Richard Bonar Starrak

RICHARD BONAR STARRAK NCAA All American Hockey Player Richard Bonar Starrak, of Chester, NH and formerly of Boxford, MA passed away peacefully on Saturday February 6, 2010 at the age of 82 surrounded by loving family. The son of William Bonar Starrak and Gladys Kettlewell Starrak, he was born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada with his brothers James and Scott. He is deeply missed by his wife Jacquelynne B. Starrak and step-daughter Carly-Jeanne Gardiner, of Chester, NH and the many wonderful friends and loving caregivers in Chester who became such an important part of his extended family. He is also survived by Margareta Starrak of Newburyport, MA, who is the mother of his five children, who love him and will miss him dearly : Meg and Peter Strattner of Newburyport, Jo-Ann Smith and Antonio Duarte of Burlington, CT, Melissa Starrak of Ipswich, MA, Gary Starrak of Tennessee, and Megan Starrak of Newburyport. "Grandpa" is also fondly remembered by his loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Jeremy, Amy, Bowie, Lulu, Ollie, Scott, June, Olive, and Landon. A graduate of the University of Michigan, he enjoyed a stellar collegiate sports career as a defenseman for the Michigan Wolverines hockey team which won the very first NCAA Hockey Championship in 1948 by defeating Harvard, Dartmouth, and Colorado. He was named to the All-American Hockey Team that year and later inducted into the University of Michigan Deker's Blue Line Club Hall of Fame. Following his passion for nature and the outdoors, he chose a career in the lumber industry. He first worked for The Capilano Timber Company of Vancouver, B.C.; he was president of the Geo. McQuesten Lumber Co. in North Billerica, Ma; and also owned Eastern Pine Sales Co. He played leadership roles in local community and professional organizations such as Rotary International and the New England Lumberman's Association. An avid fly fisherman, he enjoyed time with his buddies on the Merrimac River, the Spring Creeks of Montana, and the coastal waters of Canada. A Celebration of Life will be announced in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the Arthritis Foundation www.arthritis.org . Arrangements are being handled by the Cremation Society of New Hampshire, www.csnh.com.