Obituary of Richard Andrew Pullin
An amazing and wonderful father, brother, husband, grandfather, great grandfather, friend and true gentleman left us on July 16, 2025.
Dick was raised on the family farm in Sheffield, Ontario where his strong work ethic and values were forged and honed. His love for agriculture led him to the Ontario Agricultural College, where he became a proud Aggie. He soon met and married the love of his life, Mary Jane Close, fulfilling her dream to marry a “farmer”. A beautiful love story of “Dick and Jane” over the next 68 years. Their love for the outdoors found them hiking, biking, golfing, cross country skiing and curling with family and many friends. Hiking and maintaining the Avon Trail was a source of much enjoyment, with a goal of ensuring that others would enjoy the beauty of the trails for generations to come. Upon retirement, Dick and Jane took on volunteer roles at Habitat for Humanity, in hopes of bettering the lives of others.
Dick’s professional career was primarily at the University of Waterloo where he made significant contributions to develop the success of Co-Op education. He was a true leader in this field and this legacy had international reach and impact.
“St. Dick” lived his life with generosity, kindness, sincerity, humility, and a deep appreciation of the simple joys in life. Making memories with loved ones was always his top priority. His sense of gratitude was a powerful and lasting example to his family and friends. Many gatherings and activities included generous pours of Dick’s homemade wine from his award-winning wine cellar, alongside Jane’s creative cuisine.
We are deeply saddened that Dick will no longer walk in this world with us, but he will always remain within our hearts, our many memories and in the lives of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We will continue to see his love in their gestures and actions for generations to come. He is now reunited with his beloved Jane, which brings our family much comfort and peace. His love and compassion for her was genuine and profound. His example of a life truly well lived will remain with all of us.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Chris Johansen for his exceptional care of our parents over many years. Thank you to the staff at Midtown (Grand River Hospital) and Chicopee (Freeport Hospital) for your guidance and compassion during this difficult time.
Holding hands for 68 years…now together forever…cheers to Dick and Jane.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations to a charity of your choice may be arranged through www.erbgood.com.