Richard E. Sanford Fund
The Richard E. Sanford Fund was established to honour the memory of Richard E. Sanford in support of non-profit housing.
Working in partnership with the real estate community and other related sectors, the Medallion Housing Society is dedicated to making home ownership possible for those who need it most: lower- and middle-income earners, with particular regard to single parent families and those with special needs.
Rick's Story
Rick passed away unexpectedly and suddenly on December 20th, 2002 at the Vancouver International Airport, where he and his wife Mercedes Wong were on their way to Los Angeles to celebrate Christmas with her family.
I would say Rick greatly valued his family, especially his brother Bruce. He frequently kept in touch with his aunts, and enjoyed talking about old times. He had a great sense of humour and was always very kind and understanding. His cousin Wendy misses the visits with Rick at the old family home on Seventh Avenue.
Rick devoted more than thirty years to the Rogers Sugar Company in Vancouver, first as a Laboratory Analyst, then as the company's Network Systems Administrator, installing integrating and maintaining computer systems in Vancouver, Alberta and Manitoba.
In his private life, Rick was a full-time good Samaritan, helping people selflessly and tirelessly. He was fully involved with his wife, Mercedes Wong's real estate career, becoming her book keeper, advisor and mentor. He served for several years as President of the Strata Council and worked even after his term, ensuring that everything worked smoothly in his building. He assisted many of his neighbours, especially his friend Tom Teranishi with many tasks including shopping, driving and home maintenance. He organized several trips for Tom and several other visually impaired friends to California, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Whistler. He was the Founder of the Saturday Breakfast Club, in which he and several friends, neighbours and acquaintances met every Saturday at different restaurants in the Greater Vancouver area. He also shared his vast computer knowledge generously, helping to install new computers, tutoring many of his friends on how to operate them and being a tireless computer "fixer" when things went wrong.
In short, Rick was always there; ready to help when someone needed him.
To commemorate and celebrate Rick's life, his wife Mercedes, members of their family, colleagues and his many grateful friends and neighbours established the Richard E. Sanford Fund with the Vancity Community Foundation. Grants will be made from the fund in support of non-profit housing.