R.I.P Rick Chin (aka Uncle Rick)

[kitnut617]

Just found out Rick Chin, the owner of Uncle Bill's Hobby Shop in Calgary, has died after battling cancer for some time.

I was only talking to him a week ago and had arranged to be at his shop the next day as I live out of town but when I got there it was closed.  I didn't think much of it then and even after not getting any answer on the phone this week, it didn't occur to me something was this serious.  When I was talking to him he sounded like he had a cold and was hard to hear (which I had put down to my hearing problem)

He's going to be missed as whenever I was in Calgary, I always ended up at his shop to buy items or just browse (that hardly happened) and chin-wag.

[philp]

That is terrible news.

I last saw him at the Western Regional Contest in Nanton last year.  Had found his shop after I got into Calgary and gave him a call, it was about 20 minutes after closing but when I told him who I was said he would stay open for me.  He used to make it down for our shows in SLC.  A very nice guy and fun to talk to.  I will miss him.

[Captain Canada]

That's too bad. I haven't talked to him in years, but he was a great guy for sure. I mean, they don't call you 'uncle' for nothing ! We used to talk and trade photographs back in the day before digital media took all the fun out of photography. I'm sure he will be missed by many. RIP Uncle Rick.