We are devastated to announce the sudden passing of Ron Lafrenière, who left us far too soon, and with so much yet to do. His final moments were on the beautiful remote beach of a quiet lake, after a memorable day of canoeing.
Ron’s impressive string of achievements began in childhood, with scientific experiments and a boundless curiosity, and in his 57 years, he accomplished more than most would dream of undertaking in two lifetimes. And yet, he left a long list of new projects that he had wanted to take on. He was so talented, in so many areas, and he managed to make a mark in every one of them, while making time for his wife and children, who, for him, always came first.
Still restless after an impressive career in molecular genetics and neurogenetics research and management, he retired early so he could pursue his many other passions. A true Renaissance man, Ron was, among other things, a skilled researcher, a genealogist, a poet and writer, an artist, and a collector of many things—most notably stamps and insects. He was also an organizer and list maker who managed to find order in all things (or to create order where there had been none). He had only a few entries left to complete in his decades-long, epic work: the ever-expanding, 1000-page-long, third (and final) edition of his celebrated Field Guide to Cinderella Stamps of Canada, which is used internationally as THE reference for non-postage stamps in Canada. He believed every stamp has a story to tell—and tell them he did! His favourite quote (which comes from Star War’s Yoda) was pinned to the wall above his desk for decades: “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
Ron’s playful wit, his quiet and grounding nature, his seemingly unlimited depth of knowledge, and his dedication to everything he pursued will be so greatly missed by everyone whose lives he touched. He will live on forever in the hearts of his wife, Gillian Greig; his children, Stéphanie and Jonathan; his father, Fernand; his siblings, Richard (Kathy), Linda (Jean-Marc), and Louise Vaillancourt (Denis), as well those of his nieces, nephews, in-laws, and many other family members and friends. He will also be missed by Merlin, the family dog, whom he adored. Ron was predeceased by his mother, Florence Neault.
Ron felt most at peace immersed in the wilderness. Donations to causes of this nature would also be appreciated.
A ceremony will be held at the Centre funéraire Côte-des-Neiges, 4525 Ch. de la Côte-des-Neiges, Montréal, on Sunday, August 28, at 1:00 p.m. It will be followed by a celebration of Ron’s life until 5:00 p.m. You will be able to view the ceremony live or on replay at https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/58705.
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