RICHARD (DICK) VITT

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RICHARD (DICK) VITT Peacefully after a lengthy illness, Richard (Dick) Vitt passed away at the age of 61 years on January 1, 2000 at the Selkirk and District Hospital. Richard was born in Winnipeg on September 14, 1938 and moved with his family to a farm in Petersfield, Manitoba in 1939. After attending school, he worked for a short time as an attendant at the Selkirk Mental Health Center. In June 1957 he began his training in Ottawa as an R.C.M.P. officer. His first posting was in Terrace, BC. Subsequently most of his career was spent north of 60 - which he loved and considered his home. He served in communities such as Inuvik, Old Crow, Faro, Ross River, Herschel Island, Frobisher Bay, Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord. Throughout the early part of Dicks career he patrolled these northern communities by dog team. He is most significantly known for leading the last R.C.M.P. dog team patrol in the eastern arctic. In April of 1968 Dick, along with two special constables and two teenaged Eskimo boys, travelled from Grise Fiord to Resolute Bay and returned home via Devon Island. While on the Island they visited the graves and cairn of the early explorers, namely Franklin and his men. This return trip by dog team totalled 740 miles and was viewed by the parents of those teenagers "as an ideal opportunity for these boys to get to know the lay of the land." Dick kept vivid diaries and a record of these was published in the R.C.M.P. Quarterly in an article Dick wrote, entitled "End of an Era." This historic journey was shared and published in many other police journals world wide. Dick rose to the rank of Staff Sargeant but due to ill health, took early retirement and spent the last 10 years as a resident of Tudor House in Selkirk, Manitoba. Dick was predeceased by his mother Frances (1958), his father Joseph (1968), his brothers Louis (1987) and Joseph (1989) and sister-in-law Nettie (1995). He is survived by his brothers John, Frank (Adella), sisters-in-law Iris and Frances. Although her never married, Uncle Dick left behind fond memories and a legacy of nieces and nephews - Pat, Brian, Chris and Debbie; Catherine, Sharon, Dennis and Susan; Laurie, Randy, Gary and Joe; Christine, Warren, Barbara, Tracy and Charlene and their families. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Dicks life will be held on Thursday, January 6, at 10:30 a.m. at Gilbarts Funeral Chapel in Selkirk with Fr. Boguslaw Wardzinski officiating. The family would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to the homecare workers and staff at the Tudor Home for their dedicated care of Dick throughout his illness. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Huntingtons Chorea Society of Canada, 13 Water Street North, Suite 3, Box 1269, Cambridge, Ontario, N1R 7G6 or by phone at 1-800-998-7398. Do not stand by my grave and weep; I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumns rain. When you awaken in the mornings hush, I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 05, 2000