Karen Ann Richardson was always eager to help a cause, but reluctant to receive acclaim.
Richardson, who died suddenly last month at the age of 57, was a member of one of Canada’s wealthiest and most philanthropic families, said friend Mel Cooper. The Richardson family, based in Winnipeg, has made its money in the world of finance and investment with such companies as Richardson Greenshields, Cooper said.
“Her father and her uncles were all prominent leaders in the community.”
Richardson always had a special presence, too, Cooper said. “She was definitely a live wire, she had great energy. She had a beautiful smile that lit up the room, and when she came into an event you knew she was there.”
Richardson moved to Victoria in 1995. She spent most of her life prior to that in Winnipeg.
“She’s been such a mainstay of this community but very quietly and very behind-the-scenes,” said friend Pauline Rafferty, retired Royal B.C. Museum CEO. “She never wanted her name front-and-centre.”
She said their association goes back to when Richardson first came to Victoria and both were serving on the Glenlyon Norfolk School board. She said a friendship developed as they crossed paths at various events that Richardson was attending.
That included functions for the museum, which Richardson often supported.
Rafferty described Richardson as well-read and well-travelled, and someone who felt passionately about helping the community and about her family. She had four children.
“She was such a wonderful person. She was one of those people that was a very private person until she got to know you.”
One of Richardson’s favourite charities was the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and one of the ways she showed her support was by taking part in an annual walk. It was typical of her, Cooper said, because she preferred to get involved rather than simply write a cheque.
He said Richardson was also a strong backer of the David Foster Foundation, and was involved in her family’s charitable organization as a board member. The Belfry Theatre was another cause that was important to her.
Cooper said he was in contact with Richardson shortly before she died and had confirmed her attendance at a Ballet Victoria fundraiser. Ballet has long been a favoured cause of the family.
“Without the Richardsons, there would be no Winnipeg Ballet,” Cooper said. “They were the heart and soul of that organization for as long as you can remember.”
Close friend Bruce Homer said Richardson was also involved in the community in Winnipeg, especially with supporting St. John’s-Ravenscourt School, the university-preparatory school from which she graduated. She was also a driving force behind the organization of 150th anniversary celebrations for her family’s business operations a few years ago.
The family’s ventures started with the grain business, he said.
Homer said he was struck by Richardson’s unique impact on people when he visited their favourite restaurant and the staff was told that she had died. “They were actually in tears. That is the type of person she was.”
A funeral and celebration of life will be held at Christ Church Cathedral on Thursday at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the Richardson family has said donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or to any of the charities Karen supported would be appreciated.
