Richard Allen Johnson
Toronto, d.26.February.2020
photo by Trevor Hughes
Rick Johnson was a veteran Toronto bike messenger and advocate. He
often volunteered his programmimg services to the Toronto Hoof and
Cyclycle Corier Coalition and the Toronto Bike messenger
Association.Rick passed away near the beginning of the pandemic from
unknown causes but police did not suspect any foul play. His body
went undiscovered in his apartment for two months. Many of his
friends are still trying to find out what happened to him.
Marcel Smazal and I attended Rick Johnson's last known address this
evening with the assistance of Xander Wilkes in Holland. We
confirmed Rick's Cherokee Jeep in the driveway. No one answered the
front and side entrances. Mail had not been collected. No landlord
visible. Marcel discovered a broken police seal on the basement
apartment entrance which we called into police dispatch.
The police confirmed that Rick Johnson passed away in his residence
near the end of February of this year. Division 14 investigation
team would not release much detail over the phone. They stated that
Rick had passed away due to natural causes, that foul play was not
suspected and that family members had been notified. It is very sad
that Rick passed away unbeknownst to his courier family for close to
2 months. Does anyone have connection to his family? Perhaps a
messenger memorial is in order for our old friend and colleague.
Rest In Peace – Nick Kovats
UPDATE
An ex-messenger friend just contacted Divison 14 and spoke to the
officer who signed off on the police seal we discovered yesterday.
She tried to pass our respective contact infos to the officer hoping
it would be forwarded to the family to potentially contact us. "I
just spoke to Eric Hamilton the officer on the case and he said that
they can’t forward information to the family. He told me that they
had a really hard time tracking down his family and that the
pandemic had delayed the closure of the case which explains the
delay in any official notice of his passing. Knowing that, it may be
very difficult for us to find them too. Sad situation but sounds
like best plan is to wait and keep checking obituaries" Which we
are. I found a posting on Rick's still accessible Facebook page
stating his original hometown of St. Paul, Alberta. I called Grace
Gardens Funeral Chapel in St. Paul. I spoke to a very kind
receptionist who knows a few Johnsons in town and will investigate
and possibly pass on my contact info. I would encourage other's to
research his FB public postings for potential references to family.
He may or may not have a sister in Toronto. – Nick Kovats
Photo by Trevor Hughes
such a nice person, gentle as a tree, very sad to hear this RIP -
Chrissy Sonier
Natural causes ? At his age ? Odd. Again. Oh lord. Rest In Peace
pal. Sad. You’ll be missed - G. Grant Buffett
Thanks Marcel, Nick and Xander for finding out what had become of
our friend. Rest in peace Rick Johnson - Derek Chadbourne
Wow, I am sad to hear this. Rip - Heather Destress
R.I.P. Rick. too many of us, too young to go - Mike McGill
That's so weird. I scoured the internet for an obit and found
nothing. Also odd that his Jeep and belongings are still in the
apartment. Not really evidence of next of kin being contacted. RIP -
Sonia Serba
RIP Rick Johnson. You were a good dude. I hope the mess community
can get some closure soon. You didn’t deserve this. 🕯 - Sonia Serba
Its odd that his belongings and apartment are still untouched by
family. Rest in peace Rick - Gabriela Mancebo
Rest in peace at that velodrome in the sky my friend, have a
peaceful birthday in the other world, miss ya - Owen Young
Terrible outcome to be all alone at the end Rest In Peace now Rick -
Brian McEwan
Cheers Brother. Thank you for getting me on the road and
showing me the ropes. Thank you for being a great friend
and roommate. Thank you for lugging around from racetrack to
racetrack with me. Thank you for being awesome. — Craig
Atkinson
Awful. My sincere condolences to his friends here. - Justin Morris
terrible news-- so sad to hear ... whadda nightmare – Ron Freeman
I didn't know Rick, just saw him 'on the road' and at Spreads. It's
always sad to lose a member of the messenger family. My prayers are
with his family. #55 #ltd - David Martin
God bless the poor man and give him peace 🇨🇦💚- Brian McEwan
Poor old Rick. Good guy. I hope we'll get together for him after its
all over. - Mike Raphone
What? OMG. R.I.P. RICK. We were living in the same building in
Calgary, then we both were hanging around in Vancouver. Seems like
we both shared our westward life adventure together. Not so long
ago. Man, way too many, way to early. - Piotr Kubik
Rick Johnson you were my friend and it's sad we didn't know what
happened to you rip brother love you – Xander Wilkes
It's has been a HARD couple of years. Peace and love to the whole
messfam. 💘 💘 - Michael Andrew Harvie
Photo by Trevor Hughes
