; as well as numerous cherished nieces, nephews, and a host of friends and neighbours who will remember him fondly.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the medical practitioners in Nanaimo who managed Dick’s care. Special thanks to Drs. Toom, Coyle, Sims, Pullman and Goldfarb, and to the local Island Health seniors outreach community, especially the expert services of Dean Brumwell, and to Pamela Speakman for her compassionate home care. And special thanks go to the paramedics and medical staff of the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for their professional care of Dick in his final hours. Finally, the family acknowledges, with deepest gratitude and love, Richard and Rosemary’s dear neighbours who helped many times to actively support Rosemary with Dick’s care.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Royal Canadian Air Force Foundation rcaffoundation.ca A service to celebrate Dick’s life will be held at God’s Acre Veteran’s Cemetery in Esquimalt, BC, on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 1230 hrs, with a reception and light refreshments to follow at the Wardroom, the Officer’s Mess, CFB Esquimalt from 1400-1600 hrs. Due to limited space, an RSVP is requested (details below).

Dick's life was truly a journey of love, adventure, and dedication – a life well-lived and a legacy well-earned.