Raymond Bernard Louis Lauzier
Unexpectedly, after years of suffering from a coronary condition, Raymond Bernard Louis Lauzier of Nanaimo, BC passed away on August 27, 2015 in Windsor, Ontario while attending a meeting of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWC).
Born in New Brunswick on July 22, 1948 to French Canadian scientists, Louis and Gertrude Lauzier, Ray grew up in St. Andrews by the Sea. The Bay of Fundy gave him a love of all things Maritime and predetermined his career as a marine biologist.
His full and busy work as a scientist in the federal civil service included among many projects-Canadian government representative on the US Fish and Wildlife Service Kootenai River white sturgeon recovery team, salmon habitat research, shellfish stock assessment, Wild Salmon Policy (for which he was recognized with the DFO Prix d’Excellence). Hotwater physa in the Liard River hotsprings and Rocky Mountain ridged mussel in the Okanagan system were his last two assignments. Ray continued in retirement to advocate for the critical importance of science and scientists as well as for the rights of Public Service retirees.
Ray had a parallel career with the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC). He was a founding member of the Applied Sciences-Patent Examiners (SP) Group Executive and later became president of the group which represents 7500 members, BC/Yukon Steward in of the Year in 2010 for 13 years of service, Chair of the PIPSC Science Advisory Committee with the emphasis on the importance of public science for the public good as well as a member of the PIPSC Legacy Foundation committee.
Like his father, Ray was an avid gardener, known for his extraordinary gardens filled with rhododendrons and over 100 varieties of award winning dahlias (his girls as he called them.)
A deeply devoted family man who took a great pleasure from the hustle and bustle of family gatherings, Ray is survived by his wife Jane, sisters Marie Lauzier of Newmarkert, and Suzie Larocque of Ottawa; step-children Scott (Lorna), Andy (Lori) and Linda (Wilbur), step-grandchildren Cary-Lynn, Kathryn, Katelyn, Jenna, Daniel all in NB; niece Chrissy (Michael, Charlie); nephews Phil (Candice) and Dan in Ontario; brothers-in-law John (Betty) and Vernon MacNichol as well as many cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 1:30 pm from Trinity Catholic Church 6234 Spartan Road, Nanaimo with Father Jozef Kobos officiating. Interment will take place in St. Andrews, NB in the summer of 2016.
The family is very grateful for the skilled and compassionate care Ray received over the years at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, the Ottawa Heart Institute and most recently the Windsor Regional Hospital as well as his extraordinary family doctor Nicolaas Janssen.
In lieu of flowers, please consider remembering Ray by donating to either Loaves and Fishes at nanaimoloavesandfishes.org or the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation at nlsf.ca.