Richard "Dick" Lemmex

Lemmex, Richard (Dick) Gary

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Richard (Dick) Gary Lemmex on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from complications associated with the Influenza A virus. Dick passed peacefully holding hands with his wife June his “sweetheart” of 66 years and surrounded by his loving children Steven (Merri), Rod (Veronica) and Joanne. Deedee will be sorely missed by his grandchildren Jamie (James), Jeremi (Jon), Chrissy (Tye), Clayton (Madi), Caily, and his three great-grandchildren: Rylan, Parker and Bradleigh. Dick is predeceased by his parents, Stanley (WW1 Vet), Irene (one of first women to graduate U of T pharmacy school) and brother William (RCAF). Dick and June met in grade 10 at Glebe Collegiate and married at Westboro United in 1957, just hours after Dick wrote his final B Comm exam at Carleton University. Dick followed a long family tradition of service to Canada, going through Carleton as an ROTC officer and spending 20 years in the Royal Canadian Navy. One of most memorable experiences occurred when he was Naval attaché in Philadelphia during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 62. In1969, as a 34 year old Lt. Commander, Dick was named the1st Commanding Officer of the soon to be commissioned RCN Protector. Dick however made the decision to leave the Navy to spend more time with his family, a choice he never regretted.  After leaving the navy, Dick worked in mainframe computer sales in Toronto and then as a Director of Procurement at the Department of Supply and Services Canada in Ottawa.   In 1980, Dick left DSS and joined June as Vice President of Lemmex & Associates Limited, a Management Training company that June started a year earlier.   Together Dick and June grew LAL into a highly successful business – employing many consultants and staff, winning business awards, and improving the skills, knowledge, and wellbeing of countless people in Canada and the US.   During the 80’s and 90’s, Dick was the “go-to” expert on procurement, negotiation, project management and strategic planning, teaching thousands of public servants, business and aboriginal leaders.   A testament to his impact, the family received hundreds of emails, posts, notes and phone calls from former clients, students and colleagues who learned Dad was in the hospital.  Dad was remembered for his kindness, his sense of humour, his integrity, his unwavering devotion to June, and his unique support for women/girls’ rights.  We shared these sentiments with him, and as expected, he was shocked by the outpouring of love, support and memories of his kindness and help over the years.  Of course, he insisted that we “share these words with Mom because she was there too.”

When not working hard, Dad loved spending time with his family, his dogs, his yard, enjoying nature, reading, travelling and going to Ottawa Football and Hockey games as a season’s ticket holder.  Dad loved sports.  He played varsity hockey and football at Glebe and Carleton (being one of the players to retrieve the stuffed Panda after it was stolen by U of O).   He made sure we all did something athletic - instilling in us the value of sportsmanship, teamwork, perseverance, winning and losing.  He shot countless pucks at two young goalies, made all their fiberglass Goalie masks, and never missed a game.  In 1976, he organized and ran Ottawa’s 1st Annual International Minor Hockey Tournament over the Christmas holidays so local kids could have better competition and scouting opportunities.  In 1977 he helped organize and coach Nepean’s first girls’ hockey association so girls could play too.  Besides hockey, he also ensured all three of us shared his addiction to golf – loving the times we entered (and won) local tournaments as a foursome.

During retirement, Dick stayed busy working on various volunteer Boards and fundraising teams for local charities – spearheading the formation of the West Carleton Family Health Foundation that brought a new Xray machine to the clinic.

In the end, Dick reminded us that time with family, and helping our community, is what really matters.   He wanted us to make sure to thank the management, staff, RNs, PSWs and residents at the Carp Commons for their support and kindness in the past year;  the team at the Champlain Home and Community Care Support Services for helping him come home to spend his  final days with June; and, the many doctors, nurses, psw’s and support staff at the Civic Hospital’s ICU, AMA, B5, A3 and Dialysis units for working so hard to give him extra time with us all.

Friends are invited to a visitation at the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Road, Nepean, on Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 2 to 4 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held in the Chapel on Friday, March 24 at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow.