Tribute Wall
In Memory of
John Richard "Rick" Barreca
1955 - 2023
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Charles posted a condolence
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
I was Rick’s neighbor for 10 years.
What I will miss most about Rick are our regular chats. What I would think is going to be a 10 min conversation would always turns into a half hour (or longer) chat ending in my wife saying “alright, time to come in”.
He always had a smile on his face and a story to tell.
He will be deeply missed.
Rest easy Rick.
S
Steve Barreca uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
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I asked my mother years ago why we call John Richard, Rick or Ricky and she said she just liked the name and it stuck.
When asked about my brother Rick, I used to describe him by saying, “Children and dogs love him.” And I think that’s about the finest thing that can be said about anyone. Because dogs know—they have a sixth sense about who can be trusted. And children feel—they feel in their heart who loves them and recognize a kindred spirit. He was fond of all animals and he adored my daughter Laura, Rick was her godfather, and my son Jeffrey and they both adored him. I still remember at Sunday dinners at Ledbury, he would be on the living room floor playing and rolling around with my kids along with Lorraine’s children, Jackson, Brooke and Lucas. What a crazy scene. After that he was known as Uncle Buck. If you have seen the movie, you know what I mean.
In 1959, when he was 4, Rick was arrested by the police. He was a bad kid. Well not quite. Jim and I and the other kids were playing on the street and a police car pulled up. We thought we were in trouble. There was Rick sitting in the back seat eating ice cream. Of course, we were jealous of the ice cream. He had wandered off on an adventure. That started his travelling quest to the far east and Europe.
I remember a photograph of Rick at 5 years reading a children’s book of science. That started his love of science and math. In high school he even corrected the physics teacher on the difference between momentum and inertia. Most people don’t know.
But as we grew older, I bonded more with Rick than with Jim. He and I were always playing sports, like ball hockey.
In the mid-60’s we started building rockets together or by today's standards, pipe bombs. He even took one to school and lit it. The kids in the school scrambled in all directions. I still can’t believe we still have all our fingers and eyebrows.
In the 70’s I was away at school for 5 years and then worked up north for another 5 years, so Rick and I grew apart. However, in the 80’s I moved back to Toronto and we became close again, you guessed it playing pick up ice hockey every Saturday and Sunday and every chance we got. He got mad at me for criticizing his passing and shooting skills because I thought they were too weak. I found out later he didn’t want to break his stick that he had carefully repaired by glue and tape. I then checked out the blade and it just snapped. Boy, was he mad. He had to buy a new hockey stick. Problem solved.
In 1982, Rick and I travelled to Florida for a vacation. We went to the beach, so he could show off his muscles, Disney World, so he could act like a kid again and to Cape Kennedy Space Center, so he could become an astronaut, well almost. What a great trip, lot of laughs and fun.
Rick was always quick with a smile, a good laugh and interesting conversation. That is why people liked and loved Rick. He was eager to help people.
Rick was also extremely brilliant. When he worked for Pratt and Whitney, he was designing new aircraft engines to get better efficiency, thrust, lower noise and weight. Truly advancing technology. I am very proud of him, not many people would be capable of doing this kind of work. I once bumped into him on the subway when we were both going to work. He had a math textbook open on his lap, always studying to better himself, but his eyes were closed. Of course, I had to scare him awake. That was my job as an older brother.
In later years when my parents needed help, it was Rick who stepped up to look after them. Dad passed away in 97 and then my mother slowly developed dementia. Rick faithfully looked after her everyday to the end when she passed away in 2003. He was a devoted son and an inspiration to all of us.
I find peace in knowing that he touched your life and that you also touched his heart at some point in his life. I know that he will live on in all of our memories. He lived a good and happy life. One that we will forever cherish and we will continue to remember.
I’d like to read a poem, by Joyce Grenfell:
If I should die before the rest of you
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone
Nor, when I’m gone, speak in a Sunday voice,
But be the usual selves that I have known.
Weep if you must
Parting is hell.
But life goes on.
So sing as well.
God bless this gentle man and his gentle soul.
