Richard (Rick) Carruthers
Early on March 4, 2021, his 84th birthday, “Rick” Richard Carruthers took his last breath. Rick loved to bring friends and family together. Former owner of Carruthers Insurance, member of the Downtown Improvement Association, the Jaycees and Executive Board of the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) and CDMFC, he was a team player and an old-school businessman who believed in serving the community. Remembered with love by his wife Sally (née Kellough), his sons Cam (Alexis) and Tom (April), his sisters Ann and Peg (Bruce), brother Mike, grandsons ‘TJ’ Tom Jr (Kara), Joe (Kersti) and Andrew (TBD) and granddaughters Aurora and Freya. His parents ‘Joe’ Campion and Mary Carruthers were a big part of the family business and community. We encourage donations in his name to the Grey-Sauble Conservation Authority(Memorial Tree, Pottawatomi area) and the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation www.oshfoundation.ca. We will hold a good old-fashioned wake as soon as public health conditions allow. For now, we have DIY in memoriam ideas.
DIY Wake
Rick loved to bring family and friends together, so we will plan an old-fashioned wake as soon as we can. But for now, please join us for an hour on March 15th 2021 at noon – or any day and time you choose – for a DIY wake.
At that time, simply do anything you like that makes you think of Rick. You will surely be in good company, no matter where you are. Some ideas:
On a day before, set your watch correctly, Rick liked the National Research Council Time Signal (Long Dash On CBC at 1 p.m. every day)
Before we begin, turn off your cell phone and if you have glasses, clean them.
Then,
1. Listen to (and even conduct):
o Rachmaninov’s Prelude #2 in C Sharp, Op.3
(Julie Nesrallah played Rachmaninov for him March 5 on CBC)
o Sibelius’ Finlandia
o Any Louis Armstrong (especially if you can remember his performance at the Balmy Beach Pavilion)
o Any Frankie Lane
o Any Frank Sinatra
2. Enjoy / Indulge in:
o Good whiskey, Irish or Scotch. We’ll raise a glass of his McCallan’s.
o A Rum and Coke or a Rusty Nail
o A bacon wrapped filet mignon and a good Caesar salad
o A BLT (Bacon Lettuce and Cheese Sandwich)
o Anything with Old Cheddar, Dijon mustard, Good salami, Cheese Whiz or ripe tomatoes
o If you dare, a peanut butter bacon, strawberry onions and cheese whiz sandwich
3. If you like poetry, he liked Wordsworth and Tennyson, especially Ulysses (and the line “I am a part of all that I have met…”).
** Finally at 1 o’clock, listen to the long dash of the National Research Council Time Signal (On CBC at 1 p.m. everyday).
4. Any day
o Any of the above
o Read about an explorer or adventurer (like Jack London, Lawrence Durrell, R.D. Lawrence, Rannulf Fiennes) or for fun, Arthur Black.
o Look closely at the sky or the tree line to pick out a colourful bird
o If you have a red tractor, a tennis racket or a golf club, put it to good use.
o Go for a full house in a hand of Poker (not just for CDMFC), or Bridge, or go for a triple word score in scrabble
o Plant and grow some tomatoes
o Any time you get the chance, revel in a thunder and lightning storm.
If you have any other suggestions, please share.
We’d love it if you could share a very short story about what you did for this DIY Wake or other stories and thoughts. You can do this through the Grey Bruce Cremation and Burial Services website under condolences for Rick.