Rick Pinder's Obituary
A loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend - Rick Pinder, 77, of Baldwinsville, NY, died on July 17, 2024.
Rick was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1946 to kind and loving parents, Roy and Elva Pinder. The eldest of 4 children, Rick lived in Toronto before his father, a retired RCAF pilot, moved his family to Ottawa. Rick developed a good work ethic at an early age, making poached eggs for his Dad for a few cents on Saturdays and working construction jobs with his Uncle Gus, building portions of highway 7 Trans-Canada Highway. He attended D. Roy Kennedy public then Woodroffe High School, 1960-1965. A talented athlete, Rick was a member of his high school football and basketball teams. Rick loved sports of all types, playing tennis, hockey, track and field events, racquetball and rugby in his spare time. He was also a highly skilled snow and water skier.
Rick attended Queen's University in the late 60s, where he established friendships that would flourish and remain unbroken for the remainder of his life. Opting to pursue a degree in the most intellectually and academically rigorous of engineering disciplines, Rick graduated with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering in 1970. It was while attending Queen's that Rick met his future wife of nearly 50 years, Nadine Conley. Following Rick's graduation, the couple relocated to Toronto. They married in 1975. Shortly afterward, they moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario and were quickly blessed with two beautiful children, Stephanie and Bryan.
When his professional skill afforded him the opportunity for career advancement, Rick and his young family emigrated from Niagara Falls to northern New Jersey, where he served in a leadership role as process safety manager for a large international company. Rick's favorite aspect of his work was being able to travel and share his expertise with his fellow colleagues. In his professional capacity, Rick visited countless cities across the US and Canada, as well as Asia and the UK. A trip to South Africa was a highlight for him, and he would often recount memories of his visit to Kruger National Park.
Despite his demanding workload, Rick was always present and supportive of his children’s interests and activities. He coached and cheered his son’s hockey and soccer teams and was attentive through even the most boring of his daughter’s dance recitals and unabridged Shakespeare productions.
Rick was a natural problem solver and builder; finishing the basement of the house in Niagara Falls, building a deck around the pool in New Jersey. These projects, completed for the comfort of his family, were done without the slightest boast. He would, however, allow himself a tiny pat on the back when discussing his accomplishments on the basketball court and football field in high school.
In his late 40’s, Rick sustained a life altering spinal cord injury which rendered him paralyzed from the waist down. With the outstanding support of his medical teams in New Hampshire and New Jersey, Rick was able to adapt and recover, returning to work full time after 10 months. His recovery, undoubtedly remarkable from a physical standpoint, was all the more impressive as it was achieved with a marked absence of complaint or self-pity. Rick remained dedicated to physical fitness post injury. Arriving at the office hours before his colleagues, he would wheel laps around the empty corridors before beginning his workday.
In retirement, Rick developed a passion for photography, taking great joy in perfecting his shots of nature, family and friends with Photoshop. Many of his finest efforts can be found decorating the walls of his Baldwinsville home. Rick was a great lover of books, television and film, historical epics being his preferred genre. Rick was raised in a musical household; his mother and father were accomplished amateur singers. His siblings too sang and played multiple instruments. It is perhaps this foundation that produced Rick’s love and appreciation of a wide variety of musical styles. From the 50s/60s hits-based soundtrack of his childhood to The Stones, Dire Straits and Irish Folk music. His favorite song in later life was “Rose Tattoo”, by The Dropkick Murphys.
Like all Pinders, Rick shared his life with many beloved dogs and cats, for whom he had great fondness. That fondness was mutual. His lap being a favored spot for even the most aloof of family felines.
Rick will be remembered as a quintessential Canadian gentleman. He is admired for his positivity and patience. He had fortitude and resolve to spare when situations demanded. He was unfailingly kind, quick-witted, and affable.
Rick was loved and will be missed by many: his wife - Nadine, children – Stephanie and Bryan, daughter-in-law – Jess, his daughter's partner – Rob, grandchildren – Declan, Jonas, and Lena, siblings – Myrna, Ron, and Rob, family – Terry, Michael, Pat, Tina, Amy, John, Manon, Georgie, Oliver, Ryan, Kim, Shannon, Rob, and so many close friends.
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