wounds heal quickly

footprints once dry, now wet

behind us on the shore

- (Parksville, BC)

from Tidings of Magpies, Richard Stevenson, 2008

Richard William Stevenson passed away on October 18, 2023, in Victoria, BC, surrounded by his loved ones, while his favourite jazz albums played. Rick is survived by his devoted wife of 43 years, Gepke (née Polet), his children Christian, Marika, and Adrian (Amanda), his grandson Remy, and his siblings Larry (Sherry), Donna, and Debbie, as well as many adoring nieces, nephews, in-laws, and cousins.

For the majority of his life, Rick was a dedicated and accomplished writer, publishing more than 40 works of poetry, haiku, and fiction, not to mention five forthcoming titles, such as the soon to be released An Abominable Swamp Slob Named Bob, a series of YA/Sci-Fi, creature-feature, cryptid poems. While he loved writing for kids, most of his titles are adult books, including numerous collections written about the time he spent living in Nigeria. His early work as editor-in-chief of PRISM International sparked his love of magazines, anthologies, e-zines, and journals, where he later published hundreds of reviews and poems, both nationally and internationally.

Rick graduated with an Honours BA in English from the University of Victoria and an MFA in creative writing from UBC. He was proud to become an educator himself. Throughout his 30-year career teaching English, Canadian literature, and creative writing at the Lethbridge College, he helped many new and established writers find their voice. Long after he retired, Rick remained friends with many of his former students and colleagues. Rick gave numerous writing workshops and served as a creative executive on various arts groups, including the Old Man River Writers Group in Southern Alberta and Wordstorm on Vancouver Island. He also shared his words, reading his works to enthusiastic listeners at venues across the country, and performed in two musical groups, the jazz/poetry band, Naked Ear, and the alt-rock/YA verse troupe, Sasquatch.

Rick had a way of bringing people together. He collected friend groups and maintained friendships dating as far back as his elementary school days, like the “Monkey Tree” lunch crowd. During winters past, he hot-tubbed with buddies affectionately dubbed “the Gorillas in the Mist.” In the summers, he dragon-boated with paddlers from “Happy Hour” and “Dragn ‘R’ Butz,” and over the course of many years, he’d socialize and travel with “The Nelson Family,” a group of friends who felt like family. His gregarious and easy-going character drew many people into his orbit – he always had a story to share, and he loved meeting new people.

His love of the arts, music, nature, and adventure were qualities Rick was proud to see reflected in his children, and he was thrilled to have recently become a grandfather. Rick carried himself with a sense of humour and playfulness that his kids delighted in, and he was an adoring husband to Gepke. In 2020, they moved to their house overlooking Departure Bay in Nanaimo where they spent many hours on the deck watching the ferries, floatplanes, and wildlife while Rick would read and write – he was always writing. It was a beautiful and blissfully happy time in their lives. Rick was a special man full of creativity, love, and wonder, and he was a joy to be around.

Rick lived life to the fullest but was still taken too soon. He would have said he had so much writing left to do and so much love yet to give. His loss is a wound that will not heal quickly. It is with deep gratitude that the Stevenson family thanks you for your condolences and stories of Rick. He would have loved to hear them.

Given his enormous circle of friends who span the country, two celebrations of Rick’s life will be held in Spring/Summer of 2024, one in Lethbridge, Alberta, and one on Vancouver Island. To be notified of these events, please email: gepke.stevenson@gmail.com.