Richard Fontaine

We will always be sad when we see the empty chair on the porch- in the sunshine - where we saw Richard in the afternoon. He was a dear friend and wonderful neighbor, so generous with his books and library, a fascinating and enthusiastic conversationalist - especially on the subject of Paris, and a very picky eater. He will always have a special place in our hearts.

Just learned of the passing of my friend Dick Fontaine. My sincere condolences to Eileen and his family.
I´ve known Dick since 1973, and worked under him at both B. Dalton and Ingram. Ha was a terrific boss and an even better friend. Through his long career we always kept in touch no matter where we were located. Whether golfing or just a casual meal, it was enjoyable to spend time with Dick and Eileen.
Shirley and I will be better for having known him.

So sorry to hear the news about Dick Fontaines´s passing! He was a great leader and I was fortunate to have worked under his leadership for several years at GameStop. I learned a lot from him about work ethic, compassion, and business in general. He really cared about people and will be missed. Sending prayers for comfort and peace to his family, friends, and former colleagues. Rest in peace, sir!

My condolences to the Fontaine family. Dick was a wonderful and inspirational leader and human being, and, because of his values, intellect, kindness and heart, successfully built a company and a unique caring culture that employees loved to work at. I had the privilege of working for him and getting to know him over many years, and my life was greatly enriched from that experience.

It is with great sadness I learn of the passing of Dick Fontaine. Dick was an inspirational leader and retailer who made an impact across several continents throughout his career. He constantly looked to develop and lift those people around him and coax the best out of them and support them when they needed support. He set a tone of integrity, honesty and hard work through example and effective leadership, was strong and tough when he needed to be, but always fair. While doing this, he became a friend and trusted confidant to so many of those colleagues who were lucky enough to spend time in his company. He will be greatly missed by the many people whose lives he touched in such a positive way. My sincere condolences to all the Fontaine family in these sad times. May he rest in peace.

Dick Fontaine was a great leader during my time at GameStop. A friend recently reminded me that I was so impressed at how tough he would be on us in staff meetings when times were good to make sure we were getting our "fair share" and everyone else´s too! Then when times were hard he would flip a switch and be our biggest cheerleader. We always knew he had our backs and that brought out the best in every one of us. Dick was brilliant and kind and witty and I cherish the memories of my 12 years at GameStop under his leadership. My prayers go out to his family and close friends now.

I am deeply saddened to learn of Dick´s passing. He was the most influential leader in my career, shaping my business outlook and exemplifying what authentic servant leadership truly means. More than just a mentor, boss, and coach, he was a friend who left a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to know him. His lessons extended far beyond the office, even to the golf course, where I cherish so many wonderful memories. While those moments are deeply personal, I know that countless others were also influenced by his wisdom, kindness, and leadership. His legacy lives on in the many lives he touched.

My sincerest condolences to Eileen and their family.

I´ve known Dick Fontaine since 1984 and have valued his friendship and counsel ever since. He was always forward-looking, seemingly a step or three ahead of most of the rest of us. He had a Macintosh 128k before most even knew what a mouse or a graphical user interface was. His foresight surely contributed greatly to his business acumen. And it was undoubtedly coupled with good judgment, as evidenced by his decision to ask his son and me drive the PT Cruiser from Dallas to St. Paul rather than tossing us the keys to his vintage Corvette. I will miss you, Dick, and I will continue to value our friendship.