Happy 80th Birthday!

80 years ago today, my brother-in-law Richard Newell was born in Victoria, B. C.  He was the first child of Howard and Pat Newell.  He has two younger brothers, Gordon and David and two younger sisters, Sylvia and Irene.

Adorable baby picture!

March 21, 1963 - they were married for almost 49 years!

His favorite pass time, golf!

He loves red wine!

With his cousin Bill Atkinson and grandsons Jack and Sam!

Richard starting working when he was around 8!  He delivered papers, worked at a golf course and did many other odd jobs.  In Grade 11, the principal of Oak Bay High School called him in to his office and told him he was wasting the schools time, he should just quit.  So he did!  He continued to do all kinds of jobs eventually becoming a taxi driver.  During his off time, he finished high school.  He continued his education, ending up at the University of British Columbia!

In 1962, at the Dufferin Hotel beer parlour, he met my sister.  He was living at the Kappa Sigma Fraternity House at UBC.  After they were engaged, he moved into our basement so they could save money.  He took Louise to Victoria to meet his grandmother.  She said "where did you meet such a nice girl".  He answered "at church"!  He graduated right after they married with a Bachelor of Commerce.  He went back to Oak Bay High School, saw the principal, showed him his degree!

He is the best brother-in-law!  He was a wonderful husband, an excellent father, and successful business man.  We are neighbours!   When I see him drive by in his new white car, I think of the car he had when he married my sister.  It was old and green and if you moved the mat on the passengers side you could watch the road go by!  It was a true "rust bucket".

For his 78th birthday, Jack and Sam gave him a Fit Bit.  I asked him one night how many steps he'd done that day.  He said "only 22,000!".   Of course it was a good golf day.

We can't celebrate today as he's in Pensacola, Florida, golfing!  I'm sure he's having a wonderful day.  I wish him many, many more!

You have to be pretty special when Bro Jake mentions your birthday on morning radio in Vancouver!


Richard's Birthday Message!