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Richard Rosenblath Obituary
Richard James Rosenblath
March 11, 1951 – April 21, 2025
Sadly, we must announce that Richard James Rosenblath passed away in Ottawa on April 21, 2025. This unexpected loss has broken the hearts of his wife of 50 years, Marlene (née Meeks), daughters Charlotte (Andy Dafoe) and Melanie (Tom Langlois), and his grandchildren, Chloe and Isaac. Richard was the eldest son of Iona (née Gregg) and James “Jim” Rosenblath. He is survived by his brother Royce (Carol), and was a respected brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, and friend to many.
His earliest years were spent at Rose Hill, before living most of his life in Vennachar, as did generations of his family before him.
The poem by Al Purdy, “The Country North of Belleville”, resonated with him – it is a place “…a little adjacent to where the world is, a little north of where the cities are…”
Richard was a reserved, observant man – humble, intellectual, and shaped by the legacy of those who came before him. The community and its history were deeply important to him, reflected in his commitment to the Vennachar Cemetery. He felt a duty to honour the hard work and sacrifice of his forebears, often speaking of those who lived long ago with the familiarity of a friend. He was the keeper of local history and relished the opportunity to review records and documents to help piece together the story of this place.
He was most at home in the bush and seemed to have an almost spiritual connection with trees and nature. He was a conservationist at heart, finding deep meaning in his work managing and protecting the places that had been the home and livelihood of his ancestors. He demonstrated this stewardship in many ways during his career, planting trees, working in forest fire crews, and protecting against invasive species. He purchased a sawmill as a way to support his family and valued creating lumber that was used to build beautiful things, including siding his own home. He spent many years working as a forestry services contractor; he reveled in the freedom of self-employment and took satisfaction in creating work opportunities for others. The kitchen table was often covered in topographical maps as he plotted and planned. His work was physically demanding, but he and Marlene were committed to creating opportunities for their children. He set an example of hard work and diligence, and the smell of chainsaw oil mixed with sawdust seemed to linger long after he retired.
“…backbreaking days in the sun and rain, when realization seeps slow in the mind without grandeur or self-deception in noble struggle…”
He first grew out his long hair and beard in youthful rebellion, having worked a job that required him to be clean shaven and have hair that didn’t touch his collar. Over the next 50+ years this became his trademark, an example of the commitment to individualism that he instilled in his children. The song “Signs”, by Five Man Electrical Band, was an anthem for him, always steadfast in being one of the “long-haired freaky people”.
Richard was a lifelong learner, finding education in all places. He was a consumer of documentaries, books, news, and conversation. He enjoyed statistics and data, and his depth of knowledge allowed him to observe connections between history and current events, generating keen insights. He could see humour in most situations and felt that puns were the highest form of wit. He was known for his ability to find solutions to tricky problems and had frequent calls and visits from those seeking his advice and knowledge on how to build, fix, or operate any number of things.
Richard’s family will host a Celebration of Life on May 3, 2025 at the Matawatchan Hall. Join us for conversation and refreshments between 1:00-3:00 pm, with a service of remembrance to follow at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in support of the Vennachar Cemetery, a registered charity.
Visit Vennachar Cemetery for more information.
See you in the funnies, dad. We may never be able to hold the trouble light in quite the right place but thank you for teaching us how to fix cars and empowering us to live
independent lives.
Celebration of Life Details:
Matawatchan Community Memorial Centre
1677 Frontenac Road
Township of Greater Madawaska
Matawatchan Hall Map
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April 21 2025
Death notice for the town of: Carleton-Place, Province: Ontario
death notice Richard James Rosenblath April 21 2025
obituaries notice Richard James Rosenblath April 21 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Richard James Rosenblath April 21 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
