It is with great sadness that the family of James Joseph Ricci announce his passing on Feb. 2, 2018 at Ottawa General Hospital. Jim was surrounded by his family and will be lovingly remembered by his wife Margaret, sons Scott (Tara) and Jeff (Rachelle), and step children Laurie (Ron), Stephen and Michael (Karri) O'Connell, sisters Donna (late George) Taylor, Rosemary (late Cecil) Hoekstra and Cathy (Reg) MacLeod. He was predeceased by his parents James and Catherine and brother Nicholas. Jim was the devoted grandfather to 14 grand and great grandchildren. . Anyssa, Cayden, Luca, Ryah, Kayla (Pierre), Kelsey (Tyson), Ryan, Devin, Phoebe, Isaak, Maddy, Broady, Chanse and Zoé will have wonderful memories of Bompa/Jim. He will be missed by his special sister-in-law Liz (Garry) Virgin. He was also a proud, fun and much loved uncle.
Jim grew up in Merriton, Ontario and throughout his school years was very involved in local baseball and football and eventually Co-Captained the University of Windsor Lancers. Through his involvement in sports Jim developed many life-long friendships. He continued to nurture enduring friendships with both colleagues and students during his teaching career in St. Catharines, Inuvik, NWT and the Ottawa Catholic District School Board at St. Matthew and St. Mark.
His last years of teaching were spent in the D.E. Room at St. Mark High School, where his love and respect for the dignity of these special students was an inspiration for all who knew him. He was passionate about the inclusion of everyone in order to enrich their lives.
Throughout his life Jim loved sports. Starting at a young age Jim fell in love with football, baseball, hockey and anything that involved camaraderie and competition. Some of his fondest memories included winning several Ontario Provincial Little League Championships representing St. Catharines and captaining the University of Windsor Lancers' to the Central Canada Intercollegiate Football Conference championship in 1969. Jim won the Royal Canadian Legion Northwest Territories Mixed Darts Championship and represented the NWT at the Canadian Championships that year. He loved the outdoors and spent countless hours fishing and golfing.
Jim made time to be involved in as many sports as possible. When he committed to coaching, he was all in. He had immaculate attention to detail and one of his many strengths was his ability to motivate and to instil confidence in the athletes. Jim not only coached high school football and wrestling, he was a two-time Provincial Championship winning coach with ROMSA softball, as well as the competitive convener, and a hockey coach with the Osgoode-Rideau Association. Jim was a champion to anyone he considered to be the underdog and had a soft spot for working with these athletes to help them gain self-confidence and acquire success. He was also a much respected softball umpire for years in rural South Ottawa.
Of all the athletes, teams and sports Jim was involved with, nothing made him more proud than watching often coaching his children and grandchildren playing sports. If a picture could be painted, it would be of Jim standing in the corner on the glass at a hockey rink, sporting a coffee with a front row seat to the action.
Jim endured many health challenges and struggled through one major medical crisis after another over the last few years. He fought his fight with courage and humour and a great sense of the ridiculous. With great determination he remained as actively involved as possible with all of his family, especially with his grandchildren.
He was blessed with a comfortable, peaceful death surrounded by the love and support of his amazing blended family. Our thanks to Dr. Lisa Cross, Dr. Lenore Kent and the many wonderful specialists who cared for him, the outstanding attention to detail of the Carefor nurses and especially to Peter Dunnigan, Jim's PSW, who brought laughter and lively conversation at each visit along with his invaluable help in allowing Jim to remain at home for so long.
Condolences and tributes can be made at basicfunerals.ca/obit and click on ‘Families in our Care'. Donations may be sent to University of Windsor Memorial Football Fund on line at https:/my.uwindsor.ca/web/uw/donations in Jim's memory. (Under designation select ‘other' and type in ‘Gino Fracas Memorial Football Scholarship.) Jim was a huge supporter of this scholarship which honoured Gino, Jim's professor and coach at Windsor University. It recognizes football student athletes with solid ethics, character, scholastic and athletic achievement. Also donations may be made locally at the Ottawa Rotary Club- Post 21 Program which provides programs for dependent adults.
ALWAYS LOVED, NEVER FORGOTTEN, FOREVER MISSED
Jim grew up in Merriton, Ontario and throughout his school years was very involved in local baseball and football and eventually Co-Captained the University of Windsor Lancers. Through his involvement in sports Jim developed many life-long friendships. He continued to nurture enduring friendships with both colleagues and students during his teaching career in St. Catharines, Inuvik, NWT and the Ottawa Catholic District School Board at St. Matthew and St. Mark.
His last years of teaching were spent in the D.E. Room at St. Mark High School, where his love and respect for the dignity of these special students was an inspiration for all who knew him. He was passionate about the inclusion of everyone in order to enrich their lives.
Throughout his life Jim loved sports. Starting at a young age Jim fell in love with football, baseball, hockey and anything that involved camaraderie and competition. Some of his fondest memories included winning several Ontario Provincial Little League Championships representing St. Catharines and captaining the University of Windsor Lancers' to the Central Canada Intercollegiate Football Conference championship in 1969. Jim won the Royal Canadian Legion Northwest Territories Mixed Darts Championship and represented the NWT at the Canadian Championships that year. He loved the outdoors and spent countless hours fishing and golfing.
Jim made time to be involved in as many sports as possible. When he committed to coaching, he was all in. He had immaculate attention to detail and one of his many strengths was his ability to motivate and to instil confidence in the athletes. Jim not only coached high school football and wrestling, he was a two-time Provincial Championship winning coach with ROMSA softball, as well as the competitive convener, and a hockey coach with the Osgoode-Rideau Association. Jim was a champion to anyone he considered to be the underdog and had a soft spot for working with these athletes to help them gain self-confidence and acquire success. He was also a much respected softball umpire for years in rural South Ottawa.
Of all the athletes, teams and sports Jim was involved with, nothing made him more proud than watching often coaching his children and grandchildren playing sports. If a picture could be painted, it would be of Jim standing in the corner on the glass at a hockey rink, sporting a coffee with a front row seat to the action.
Jim endured many health challenges and struggled through one major medical crisis after another over the last few years. He fought his fight with courage and humour and a great sense of the ridiculous. With great determination he remained as actively involved as possible with all of his family, especially with his grandchildren.
He was blessed with a comfortable, peaceful death surrounded by the love and support of his amazing blended family. Our thanks to Dr. Lisa Cross, Dr. Lenore Kent and the many wonderful specialists who cared for him, the outstanding attention to detail of the Carefor nurses and especially to Peter Dunnigan, Jim's PSW, who brought laughter and lively conversation at each visit along with his invaluable help in allowing Jim to remain at home for so long.
Condolences and tributes can be made at basicfunerals.ca/obit and click on ‘Families in our Care'. Donations may be sent to University of Windsor Memorial Football Fund on line at https:/my.uwindsor.ca/web/uw/donations in Jim's memory. (Under designation select ‘other' and type in ‘Gino Fracas Memorial Football Scholarship.) Jim was a huge supporter of this scholarship which honoured Gino, Jim's professor and coach at Windsor University. It recognizes football student athletes with solid ethics, character, scholastic and athletic achievement. Also donations may be made locally at the Ottawa Rotary Club- Post 21 Program which provides programs for dependent adults.
ALWAYS LOVED, NEVER FORGOTTEN, FOREVER MISSED
Burial Date: February 8, 2018
A celebration of Jim's life will be held at Tubman's Garden Chapel at 3440 Richmond Road, Ottawa from 3:00 p.m. to 6:pm. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. and the service will begin at 4:45 p.m. There will be a gathering afterwards at The Broadway Bar, 1896 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa.
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