The death of Richard (Dick) Oland, a man known for his dedication to community service, business savvy, skill as a world-class sailor and endless energy, leaves a gaping hole in the community, say friends and colleagues of the lifelong Saint John area resident.
At the Rothesay Yacht Club, where members had gathered for the weekly race night, Mcgregor Grant, a lifelong friend of Oland’s who grew up in the house next door, said he was “shocked” when he heard the news of his friend’s death.
“It just blows me away. I mean, I just saw him Tuesday night,” Grant said. “I said hi to him, and then 24 hours later he’s dead. I can’t believe it.”
Oland was found dead on Thursday at his uptown office, under what police are calling “suspicious” circumstances. The major crime unit of the Saint John Police Force is investigating, but no other details have been released.
Bruce Tennant, walking into the RYC clubhouse, was taken aback when he heard about Oland’s death.
“It’s just awful news,” he said. “It shakes me a little bit.”
Reminiscing about Oland, Tennant recalled fondly about how, when Oland and his wife, Connie, were first dating and in their early 20s, they would sail over to Long Island, where Tennant had property, and have picnics together, spending the afternoon on the beach.
“Years ago, I have a little property on the island, and when he was going out with Connie, dating, they’d come over and picnic and so on and visit on the island,” he said.
Besides his wife, Oland is survived by two daughters, a son and six grandchildren.
Grant, who sailed many times with Oland, said his friend was “larger than life,” a thought echoed by others who knew the man.
Clark Sancton, a frequent lunch companion of Oland’s at the Union Club on Germain Street, called the man he has known for more than 30 years “intense,” but “brilliant.”
“Always had his mind on what was good for the community and always worked for the community good,” said Sancton, president of the Sancton group of companies. “He’ll be sorely missed by the city.”
The 69-year-old Oland was the son of P.W. Oland, who owned Moosehead Breweries Ltd., the iconic New Brunswick institution that is now run by Dick’s brother, Derek.
As a boy he attended Rothesay Collegiate School before heading for the University of New Brunswick. Before graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in 1966, Oland spent his summers working in the family business and sailing on the Kennebecasis River, for which he developed a lifelong passion. After he finished at UNB, he joined Moosehead full-time and furthered his education in the family trade, studying brewing technology.
Putting his training to good use, Oland helped design and build one of the world’s most advanced and fastest beer-packaging lines for the Saint John brewery. He remained with Moosehead until 1981, when he left to pursue other business and community interests.
“I was just looking for opportunities, and if they weren’t present in the existing system, I had to leave. Moosehead was just a career option like any other,” Oland told the Financial Post in a 1992 interview.
In the ensuing years, Oland ran companies such as Brookville Manufacturing Company, Kingshurst Farms, Kingshurst Estates, Brookville Transport Limited, Brookville Carriers and most recently Far End Corporation. He accumulated decades of experience in manufacturing, transportation, sales, marketing, public relations, corporate development and executive management.
But it was his community work and tireless volunteerism that helped shape Saint John that will be best remembered.
“He has been a great promoter of the city of Saint John,” Mayor Ivan Court said. “He never gave up on the city.”
Court said Oland “loved” the city of Saint John and the surrounding communities and he called him a “do’er.”
As president of the 1985 Jeux Canada Games, Oland was instrumental in introducing Saint John to the rest of the country in the most successful edition of the national amateur sports competition ever.
Saint John’s moment in the sports spotlight was the first time in the history of the Games that one of these national sports festivals not only broke even but cleared a profit. A fund created with its $2-million surplus continues to support young athletes.
“He wanted to get things done,” Court said. “You need more people like Dick Oland.”
Among his other major accomplishments was his work at the New Brunswick Museum, where he became president of the board in 1991.
Under his leadership, the museum overcame credibility issues in the wake of the 1990 trashed artifacts scandal and expanded into its major gallery at Market Square.
Countless other causes were dear to Oland’s heart, including the Rothesay Pony Club, the United Way and the YMCA-YWCA.
Over the years, Oland was honoured with many awards, including Sport New Brunswick Executive of the Year and the Transportation Person of the Year. He was also an Officer of the Order of Canada and he received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, UNB.
While honours and awards were special, it was sailing glory that became his passion later in life.
Oland started sailing when he was nine years old, beginning on a smaller boats before graduating to larger keel boats and eventually ocean racing on his most recent boat, Vela Veloce.
In the new boat, built in New Zealand in 2008, Oland won his inaugural race, the annual Easter Ocean Race from Auckland to Tauranga.
Since then, Oland had raced along the East Coast of North America and in the Caribbean, winning major international competitions often as the only Canadian entry.
Gerry Hoeksema, a close friend of Oland’s, spent a great deal of time on the water with him.
“He loved sailing. Every time I talked to him, it was always about the boats and the sailing,” Hoeksema said. “To me, he was just a great guy and he was a good friend that did open up a lot of people’s eyes that sailed with us, to show us that there was so much more than what was just around here.”
“It’s going to leave a big hole. A lot of people are going to miss him.”