Friday, November 26, 2021
We can all probably remember a person who came into your life for a period of time and made an incredibly significant impact. For me, that person was Dick Zanchin. For the fifteen or so years that we worked together at Ridgeway Crystal Beach High School he was my friend, mentor, running partner, and social planner. I was sad to hear the news of Dick’s passing and wish to extend my sympathies to all of the Zanchin family
After arriving at RCBHS I found myself sitting in Dick’s office for hours as we shared together. Besides both having a love for teaching, we realized that we both enjoyed sports and having fun. Years later, Dick was my best man at my wedding – did I mention that Dick knew how to have fun.
Dick was not a natural runner, but he had heart. For years, in all kinds of weather, we would run together after school. No matter how bad one of us would feel, the other was there to help drag us out the door. Dick also loved to play hand ball in the lower gym. Besides watching the ball, I had to watch out for him. He was a big and extremely competitive man who was not afraid to run you over.
There were many times that we would go over to watch the Sabres play. One of the most memorable nights happened when Dick, as only Dick could, got us into the Montreal Canadiens dressing room to meet Pete Mahovlich who had been his neighbor back in Schumacher.
Cooking was an art to Dick. I would sit and watch this man who would transition into a completely different person as he would glide around his kitchen. The end results were always worth the wait.
He loved being part of the community and was always ready to try something new. While we were in the Port Colborne Operatic Society I can remember him saying that he loved the possibility of becoming a king or a knight in shining armor even if it was for a brief time on a stage. When we moved away from the area, the Fort Erie Soccer Club was a successful organization. At the first meeting to explore the possibility of forming a town organization, there were only a few of us, but Dick was right there ready to get it done.
At the high school, Dick was loved by the staff and the students. He was an educator who always put the students first. He was admired by the staff but also famous for some of his pranks with the staff especially involving Gord Brown.
Dick Zanchin had an impact on not only mine, but the lives of many others. If you read some of the other comments, you realize just how far reaching his influence was. I miss you “Tulio”
