Obituary for Richard Hammell

On Saturday August 17th in the wee hours of the morning, Richard our Skeptics in the Pub host for the past 10+ years, used his amazing mechanical skills to turn his favorite red G8 car into a rocket and explore the galaxy without us.

Atoms to atoms, we don’t expect a report from Richard any time soon, but his reliable quips, humor, soft smiling shrugs and pragmatism will remain with all those who have met him during his 10+ year run as host of the Skeptics in the Pub events.

I met Richard ten years ago at a pub event. I loved the way he was so accepting of people’s opinions, but still firmly willing to patiently debate people. He was a true skeptic, as he often listened to different opinions and was willing to change his mind with new ideas and perspectives. He was the epitome of a true host for KASHA’s Skeptics in the Pub.

Richard met Tania when she joined the group and together they were quite the team akin to a KASHA Welcome Wagon.

We will miss Richard deeply, but we can all remember him by his commitment to listening, learning and accepting everyone. – Nina

Read below for Richard’s obituary written by Tania.

Richard Byron Hammell  November 13, 1961-August 17, 2024

In the early hours of Saturday, August 17, 2024, Richard Byron Hammell passed away. For the last two months of his life, he struggled with the symptoms of an aggressive cancerous brain tumour. He took the news of his diagnosis (on June 9) relatively well, persevering in his optimistic way almost until the end!

He lives on in the memories of his mother, Edna Hammell, and his sisters and their husbands, Linda (Bryan) Bassett, Donna (Dennis) Cocar, and Connie (Darrel) Levesque. He also leaves behind his nephews and nieces: Rhonda (Derrick) Lukey and daughters Shaelynn and Mackenzie; Devin (Anna) Cocar and children Richard, Maegan, and Kaitlyn; Calvin Bassett and sons Gaige and Braxton; Dawn (Rob) Cocar-Baptiste and son Max; Dustin (Mandy) Levesque and children Carson and Jaxon; and Brandi (Mike) Pappin. Richard was predeceased by a nephew, Brandin Levesque.

Memories of him will continue to bring a smile to the faces of the many people who knew him: his coffee buddy for decades, Al Dyck; the trivia gang; the staff and the regulars at Amore Mio and Brandt’s; the people who shared “car stuff” with him; and an assortment of acquaintances, friends, neighbours, and in-laws (especially Arlene). And, of course, his partner of nine years, Tania Kuehn, will forever carry with her an enormous collection of new experiences, ups and downs, happy times, tough lessons, so many laughs (and the worst inside jokes ever), and endless cuddles.

Richard was born in Thompson, Manitoba, on November 13, 1961 to Hubert (dec. August 16, 2008) and Edna. Tinkering with tools and machinery was a passion of his from an early age, and he went on to work as a fabricator and a mechanic for the majority of his working life. His favourite job was at Western Star, where he worked for nine years. Throughout most decades of his life, a main focus for him was cars: fixing them, racing them, driving on ice (!!!), going to car shows, and watching races on TV. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle, karting, reading science fiction novels, watching many genres of movies, and, later on in life, occasionally trying out a new thing, like going to the symphony and live theatre performances with his “gurl”!  On April 14, 2010, a motorcycle accident left him unable to continue his work, but he accepted his early retirement and didn’t seem at a loss as to how to fill his hours. He was certainly a man of routine, and when asked how he was doing, most days his answer was … that’s right… “ordinary.”

Richard…Ricky…Rick…Rich…M’Schnoogs… “That guy who is always ‘ordinary’” … Wherever you are now, we hold you tightly even though you are no longer here.

Love Tania