William Herbert Richardson

Bill will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, builder, and coach.

Raised in Halifax by his mother Eva Doat (nee Petrie), Bill barely knew his father, Cyril B. Richardson, who passed as the result of an accident at the Halifax Shipyards when Bill was just 18 months old. He spent his formative years at St. Mary’s Boys School and St. Thomas College in St. John, N.B., until he decided against joining the priesthood and returned to St. Patrick’s High School in Halifax.

Bill discovered his true path when a blue-eyed girl named Constance Vincent (Connie) stole his heart, and he became a husband and father in short order. A good Catholic boy with few dance moves and no rhythm, Bill and Connie welcomed six children into their hearts: Gary (1955-1974), Lee, Lesley Mason (Glenn), Susan Fredericks (Michael), Robert (Cheryl), and Kelli Richardson (John Whiley).

In time, ten grandchildren would follow: Carey and Taylor (Cece) Fredericks; Alix Ginther (Eric) and Lauren Richardson; Courtney (Andrew) and Chelsea (Gerry) Richardson; Blair (Samantha) and Ryan (Sarah) Mason; and Becky (Andrew) and Tori (Josh) Whiley.

Grampie could always be counted on for a little cash in return for a good report card, or ice cream for any grandchildren who attended mass with him. The pay back was eight great grandchildren and counting.

Bill and Connie settled in Bedford in the early 1960’s, where he immediately got involved in the local rate payer’s association, minor hockey, and softball, coaching all three sons right up to the Bedford Barons of the Halifax Suburban League. Bill also served as the Finance Chair of the fundraising committee to build the Bedford Lions Community Arena, which still serves the community to this day.

Sports was one of the great pleasures of Bill’s life, playing hockey, baseball, golf and even a bit of basketball in his day. Perhaps his greatest skill was his longevity. Bill hung up his skates and retired from old timers’ hockey at the ripe old age of 70. His golf career went on for another 17 years, which was bad news for the sand traps at Ashburn Golf Club, where he was a member for over 60 years.

Bill enjoyed a long and varied professional life, serving in executive roles in both the R.B. Cameron and Sobeys’s groups of companies. During his 20 years with the Sobey’s Group, he built Lawton’s Drugs from the original eight stores to a chain of 85 retail pharmacies across Atlantic Canada at his retirement in 1988.

Bill also served on more than 30 professional, government, and community boards, most notably as the National President of the Society of Management Accountants (CMA’s) in the early eighties.

A man as accomplished as Bill might be remembered for what he did outside the family unit, but his real legacies are his family and his faith. He always led with his heart.

Arrangements have been entrusted to JA Snow Funeral Home 339 Lacewood Drive. A funeral mass will be held at St. Ignatius Church in Bedford on January, 13th at 10:30 a.m., Fr. Patrick Cosgrove officiating. (Please consider wearing a mask.)

Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to The Gary Richardson Memorial Bursary c/o St. Mary’s University, or Souls Harbour Rescue Mission. That, or take a child—or child at heart—out for an ice cream.