M
Mary Lynch uploaded photo(s)
Friday, March 17, 2023
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Hanging out at the Barreca household as a kid was an experience I wish everyone could have had. There was lemon meringue pie and the dog Blackie whose tail went around in a circle and then there was Rick, always good-humored, usually in the basement building something, challenging Lorraine and me to trivia contests and listening to the Beatles. We spent hours debating whether Paul was in fact dead or not. I would say Rick was a brilliant-minded sociable loner who had his own way of doing things, knew when to step back and put up barriers, and ceaselessly stepped up to help out whenever and wherever he could.
Goodbye, dear Rick, everyone should have a friend like you and the world is just a bit less without you in it...
J
Jean-Claude Csendes and Dorothy Nodus posted a condolence
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Our sincere condolences to the Barreca family .
We were shocked to hear the news about Rick we had seen him March first on his front porch looking well and cheerful as usual .We were lucky to have Rick as one of our nearest neighbors for almost 13 years.With his yard backing onto ours, we'd often see him reading at the table a few feet from the well-used bird bath.
The two of us and our cats enjoyed watching the variety of visitors it attracted. We had many good conversations over the back fence.
We'd often see him helping neighbors with tasks around their property. He was always a sociable and kind person.
He will be greatly missed.
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Andy Cancelliere posted a condolence
Thursday, March 16, 2023
Rick was my best friend and best man at my wedding. He was generous to a fault. He gave financially to many causes, contributed his time and effort/work selflessly to help people out and always openly shared his knowledge.
Rick was great with kids because he was fun-loving and always joking. He loved to talk about his own childhood which he described in glowing terms. My own kids were all significantly impacted by the loss of this man who they had nicknamed "big bum" in their childhood. This nickname was bestowed upon him during one of our day outings where he would be sitting in the back benches of our minivan with the 5 kids and they noted how much space his "big bum" took up.
Rick was a big man physically as well as personality-wise. He worked out regularly and it showed in his ball hockey skills. He was always the gentleman and would have won the Lady Bing trophy had he made it to the NHL (like me, he always admired Jean Beliveau). On one occasion he and I collided during a ball hockey game, and it was not pretty for me, I thought I might have broken a rib.
I am devastated by the loss of this wonderful man. His loss diminishes the quality of life of everyone around him. He is irreplaceable. Rest in peace Rick.
Andy Cancelliere
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John and Diane McNeil posted a condolence
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
We have known Rick for almost 30 years through his brother, Jim, and sister-in-law, Linda.
Rick’s endless knowledge and stories on any and all topics displayed his enormous IQ.
We thought of him as a gentle giant, strong as an ox but softer than a pussy cat. He could
never do enough to help people. He left us too soon and will be greatly missed by his many
friends and wonderful family. RIP big guy.
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Diane and John McNeil posted a condolence
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Our deepest condolences to all of the Barreca family in learning of the sudden loss of such a kind and spirited man.
We’ve had the good fortune to have come to know Rick through our close friend Jim and Linda. He was a kind and spirited soul who was always ready to help in any circumstance.
We will miss your smile and enthusiasm for life Rick!
John and Diane McNeil
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Bill Reid posted a condolence
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Sorry to hear of the passing of a good classmate from De La Salle. Rick got along with everyone and always made an interesting contribution, during and after our time at Del. A good soul. May he Rest In Peace.
Bill Reid
Del ‘74
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Zoran posted a condolence
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
My sincere condolences to Rick's family and friends. We all lost a great person. In last few years, Rick became my best friend, someone I can always call and chat for hours, or go out with a friends for meal, or hang out in one of our favourite places. Rick was kid at heart, may be he never grew up. All kids loved him. He would be right at home playing and interacting with them. My kids loved him and my daughter, Nina put it best : " Rick was such a gentle soul."
Rick was a great person that would help everyone, friend and stranger alike, with great care and understanding. Perhaps he did not apply the same in his own life. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.
Sincerely,
Zoran
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Jack posted a condolence
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
I am shocked and saddened to have learned of the passing of Rick Barreca, who I knew from his brother Jim from the many Sunday morning road hockey games both played in with regular group of guys including myself through autumn, winter and spring at Irv Chapley tennis courts without tennis nets, Irv Chapley non ice hockey rink, William Lyon Mackenzie High School all located in Bathurst Manor corridor area of North York.
