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R.F. CURTIN, A FORMER CITY OFFICIAL DIES
[Welland Tribune March 8, 1947]
Popular accountant had been ailing for several weeks
Richard Frederick Curtin passed away at his home, 57 Randolph street, early this morning, of a heart ailment following a siege of pneumonia. He was in his 54th year.
News of his death, following shortly after the demise of his son, Flight Lieutenant Lewis Curtin, as the result of an R.C.A.F. plane crash near Whitehorse, N.W.T. came as a shock to the community.
A competent public accountant and an informed financial adviser, Fred Curtin was a much respected and highly regarded resident of Welland, and scores of friends will mourn his passing.
A native of Montreal, Mr. Curtin came to Welland in 1916 as purchasing agent for Canadian Steel Foundries. In 1919, three years later he married Isobel Lewis, and made Welland his home.
He was a former city treasurer, holding that position from August 1929 until April, 1937, when he resigned to open his accounting office. Previous to his appointment as city treasurer, he had acted as city auditor for two years, and as assistant city treasurer for one year. As city treasurer he was credited with the building of a sinking fund which produced for the city a surplus of $100,000.
Deceased was an active member of many organizations. Prominent in Masonic circles, he was a member of Merritt Masonic lodge, a past chancellor of Horatio Lodge No.4, Knights of Pythias, and past president and secretary of the Past Chancellors Club, Knights of Pythias.
He was a charter member of the Lions Club, and a member of the Optimist Club, and of the Welland Anglers’ Club. He had been secretary-treasurer of the board of the Welland County General hospital and of Lookout Point Golf and Country Club, and during the war was in charge of salvage work undertaken by the Knights of Pythias for the Red Cross. He was a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church where he was an auditor for many years.
He was an ardent fisherman and for many years was prominent in sports activities. He is remembered especially as being manager of a noted junior baseball club, the Welland Beavers, who entered the Ontario finals, and also his connection with a junior hockey team which was defeated in the Ontario semi-finals in the early twenties.
Left to mourn his passing are his widow, Mrs. Isobel Curtin; a daughter, Mrs. F.A. Kilgour (Mary); his mother, Mrs. R.F. Curtin; and a sister, Mrs. J.C. Matthews.
The remains are resting at the J.J. Patterson and Sons Funeral Residence, 19 Young street, for funeral services at 2.30 p.m. on Monday, March 10. Rev. A.D. Sutherland, minister of St Andrew’s church, will officiate and interment will be in Fonthill cemetery.
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