Obituary of Richard James Adrian Feehan

Feehan, Richard James Adrian “Rick”, age 70 of Sinclairs Island, passed away peacefully in the Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow on September 27, 2024, following a brief battle with cancer. Born on December 17, 1953 in Saint John, New Brunswick, he was the eldest son of the late James “Jim” and Hazel (Hughes) Feehan. Raised in Dartmouth, Rick graduated from Prince Andrew High School in 1971, earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University in 1974, and became a Chartered Accountant at age 21. He was an accomplished athlete in his youth, playing baseball and hockey in Dartmouth and later in Prince Edward Island. Rick will be remembered as a man of service, integrity and humility. Although he received his Chartered Accountant designation on his first attempt at the exams, Rick often joked, “They failed everyone, I was just on the right side of the curve.” Rick was always the numbers guy in the background, wielding his magic pencil, while practicing his unique sorcery on tax returns and grant applications. Rick began his career in Prince Edward Island, then Newfoundland, before settling in Pictou County in the early 1980s. His many contributions to the Pictou County community began soon after his arrival, joining the New Glasgow Kinsmen Club, chairing the baseball program for a number of years and adding his formidable accounting skills as club treasurer. Rick’s prowess with the grant application process permitted the successful completion of the Pioneer Track and Field Complex, the Little Harbour Pickleball Courts, further development of the New Glasgow Kinsmen and Stellarton Albion Ballfields and was instrumental in arranging funding for the Baseball Exchange program with the Montreal Expos and other exchange organizations. Rick was known as “Coach” having spent years coaching baseball and basketball in the community. Rick’s accounting skills were legendary among his tax clients and community groups, acting as treasurer for several organizations including the Office of the Employer Advisor Nova Scotia, the Riverview Home Corporation, the City Club, the Bombers Major U15 hockey team, advisor on the Pictou County Audit committee and of course Summer Street Industries, a service close to his heart. Members of the Pictou County Council’s Audit committee would always regard Rick’s sage advice as gospel: “What does Rick say about the numbers?” As a volunteer in the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce MentorPlus program, Rick passed along his experience and expertise to young entrepreneurs in the area. As Vice President Finance of WearWell Garments, a job he loved, Rick was an important advisor to Fraser and Stirling MacLean as the firm grew during his time at the financial helm. In recent years he enjoyed offering his business acumen to his cousin Tommy and took great satisfaction in the success of Collings Timber Mart. In March 2024, Rick was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia as an employer representative, a credit to his years of service within the workers compensation system. This was a role Rick was particularly excited to be undertaking in his retirement. Rick is survived by his loving wife, Glenda, of 18 years; his three children Jennifer (Chris), Kayla (Leonard) Lewis, and Keir (Kate); his stepson Nathan (Jane) Fraser; and his grandchildren Lila Lewis, and Edith, Arthur, and Stewart Fraser. He is also survived by his brothers John (Ellen), Joseph “Joe” (Cathy), Leonard “Lenny”, and Gerard (Christina); his sister-in-law Jane (John) McGrath; his aunts Linda Murphy and Gloria Heikamp; nieces and nephews; and many PEI cousins. He loved all of his family and friends dearly, always willing to offer guidance or a lending hand. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a sister in infancy, Hazel Rhianne Marie; aunts, Aletha Picone, Sylvia Collings, Helen Kilbride, Charlotte Dalton, and Agnes Mitchell; and uncles Elmer, Gerald, Harry and Charles Hughes. A celebration of life will take place at Summer Street Industries, 72 Park Street, New Glasgow on October 6th at 2 pm, followed by an Irish Wake until 5 pm. Donations can be made in Rick’s memory to Summer Street Industries or a charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff at the Aberdeen Hospital, especially the intensive care and palliative care units. angusfuneralhomes.com