Richard and Jim were very solid two way players in our ball hockey games. I was always amazed how far he travelled on TTC buses and subways on Sunday mornings when schedules were intermittent at best to be with boys playing a road hockey game he always loved to play in.
I was always amazed how he was able to run so fast during games, despite slightly torn sweatpants, given many games I played in net wearing torn overcoat sweatpants with holes in parts of my sweatpants. Richard would frequently take ball basically from any part of the playing surface and could outrun anyone up and down playing surfaces, Must have been because of always being in shape from the weight room he built and exercised in his family home.in family home.
So many things I didn't know about Richard's life such as: loved photography and had a basement dark room to develop his photos & occasionally asked to do weddings with black and white or colour photography and video with his Sony camcorder.
i didn't know :Rick completed an Honours BSc. degree in math and physics at the University of Toronto and pursued some graduate courses in mathematics and also love of science and space propelled him to apply to the Canadian Astronaut Program where he was among the 200 finalists.
:I didn't know : Although unsuccessful as an astronaut, Rick still holds the record for the most times anyone has seen 2001 A Space Odyssey! He was always correcting the science behind it. This is perhaps why he chose a career in the aerospace industry. His work involved writing application programs for the design engineers at Pratt and Whitney and later De Havilland. Perhaps the character of Sheldon Cooper from 'The Big Bang Theory' tv show was somehow based on the life of Rick Barreca.
I didn't know: Rick’s work career was cut short when he chose to stay home to take care of his ailing parents, that he was an avid cyclist and lifelong environmentalist. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of almost every subject from Black Holes to Startrek! (as a lifelong Star Trek fan. would've loved to have traded Trek subject matters, over the years & continued a lifelong membership to North American mathematical Societies. Would loved to have been at his home listening to his journals
I didn't know : Rick was always there to help family, friends, and neighbours. His great sense of humour and laughter would light up peoples lives. Rick had a large circle of lifelong friends who saw him weekly taking him out to Café Diplomatico for lunches or to watch soccer matches, and to Grossmans for live music, and on hiking trips outside the City.
I didn't know :Rick hiked the rugged back country of Nepal and returned with great photos which he turned into hundreds of slides. He also visited Italy, and later British Columbia and Texas with friends.
I will always have my many happy memories talking to during and post Sunday morning road hockey with Richard. fot as the various versions of the famous son goes he will always be 'Forever Young,'
May the memories of the great life experiences and journeys Rick had during his lifetime sustain and comfort his family, extended family, relatives and his many, many friends in the weeks, months and years in the future.
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Bernadette Zappacosta Posted Mar 16, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Dear Jim, Steve and Lorraine and families:
We are shocked and saddened to hear the news of our cousin Rick’s passing. He was always the picture of health and greeted you with a big hug and kiss every time you bumped into him. Enjoy all of your memories and all the time you shared with no regrets. Rick is in a better place now and is surrounded by his loved ones in heaven.
We will miss his smiling face…
Love Bernadette and Tony Zappacosta xoxoxo
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Martha MacLachlan posted a condolence
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
I am sure everyone who knew Rick is rendered speechless and so sad for Rick. Rick was a quirky guy who definitely followed to the beat of his own drummer. Rick had fans, I hope he knew that. My deepest condolences to Rick’s family.
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Robert Chambers posted a condolence
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Rick was such a wonderful friend! He was always there to lend a helping hand. He had a great heart and a kind soul. God bless you Rick. Rob, Margaret and Shane Chambers
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NASH NIZAM posted a condolence
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
I've known Rick since the mid 80's and considered him a very close friend.
We shared many good times. He was on-of-a-kind.
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Cathy Tang posted a condolence
Monday, March 13, 2023
Our deepest sympathy to family of Rick from the family of Gary Tang. We were heart broken when we heard the news. The kids all have fond memories of the time we spent with Rick and his family. We find solace in thinking that Yogi and Boo Boo are together playing road hockey, tennis and camping
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The family of John Richard "Rick" Barreca uploaded a photo
Monday, March 13, 2023
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