Richard Edmund Locke died courageously on Monday, May 24, at Shands Hospital of the University of Florida in Gainesville while awaiting lung transplant surgery. A 22-year resident of St Croix, he is survived by his wife, Vicki, and his sons: Kieran, Morgan and Devon. He was the first born child of Margaret Shirley Locke and the late Charles Edmund Locke, and was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on April 11, 1948. He is also survived by his sister, Susanne Ladouceur (Glen); brothers: Michael (Deborah), Peter (Debi) and Barry (Lorrie); sister-in-law, Lynne Bass (Sam); and brother-in-law, Jamie MacGregor (Mieke). Richard was the much-loved uncle of Sean, Austin, Whitney, Jennifer, Harry, Stuart, Kyle, Katie, Rory, Jeremy, Lynette, Hailey and Kelsie.
As a boy, Richard lived with his family in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Kingston, Ottawa, Quebec City and Toronto, his family following his father’s work as a civil engineer and an executive with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. A gifted all-around athlete, Richard enjoyed a stint with the Hull Beavers, a tier two Junior A hockey team. He was a graduate in hotel administration and had a distinguished career in hotel management including top positions at Holiday Inns Canada, Loews La Cite Montreal, Loews Paradise Island Hotel Nassau and Trelawny Beach Hotel in Jamaica. While in Nassau, he met and married Victoria Cruikshank of Ridgefield, Connecticut.
In 1988, he and Vicki moved to St Croix and with his brother Peter developed Chenay Bay Beach Resort. In 1997, Richard became managing partner of Antilles Resorts Management Inc., a resort management enterprise representing Point Pleasant, Sapphire Beach Resort, Sapphire Village, Crystal Cove, Anchorage, Pavilions and Pools on St. Thomas, and Club St Croix and Colony Cove on St. Croix.
Based on St. Croix, Richard and Vicki regularly travelled the world, guiding the growth of their three sons, of whom Richard was immensely proud and with whom he spent his happiest moments.
Richard was highly intelligent, witty and energetic, possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of sports, politics and business, and loved a spirited discussion about anything.
He served his community as president of the St Croix Hotel and Tourism Association, president of the Virgin Islands Swimming Federation, and as a board member of the Good Hope School and the St. Thomas Hotel Association.
Richard was truly blessed, and he will be deeply missed by those blessed to have known him.
The family has asked friends to sign their organ donor cards and inform their families of their wishes.
In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to The St. Croix Foundation of the Virgin Islands in Richard’s name.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held for all friends at The Mermaid Restaurant at The Buccaneer Hotel at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 30.
