 1960 - 2020 (59 years)
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| Name |
Richard Lee Benkowski |
| Born |
28 Sep 1960 |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
5 Jul 2020 |
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada  |
| Person ID |
I31376 |
Family Tree |
| Last Modified |
25 Jan 2021 |
| Father |
Herbert Benkowski, b. 1924, d. 1996 (Age 72 years) |
| Mother |
Orma Lee, b. 1935, Tatlock, Ontario, Canada , d. 1974, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada (Age 39 years) |
| Family ID |
F15527 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Notes |
- Richard Lee Benkowski, 59, died July 5, 2020. Rick was born on September 28, 1960 to Herbert and Orma (Lee) Benkowski.
He graduated Lakeview High School in 1978, where he was inspired by his teacher Peter Hardisty. He worked at Bill's Business Machines, before attending Confederation College where he studied to be an Electronics Computer Control Technician. He made a life-long friend of his teacher Bill Faconia.
Rick was employed at Thunder Bay Hydro and Digital Engineering, where he enjoyed the work and the great team environment. He then spent 27 years at Bombardier working in Thunder Bay, Florida, Colorado, and Boston, retiring in 2019.
While in Boston, he met Shari Koehne, whom he married in 1989. They had two children, Ke?ala and Kyle, whom he valued and loved above everything. Shari and Rick separated in 1993.
He met Marsha Reinikka in 1995 and spent the next 25 years with her, through many ups and downs and with varying proximity. Through that relationship, he acquired three more children: Cy, Jessica, and Madeline. Marsha was Rick's person and they were married May 22, 2020 to honour that bond.
Rick loved electronics of all kinds and as a hobby he created software devices for Bombardier to help with the testing procedures that he worked on. He loved camping and enjoyed many years at his beloved camp at Chippewa and later at Marsha's camp at Clover Beach.
Rick loved the Madhouse and rarely missed his twice weekly visits with the staff and his buddies. He valued their time together.
Rick was diagnosed with cancer in September 2017. Marsha, the children, and his friends provided support, food, and care. Excellent nursing and personal support were provided by St. Elizabeth Health Care.
He chose Medical Assistance in Death when life was no longer tenable. We want to thank Dr. Chan and Dr. Haggarty, Paul Carrier, and especially Dr. Kevin Bezanson who was our rock during the final stages of Rick's cancer. He kept us well informed, supported us throughout, and was with us until the end.
MAiD is not readily accessible in Thunder Bay because we have so few providers who will do the procedure. We want to specifically thank Dr. Turner, who came in on his day off to help end the pain for Rick. Thank you so much. You were an angel to us.
Rick was predeceased by his parents Orma in 1974 and Herbert in 1996. Left to mourn are his siblings Sandra and Randy; his brother Robert (Mark) (Kokomo, Indiana) who supported and travelled with him during his final years; his children Ke'ala and Kyle (Jenny); his step-children Cy, Jessica, and Madeline (Michael); his grand-children Everly and Arthur; his best friend Marsha; and the many people who called him their friend.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions we have chosen not to have a public gathering; but, please, raise a glass to celebrate Rick and be with us in spirit.
--Published in The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal on Jul. 11, 2020.
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