RICHARD ARNOLD QUINTON

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Richard on January 13, 2023 at St. Boniface Hospital.

He was predeceased by his parents, Norah and Arnold Quinton, sisters, Bonnie Primmett and Gail Quinton-Kuschei, brother-in-law Arnold Kuschei and nephews Marc Harrison and Keith Nagam.

He leaves to mourn his passing Betty, his wife of 52 years; his children Tom, Sara and Jennifer (Steven); grandchildren, Henry, Wyatt, Frannie and Eddie; brother, Gary (Judy); brother-in-law Alan Primmett; sisters-in-law, Joan Prins and Sharon Nagam; many nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; cousins; family friends Daisy, Jaxon, and Paul as well as his old friends.

Richard was the youngest of four children born in Winnipeg to Norah and Arnold. The family moved to Vancouver where Richard spent most of his childhood. He often recalled growing up in Vancouver, his paper route, spending the money he earned on doughnuts, cruising down 16th on his bike, raiding gardens and sitting in neighbours’ trees eating fruit and getting stomach aches, Lord Byng School and going to a sportsplex.

When the family returned to Winnipeg, he attended Churchill High School, where he got involved in sports and made many life-long friends. They still get together regularly for breakfast at the Sals on Stafford. Richard also joined the Young People’s group at St. Alban’s Anglican Church playing volleyball or anything else that was offered.

Richard enjoyed playing sports, especially team sports. In 1960, he was part of the team representing Manitoba in interprovincial junior cricket championship play in Vancouver. Many decades later, he was watching cricket being played in Assiniboine Park. He approached them and soon became a member of the Phoenix Cricket Club and played Senior Cricket Summer League and enjoyed the camaraderie for several years. He played in a co-ed slow-pitch league. He also enjoyed playing old-timers’ hockey out of the Riverview Community Club. He even golfed with his buddies.

He entertained his family by making a skating rink in the back yard. Tom and his friends would have a great time playing hockey after school, and often Tom and his buddy Scott would stay on that rink as late as they could. There was a light strung up on a tree and a light in the back lane. Sara liked the excitement of making the rink each year and walking around on it.

In the 1980s, Richard bought an Apple 2E computer. He loved to play Pirates of the Caribbean. Sara would listen as he gave a play-by-play of sword fights, ships sinking and recruiting hearty mates in towns! He also enjoyed playing Nintendo games, especially The Legend of Zelda.

There were road trips to the States with the four of us sleeping in our Chevy van, going to the Jets New Year’s Eve games at the old arena, many great times with the Coulter clan spending New Year’s Eve just south of the border or summer gatherings in Landmark. We recall times at Judy and Gary’s cottage at Great Falls, sometimes Richard working and other times wonderful family get-togethers, and helping Bonnie, Alan and family build their cottage at Hillside Beach.

Richard was an active member of the Federation of the Visually Handicapped. In 1989, he was a participant at the Manitoba Speakers Forum on the Status of Disabled Persons. He later supported the Manitoba Deaf-Blind Association.

He was a carpenter by trade and spent many years working in remote northern communities on Baffin Island, Clyde River, Frobisher Bay which is now called by its Inuktitut name, Iqaluit. He was accepted by the members of the communities. Here he discovered the beauty of working with soapstone and carved many beautiful pipes; a craft he continued throughout his life. He was involved with the Island Lake Tribal Council implementing an Aboriginal Apprenticeship Training course. He taught carpentry and assisted the students in constructing a building for a school in their own communities. We were fortunate to be able to join Richard a few times in the summer. Sara has fond memories of getting on a plane to Red Sucker Lake and Garden Hill, playing with other children and going for exhilarating rides in speed boats, where she sang along with the engine.

Richard was self-employed and ran his own company, Richard Quinton Construction. He was involved with NECA and Building Insights providing Energy Efficiency Audits on residential homes. He also worked as a roofing estimator for Chateau Roofing.

Richard loved all types of music and would have it playing non-stop. He was a very social and engaging person and enjoyed meeting people. He was respectful of others and treated everyone as equals. He was interested in politics, had strong opinions and never shied away from anything.

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High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of –wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air…

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or ever eagle flew –

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

-John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

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In accordance with Richard’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and no formal service will be held.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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