Obituary of Richard Campbell Meech

RICHARD CAMPBELL MEECH, Q.C. Sept. 16, 1921 - Jan. 3, 2007 Honorary Consul General of Thailand Partner Emeritus and Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP R. C. ("Dick�) Meech died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. He was with his beloved wife of 55 years, Carol; his children Susan, Richard, Peter, Sarah (Sally), and Nan; his sons-in-law Craig Miller, Kurt Hanzlik, and Sava Tatic; his daughter-in-law Jill Rigby; and his granddaughters Madeleine and Nathalie Hanzlik-Meech and grandson Rade Meech-Tatic. He was the devoted son of the late Richard George Meech, Q.C. and Elizabeth Campbell. He was predeceased was by his adored sister Elizabeth, her husband Stanley Palmer, and his niece Mary Lou Baillie. He will be missed by Andrew Baillie and his children Emma, Victoria and Oliver. The extended Crockett family in the U.S. also mourns his loss. Dick's friends and colleagues and anyone who had the chance to get to know him are saddened by his passing. Dick�s lifelong love of travel began early, at six months old, when he travelled by ocean liner to Toronto from Portsmouth, England where he was born. Dick distinguished himself early on by winning Cutest Baby Award at the Broadview Boys� Institute Fair. Dick got a kick out of being one of St. Clement�s School�s oldest male "sandbox� alumni. Other fond childhood memories relate to his years spent at Ridley College and at Onondaga Camp. He went on to get his B.A. in 1946 from Trinity College, University of Toronto where he joined the Kappa Alpha Society. He then received his LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1950 and his LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 1951. During WWII Dick served as an RCAF and RAF pilot in the UK, India and Burma (1942-1946). He flew with RAF Coastal Command out of England in 1944 and flew his own DC3 to India. He flew Air Transport with the 31 Squadron RAF, dropping supplies to the British Army in "the forgotten war� in Burma from January to November 1945. He was discharged with the rank of Flying Officer and finally returned to Canada in January 1946. Dick loved practising corporate law. He was a partner of Borden & Elliot (now Borden Ladner Gervais LLP) from 1956 to 1990. He established the Canadian Investor Protection Fund, the Canadian Securities Institute and the Canadian Depository for Securities and was advisor to these self-regulatory organizations as well as the Investment Dealers Association of Canada. He was one of the first lawyers to have expertise in the mutual fund industry. Mr. Meech was the Honorary Consul General of Thailand. He was appointed Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (Thailand) in 1986 and Knight Commander of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand in 1990. He was the longest serving Honorary Consul General of the Consular Corps of Toronto (1967-2007). Dick found very rewarding his longtime involvement with the International Bar Association (IBA) and particularly the Section on Business Law (Chairman,1982-84). He formed long-lasting friendships with many lawyers from around the world. Dick was a director of many leading corporations. He was Chairman of the Board of Howden Group PLC (1982-87); Director and Chairman of the audit committees of Barclays Bank of Canada, Budd Canada Inc., the Personal Insurance Company of Canada, Slater Steel Industries Limited and Stanton Pipes Limited; Director, VP and Secretary of Textron Canada Limited, Director and Chairman of Eskofot Canada Limited, Director and President of Austin Knight Canada Inc., and Director, VP and Secretary of Canabam Limited. He was also a Director of Brown Boveri Howden Limited, The Continental Insurance Company of Canada, Canadian Pacific Forest Products Limited, the Dominion Insurance Corporation, Godfrey Howden Limited, the Great Lakes Paper Company Limited, Howden Group America Inc, J.B.A. Software Canada Ltd., R.C. Cola Canada Limited and Textron Canada Limited. Dick took pleasure in being of service to the community and enjoyed working with so many different people. He was a Director of the Harold E. Ballard Foundation at the time of his death and had previously been active in numerous organizations, including the Salvation Army (Advisory Board), Sunnybrook Medical Centre (Trustee, 1966-81) and then Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Trustee Emeritus), Queen�s University (Trustee, 1980-92), Canadian Club of Canada (President, 1974-75), National Club (President, 1980-81), Textron Canada Charitable Foundation (1972-98). He was delighted to contribute his time over the years to Havergal College, Ridley College, Harvard Law School Assn., and Wellesley College Cdn. Foundation. Dick�s passions were numerous and included golf, tennis, skiing, fishing, walking (Himalayas, Thailand, Alps), singing, dancing, games of every description, and travel with family and friends. He valued the time he spent at the following clubs: York, National, Toronto, Toronto Golf, Granite, and B&R. Dick�s eyes twinkled with his love of life, his wonderful sense of humour and his delightful sense of playfulness. He treated everyone with respect and kindness and always tried to see the positive side of life. We are so happy he was in our lives. He was a true gentleman and a class act. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9th, 2007 at The Anglican Church of St. Clement, Eglinton located at 59 Briar Hill Ave (corner of Duplex & Briar Hill Avenues). The reception following the service will be held at the York Club. A private family burial will take place. If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care (416-586-4800 ext.8290), the Salvation Army, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, or a charity of your choice. If you have a story or memory you would like to share with the family, please send it c/o Susan Meech, Box 82, 33 Hazelton Ave, Toronto M5R 2E3. Condolences and memories may also be sent to meech12345@yahoo.ca. Arrangements are under the direction of the Humphrey Funeral Home - A.W. Miles Chapel (www.humphreymiles.com) (416-487-4523).