Obituary for Captain Ritchie (“Ratch”) Burnill Wallace  

Just to know him was an adventure.

Ratch sailed off into history on October 16, 2011, but he was where he would have wanted to be; finishing up the cruising season commanding the Canadian Empress on the St. Lawrence River.

Born in Toronto on November 7, 1944, Ratch was the only child of Bill, a bookstore owner, and Grace, a librarian and expert thoroughbred handicapper. He attended Humberside Collegiate, Lakefield College and the University of Waterloo. He began his professional stage career as an actor at the Crest Theatre in Toronto and the Stratford Shakespearean Festival. In 1966, he starred in the pioneering Canadian feature film “The Offering”, written and directed by David Secter. His film career encompassed ten feature movies, including “Ragtime Summer”, for which he wrote the screenplay and also produced with Deanne Judson. He acted in many radio and television programs and was active in the administration of his union, ACTRA. He spent twenty years on a favourite project, writing a screenplay, and researching and directing the exterior photography for a film based on the tragic final voyage of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes freighter.

On one of many journeys to California, he became friends with the actor, sailor and novelist Sterling Hayden.  The bond with Hayden rekindled Ratch’s interest in maritime pursuits, and led to marine officer training at Georgian College followed by Great Lakes and North Atlantic voyages in the fleets of Upper Lakes Shipping and Imperial Oil. He obtained his Master Mariner certification in due course and, among other commands, became the captain of the historic 1925 Muskoka Lakes steamship, the S.S. Segwun. He navigated fast sailing yachts in several Lake Ontario long distance races, and combining his talents for seamanship and business, established Moviemarine, a company providing vessels and sailing personnel for film projects. 

During this time, from 1981-1987, Ratch played the role of Kenny Volker, on the CBC television series, “Seeing Things”.  Ratch thoroughly enjoyed playing the role of this hockey playing, tough-guy-with-a-heart character. From 1992 - 1999, Ratch was the Senior Superintendant at Robert Reford, a General Steamship Agent Company.

 

In the late 1990’s, Ratch moved from Toronto to Victoria, B.C. to be closer to his family and to take a position with B.C. Ferries, as commanding officer of several different ships and later, as an executive responsible for aspects of safety, planning and new construction.

Regarding  “retirement “ as merely a nuisance, in 2010 he rejoined one of his former employers, Bob Clarke at the St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, operating cruise ships down the St. Lawrence River between Quebec and Ontario. He was happily engaged in this when he suffered a sudden heart attack and died on October 16, 2011.

Captain Wallace was an ebullient, high-spirited and kind man who enjoyed cultivating friendships with a wide cast of characters and then introducing them to each other. He was a man full of integrity, and was generous to those with his time and support.  No one was ever boring to Ratch- he was always able to find their story. He thrived on both being a storyteller and having stories told to him.  His sense of humour was superb and he could spin many a fascinating tale with a range of theatrical effect. As a leader, Captain and boss, he was highly respected, both personally and professionally. Ratch’s motto was “the art of leadership lies in liberating people, to do what is required of them, in the most humane way possible. The true leader removes obstacles that prevent people from doing their jobs.” – Anon quote

No one who knew him will ever forget him.

He will be very much missed by his hundreds of friends and colleagues across Canada.

He is lovingly remembered by his entire family, including his two daughters and their families: Kate Wallace and Lance Priestley and their three children (Jackson, Ruby and Shane); and Mercedes Calvert and Todd Legault and their children (Johnny and Jake). He will also be deeply missed by Lissa Calvert, his lifetime companion, and mother to his daughter Mercedes.