Richard "Bert" Albert Proud

Richard Albert (Bert) Proud
Died peacefully on November 8th, 2022, in his 91st year. Robust and full of life until his late 80’s, he felt blessed to spend his final days sharing meals and holding hands with his love and wife of 65 years, Gloria Leone (nee Lancaster). He lived life his way, committed to the simple joys - his family, his community, and his work.

Born in Hespeler in 1932, his family lived in a variety of Ontario communities, settling in the town of Port Credit where he attended high school. Fascinated by his father’s work in home building, he was accepted into the Architecture program at the University of Toronto and attended for one year. Bert went on to have a long career in the corrugated container industry working for Domtar, Kruger, and Craftwell, finishing with Royal Containers. He met Gloria at a local dance in Brampton and they married in Lakeview in May 1957, moving shortly thereafter to their family home that he had designed and built. They retired to Lindsay in 1995. Bert was one of six children born to Cecil Albert and Rose Elizabeth Proud (nee Walsh) and is survived by his two younger siblings, Murray Proud (Carol) and Sandy Hahn. His elder siblings, Helen Smith (Dick), Betty Karkheck (Gavin), and Shirley MacDonald (Fred), had past in recent years. He is also survived by his loving brother in-law, Jerry Albert Lancaster.

He was an uncomplicated and modern man, sensitive and principled, kind and strong. He treated everyone he met with dignity and respect. Bert was equally at home negotiating a deal, fishing or golfing with the boys, or coaching a hockey team, as he was sitting at a sewing machine making Halloween costumes. His family always came first and he was actively involved in his children and grandchildren’s lives, encouraging us to study hard and find our life passions. Bert is survived by his sons Brett (Jacqueline), and Craig (Marnie), and his daughter Michele Proud. He continued to love, and hold dearly in his heart, his youngest daughter Karen Sampson (Michael), who died of cancer in 2000, at the age of thirty-seven. His seven grandchildren, Jordan (Meaghan), Tyler (Kelsey), Taylor, Lindsay (Victor), Keaton (Emily), Emma and Eric, and his four great-grand sons Beaudie, Olson, Jack, and Islo are his beautiful bright lights. 

His favourite place was sitting at the head of the family table. He loved summers fishing and swimming at the cottage on Salerno Lake, smiles on magical Christmas mornings, a good competitive game of euchre or cribbage, hockey and golfing. He committed thousands of volunteer hours to his community. Actively involved in local hockey, he coached and held numerous positions within the Port Credit, Cawthra and Mississauga Hockey Associations and became President of the Mississauga Hockey Association in 1977-78. He was a true Progressive Conservative and worked hard on behalf of many local candidates. He believed strongly in democracy and fair elections, and worked as Deputy Returning Officer many times throughout his life.

He inspired us all to be good people, spouses, parents, friends, and citizens. He hugged us with abandon. We truly loved him and will miss having him on the planet with us!

Thank you to Caressant Care in Lindsay for your care and support. We will honour Bert in a Celebration of Life Open House in May 2023. A small family service was held on November 10th at Lakeland Funeral & Cremation Centre in Lindsay, Ontario. If you would like to make a donation in tribute to Bert, may we suggest Canadian Tire Jumpstart https://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca/pages/donate, or a local youth sports organization.