Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
BORN
1921
DIED
2015
Richard LEIR Obituary
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard LEIR
13 Entries
Robin P L Nicholson
December 4, 2015
I was very sorry to hear of the death of Admiral Leir. He was the son of my grandfather's brother. My grandfather (Dick Leir's uncle) was a submariner in WW1 and then Commodore of Convoys in WW2. It was very warming to read what the paper and friends said
Clair Duff
August 1, 2015
Many of my best childhood memories come from time spent with the Leirs on Lobster Point Road in Chester, N.S. From 1964 through 1967, I was frequently invited by Vivian to spend time with her family. Never a dull moment, there was always witty and sparkling conversation, great debate, intellectual skirmish and uproarious laughter. Incredible meals. Tea at four o'clock. Dinner at 7:30. And always a vast array of pets-Grigger, Toby, Hector among many others.
Admiral Leir took me sailing for the first time and taught us to sing The Walloping Window Blind. I got to cut the grass on a riding lawn mower. I was introduced to Thelwell's Riding Academy and My Family and Other Animals through the Leirs. And the piece de resistance was being there for Easter, involving an outdoor scavenger hunt over 2 hours with the most challenging and rigorous clues imaginable.
But my most striking memory was the relationship between Dick and Valerie Leir, Admiral and Mrs. Leir to me at the time. They became role models for me in my parent's generation for how to care for each other, express sheer joy and delight in the other's presence. His stories of wooing her in Malta, saying he even resorted to buying an MG to impress her. I honestly never knew a father of my era to show such genuine affection for his bride-Mum babe he called her. I thought their marriage was magical and it was unlike anything I had ever seen, then or now.
I saw them last in 1983 on a visit to Saanich with Vivian. I got to call them Dick and Valerie then, we went sailing and I think the gales of laughter took us along even faster. He still questioned my IQ about choosing to live in Toronto.
His eyes twinkled. He was a gentleman, a man of inestimable taste, courage, passion and fortitude, all capped by a wonderful intelligence and sense of humour. I have missed not seeing him all these years, I can only imagine the loss for his family. My most sincere condolences to Valerie, Michael, Andrew and Vivian.
Love to you all, Clair xo
CPO Ret'd Terry Wilson
June 30, 2015
I had the honor and pleasure of serving on Admiral Leir's personal staff prior to his posting from MARPACHQ.
As a young Leading Seaman at the time working for the Admiral was a bit intimidating to say the least. This was soon dispelled and I was welcomed as one of his own.
I learned many, many things from that posting with the Admiral and his family which aided me in my future Naval career. He really was a "Sailors Sailor"
To Mrs.Leir, Michael, Andrew and Vivian I pass along my deepest condolences. The memories of the Admiral and yourselves will always be with me. God bless.
June 16, 2015
One of the very fine naval officers who commanded respect for his leadership in the post war navy - he is fondly remembered.
Ted Kelly
Captain RCN Ret'd
Fraser McKee
June 15, 2015
The very best of the wartime and post-war naval leadership - a fascinating (and humerous) speaker, a fund of marvellous stories even from his times in adversity. He'll be much missed, long remembered, even by we RCNVR's and Reserves
Tony Goode
June 15, 2015
Terribly sad to hear of the passing of one of the truly inspirational leaders of the RCN in the last century. As a young commanding officer of a minesweeper in the Training Squadron, I had the privilege to serve under his command when he was Commander, Maritime Forces Pacific. Under that very gruff exterior, he was one of those senior officers who commanded loyalty and generated affection from all whom he met. He will be missed.
Bernie Allard
June 15, 2015
A great Sailor has Crossed the Bar, his kind were few and far between.
Robert Edwards
June 15, 2015
A very charismatic and stirring leader, who set a great example to younger officers like me (at the time)in the RCN.
RIP
Cdr RS Edwards, Ret'd
David Collins
June 15, 2015
Dear Valerie and family, I am now in Singapore and have only just learned of the sdmiral's passing. He was the flag officer on the West Coast when I first came out to do my ROUTP summer training as a cadet. Of course there is the long time fmaily ocnnection from when he and my father served in BONAVENTURE together in 1958-59. Michael and I have been foreign service colleagues. So my condolences to all of you and from Jacquie too. Given how he sprang back from his imprisonment during the war, he led a remarkable life. All best wishes
KEN Cavendish
June 8, 2015
" We who go to Sea, and more particularly below the Sea, wish you well in your long dark sleep "
Cavendish
Nicola Cavnendish
June 8, 2015
My Father who is 89 years old and very ill with an impaired heart and very short on any energy for all things, began to reminisce outloud when he heard the news of Commander Leir's death. Ken Cavendish has nothing but fine words and extraordinary memories garnered from their verbal banter and shared subject matter, WW2, It took a certain kind of metal to survive time spent in a Japanese POW camp and clearly Richard Leir was in that class
My Father has reflected mightily and silently with the news of the death. " Hats off to a very fine man " says my Father
Nicola Cavendish, on behalf of Ken Cavendish. British Royal Navy, Submariner ( Kaleden, BC )
June 8, 2015
I had the pleasure of doing a number of oral history interviews with Adm. Leir. He had an extremely interesting naval career and, as important, was a very interesting man. His passion was building rockwalls when I met him in the late 1970's. He was very kind and generous with his time to this student. He was very well respectyed in the miliatary community and is one of the old shcool. When the miltary police came to arrest a sailor on his ship, he wouldn't let them. The man was one of his. He noted that if you were to arrest anybody it would be him as Capt. of the ship. He was arrested. No problem. There was also no doubt that he was in charge of his crew and ship. Now, nobody is in charge of anything.
He was a sailor's sailor. A gent and scholar.
Sorry to hear of his passing.
Chris Main
June 6, 2015
My dad served with Rear Admiral Leir in the RCN, but pre-dated him by a few years. His name was Commodore Edward [Cookie] [Ted] Clarke.
Roger Clarke,
Toronto
Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results