Obituary of John F. Ritcey F.R.I.

It is with sadness that we announce the death of former prominent Moncton businessman John F. Ritcey on November 7, 2012 after a lengthy illness. He was 87. Born in Fredericton, John was the son of the late Ellsworth and Georgie (Murchie) Ritcey. He was educated in Moncton and held a Business Degree from Mount Allison University. During World War II, John served in the communications branch of the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1945, he was a 20-year-old wireless telegrapher on HMCS Buckingham when she and the Inch Arran escorted a German submarine, U-889, to Shelburne, Nova Scotia to be formally arrested. This involvement led in 1995 to John’s being instrumental in organizing a 50th reunion in Shelburne for the crews of the two Canadian frigates and the German sub. A few years earlier, he had learned that his counterpart on the sub, Gunter Lutzmann, was living in Canada. John located Mr. Lutzmann and had kept in touch; he was delighted to have the opportunity of meeting the foe turned friend at the reunion. In 1950, John joined the staff of Central Trust in Moncton and in that same year married the love of his life, Dorothy Avis Dernier. Their marriage was to last forty-seven years until John lost his beloved Dot in 1997. John was a visionary who was enthusiastic about the growth and development of Moncton. He was active in the hospitality and real estate development industries for many years, and was a former owner of the Brunswick Hotel (now the Crowne Plaza) as well as two downtown motels. He opened the first Howard Johnston’s Motel in Canada on the site of what is now the Holiday Inn, Magnetic Hill, and was significantly involved in the acquisition of lands which would become the sites of Champlain Place and Moncton Mall. John was a leader in his profession and was the founder and charter President of the Moncton Real Estate Board. He was also a past President of the New Brunswick Real Estate Association; past Regional Vice-President of the Canadian Real Estate Association; and a charter member of the governing council of the Canadian Institute of Realtors. He was a former Senior Vice-President, Director and member of the Executive Committee of Central Trust. John was also a very active community volunteer, serving as a member of many charitable organizations including Moncton Rotary, the Kinsmen Club, the YMCA, and Jaycees. As a lifetime hockey fan, John loved being a part-owner of the Moncton Hawks and Golden Flames hockey teams, He was the first chairman of the Maritime Coliseum/Agrena Commission and Chairman of Rodeo East. An avid boater, John was a former member of the Shediac Bay Yacht Club, Pointe-du-Chene Marina and Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, and a life member of the SPCA. John enjoyed his life to the fullest and will be remembered by many for his warm heart, big smile and equally big cigars. He will be much missed. John is survived by a son, John Peter Ritcey (Bev LeBlanc) of Shediac and a daughter Pamela Ann Hosford of Moncton. John and his wife Dot were proud grand-parents of John Andrew Ritcey (Shelby Smith) and Allison Lynn Ritcey of Moncton; Kelley Ann (Andrew) McLean of Kamloops, BC, and Jill Lynn Hosford (Alex Macdonald) of Riverview. They would have been equally proud of their two new great-grandchildren Jaimie Eileen McLean and John Declan Ritcey. One sister, Barbara Staskow, Pointe Claire, PQ and two nephews also survive. The family welcomes friends to share memories and celebrate John’s life at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 13 in the Chapel at Tuttles Brothers. Family flowers only. Donations to the Alzheimer’s Society of Southeast new Brunswick or Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family. Cremation has taken place and John will be interred with his wife at Fairhaven Memorial Gardens, Salisbury Road. Special thanks to the staff of Monarch Hall, as well as the entire Shannex staff. Your kindness will never be forgotten. Arrangements have been entrusted to Tuttle Brothers Funeral Home, 171 Lutz Street, Moncton, NB E1C 5E8 Service Information Tuesday, November 13, 2012