Obituary

 It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Kevin Ritcey, on   December 6^th, 2022. Loving husband and best friend, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, respected colleague and friend to all who knew him. Kevin was a kind, generous and compassionate man who made each life he touched a better one.

Kevin was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia to Carvil and Lillian Ritcey and grew up in a loving family with siblings Donald  Beverley, Raymond and Colleen. 

In high school, he met the love of his life Judi DeYoung on an arranged date and after a six-year courtship they were married on May 16^th, 1970. They welcomed the arrival of their beautiful daughter, Kerilee Patricia on August 18, 1972 and son Neil Patrick on August 25, 1975. 

After his early education and attending Saint Mary’s University in Halifax he worked for the Auditor General of Nova Scotia for two years before joining Revenue Canada Taxation in September 1970. He completed an exceptional 35-year career of public service across Canada before retiring as Director of the Southern Interior Taxation Services Office in Penticton, British Columbia in April 2004.

Following his early work in Public Relations and Assessing he joined the Audit Division and enjoyed a rapid rise through the audit ranks into successive management positions while earning his CGA designation in 1981. He was promoted to Head Office in April 1982 where he travelled extensively across Canada with the Management Audit Branch. In 1984 he was promoted as Senior Finance Officer in the Atlantic Regional Office in Halifax. In 1986, he was appointed Director of the Charlottetown District Office in PEI. Two years later in August 1988, he was promoted once again to the Director’s position in Penticton, BC where he remained until retiring. Throughout his career he served on numerous regional and national task forces, committees and was recognized for leadership in innovation and change initiatives.

After his retirement Kevin completed several contracts for the International Monetary Fund to modernize Revenue Administration in the Caribbean region. He also worked part time for fifteen years with the Kemp Harvey Kemp CPA accounting firm in Penticton.

Wherever they lived across Canada Kevin & Judi enjoyed working side by side on numerous community service projects and Boards. Mostly in the sporting activities and the Arts & Cultural fields e.g., Canada Games, Ironman, OSNS; Jazz Festival. Kevin took particular delight in supporting Judi’s numerous adventures in musical and children’s theatre and local choirs.

Kevin is survived by his loving wife and best friend Judi, son Neil and daughter-in-law Reiko, grandchildren Zen – 14, Kira – 11 and Tolkien – 10, brothers Donald (Sylvia) and Raymond (Debbie) and sisters Beverley White (David) and Colleen O’Brien (Robert) as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family across Canada and around the globe. Kevin was predeceased by his daughter Keri (1972 – 1989) and son Geoffrey Scott (1974-1974)

In the days to come, we can all take comfort knowing that Kevin in his various roles as husband, Dad, Grandpa, Uncle and friend loved us unconditionally and spent a lifetime being our role model and providing us with wise counsel along the way. He will always be missed, never forgotten and forever loved. 

A celebration of Kevin’s life will be held on Wednesday December 14, 2022 at 3:00 pm, at the Oasis United Church, 2964 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton. Online condolences may be sent to the kettlevalleymemorial.com. The Celebration of Life will be lived-streamed for family and friends who are unable to attend. https://www.youtube.com/@kvmemorial/live  

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Kevin’s name to the Andy Moog Hospice House or the South Okanagan Medical Foundation.