Richard "Rick" Vann Canady

Richard “Rick” Vann Canady lived a life filled with adventure, resilience, and love. Born on April 5, 1948, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Leon Bryant Canady Jr. and Ruth B. Canady. Rick grew up with a passion for sports, music, and the outdoors. He graduated from Hillsborough High School and then went on to attend Georgia Military College, where he played both high school and collegiate basketball and guitar with friends in a college band.

Rick’s career path reflected his versatility and determination. He began as a lineman at TECO, then went on to run one of the many Canady-owned businesses at Tampa Bay Air Center. He worked side by side with his father managing all operations and headed up the successful Tampa Bay Air Center Flight School. Rick flew many of the well-known WWE wrestlers from the 1970s and 1980s—such as Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, and Eddie and Mike Graham—to their matches. The Air Center was also a hub for many legendary entertainers, including Elvis, Led Zeppelin, and Kenny Rogers. Rick would often bring his children, Sherri and Chad, to the Air Center to meet celebrities. One memorable time, the kids met Kenny Rogers and took pictures with him and his airplane.

After the airport was sold, Rick moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where he worked as a Teamster during the Alaskan Pipeline Project and later ventured into media sales at a local Anchorage radio station. His creativity shone when he won a contest for creating and producing an animated seafood restaurant commercial. Returning to the Tampa Bay area, Rick joined his brother David in opening two Shells Seafood restaurants in Clearwater and Countryside, where his entrepreneurial spirit thrived. Rick also gave back to his community through volunteer work with the Rough Riders Crewe, especially enjoying the Fun and Sun Festival in Clearwater and the Gasparilla parade in Tampa. Later, Rick pursued his love of vehicles, selling motorcycles, RVs, and automobiles, before settling in Homosassa to run Blew By U Air Boat Adventure Tours until retiring.

Rick’s true joy was found outdoors—fishing, boating, flying airplanes, and riding his motorcycle. He loved tinkering in his garage, building dune buggies over the years, and his last project was rebuilding a 1985 Ford truck with his grandson, Jacob. He loved listening to his favorite Southern Rock bands and watching NASCAR with his sons and grandsons. He also loved riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle on long road trips with his wife, Denise, and his son, Craig. Family gatherings at waterside restaurants were among his happiest moments, where he delighted in the “evening entertainment” at the marinas.

He leaves behind his devoted wife of 19 years, Denise Canady; his children Sherri Spaw (Andrew), Chad Canady, and Craig Canady (Wendy); six grandchildren, Victoria Spaw, Joshua Spaw, Jacob Spaw, Caleb Spaw, Hailey Canady, and Kiely Canady; his brother David Canady (Kathy); and many nieces and nephews.

Rick is preceded in death by his infant son, Christopher Bryant Canady; his grandparents Leon Bryant Canady Sr. and Charlotte “Lottie” Canady; his parents Leon Bryant Canady Jr. and Ruth B. Canady; and his sister, Deborah Christen.

Pallbearers will be Chad Canady, Craig Canady, Andrew Spaw, Joshua Spaw, Jacob Spaw, and Caleb Spaw.

A special thank you to his medical team, home health care team and Moffitt Cancer Center for taking great care of Rick as he battled cancer.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Moffitt Cancer Center, a local Humane Society, or a charity of your choice in remembrance of Richard “Rick” Canady.