Richard Michael Laidlaw

RICHARD MICHAEL LAIDLAW – LOVING HUSBAND, DAD, AND GRANDFATHER
Richard Michael Laidlaw, known fondly as "Dick", loved and valued his family more than anything else. He is husband to Muriel (nee Gaspardo), father to David (Sheryl), and grandfather to Jack and Connor. He is uncle to eighteen nieces and nephews. He was a lifelong practicing Catholic and supported many charities throughout his lifetime. A voracious reader and aficionado of crossword puzzles, he often read a book or more a week.
Dick Laidlaw was born on October 12, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan to Frank and Mae Laidlaw, and was the youngest of six children. He attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Catholic Central High School, graduating in 1955. Dick graduated from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1960, then served in the Army Reserves from 1960-1966 as a medic.
In 1961 Dick met the love of his life, Muriel Lea Gaspardo. They were married on October 13, 1962. Their son, David John, was born on May 16th, 1968. In 1970, they moved to Windmill Pointe neighborhood in Troy, where they met a wonderful group of neighbors who became lifelong friends. Shortly after Dick retired in 2000, they moved to Rochester where they once again became part of a close-knit community of neighbors. Over the years, Dick enjoyed golf, bowling, and being an active dad. He was always available to coach, play catch, go fishing, attend a baseball card show with Dave, and rarely missed a soccer game. Dick was known to take great pride in maintaining his home and yard.
Dick's career spanned 30+ years as a Human Resources Manager at Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Active Tool and Die. He volunteered his time selflessly to his church, St. Anastasia, serving as an usher and eucharistic minister. He later served on his condo association board.
Funeral Mass Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 10am at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, 4571 John R Rd, Troy, MI 48085 (between Wattles and Long Lake Roads). Visitation on Thursday will begin at 9:15am.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to:
Leader Dogs for the Blind
1039 S. Rochester Rd.
Rochester Hills, MI 48307-3115
ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
~Lovingly written by the family.