Obituary for John Birkby Richardson
With great sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of John Birkby Richardson, 53, in Vancouver, Canada following complications after a liver transplant. John was born on October 18th, 1967 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the first born of John and Miranda Richardson. He was soon to be joined by his sister Desna with whom he was so close.
In his youth, John was a great sportsman, playing in all school sports teams and earning Provincial colours for cricket. He found his dream career in casinos where he rose through the ranks of dealer, inspector, pit boss and assistant casino manager. He was delighted to find a career where he could play games all night and talk to people. And his lightening brain took well to the mental mathematics needed to calculate bets and payouts.
His career with Sun International took him to Namibia, the land of his father’s birth – where he met a young British woman and her 8 year old son who had recently moved there. John and Alison met within days of both landing in Windhoek and have been inseparable for the 25 years since. John was a wonderful role model for Laurence and a stabilizing influence in his teenage life. For the past 12 years, John and Alison have lived in Lions Bay, British Colombia. Canada was John’s adopted country and he loved his life here with all his heart.
John’s father, also called John Birkby Richardson, and Alison’s father, Ian Charles Mead will be waiting for him on the other side. We will all miss John’s dry wit and gentle, caring soul and his big bear hugs. John will be deeply missed by the many friends and family whose lives he touched with his special brand of John John magic.
A celebration of the life of John Birkby Richardson will be held at Squamish Funeral Chapel & Crematorium on Friday 29th October, 2021. Everyone who knew John and would like to celebrate his life is welcome to join us. There will be remote participation – please contact Alison for the event link. alison.mead.richardson@outlook.com
No flowers please, but if you wish to honour John’s life, please carry out a random act of kindness in his memory – just as he did throughout his life.
We invite anyone who wishes to share their tributes, memories and photos of John on the memory wall of this memorial site. Contributions can be public or private.
In his youth, John was a great sportsman, playing in all school sports teams and earning Provincial colours for cricket. He found his dream career in casinos where he rose through the ranks of dealer, inspector, pit boss and assistant casino manager. He was delighted to find a career where he could play games all night and talk to people. And his lightening brain took well to the mental mathematics needed to calculate bets and payouts.
His career with Sun International took him to Namibia, the land of his father’s birth – where he met a young British woman and her 8 year old son who had recently moved there. John and Alison met within days of both landing in Windhoek and have been inseparable for the 25 years since. John was a wonderful role model for Laurence and a stabilizing influence in his teenage life. For the past 12 years, John and Alison have lived in Lions Bay, British Colombia. Canada was John’s adopted country and he loved his life here with all his heart.
John’s father, also called John Birkby Richardson, and Alison’s father, Ian Charles Mead will be waiting for him on the other side. We will all miss John’s dry wit and gentle, caring soul and his big bear hugs. John will be deeply missed by the many friends and family whose lives he touched with his special brand of John John magic.
A celebration of the life of John Birkby Richardson will be held at Squamish Funeral Chapel & Crematorium on Friday 29th October, 2021. Everyone who knew John and would like to celebrate his life is welcome to join us. There will be remote participation – please contact Alison for the event link. alison.mead.richardson@outlook.com
No flowers please, but if you wish to honour John’s life, please carry out a random act of kindness in his memory – just as he did throughout his life.
We invite anyone who wishes to share their tributes, memories and photos of John on the memory wall of this memorial site. Contributions can be public or private.