Biography:

Dr. Stanley Alexander McDonald Richardson was born in Chatham Township (Chatham-Kent), Ontario on the 25th of November, 1890.  Dr. Richardson was the youngest of 10 children born to Thomas Richardson and the former Mary Jane Brown.  His parents were farmers and his siblings were; John Edward Richardson, Joseph Douglas Richardson, Margaret Richardson, Frances Maud Richardson, Thomas “Herbert” Richardson, James “Milton” Richardson, Martha “Jane” Richardson, Isabella Ann Richardson and Lorne Norris Richardson. Dr. Richardson was educated locally and attended Wallaceburg District High School.

Dr. Richardson attended The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine. He graduated M.B. in June of 1913.  According to the 1928 Ontario Medical Register, Dr. Richardson joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 25th of June, 1913.  After graduation he practiced medicine in Nystead, Ontario.

Dr. Richardson married Mary “Marie” Mildred Piper on the 14th of April 1915 in Toronto, Ontario. Mrs. Richardson was born on the 26th of February, 1888 in Dereham Twp., Oxford County.  She was the 7th of 8 children born to William Isaac Piper and the former Mary Ann Jane Gregg.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; Herbert Isaac Piper, Alfretty “Ermina” Piper, Sarah Ellen Piper, Edward Piper (who died of tuberculosis at the age of 40), Myrtle Rose Piper, Ethel Laverne Piper and Wray Gregg Piper.

Dr. and Mrs. Richardson were the parents of 5 children; Myrtle Laurene Richardson, Verne Floyd Richardson, Thomas William “Laird” Richardson, Helen Richardson who was stillborn on the 8th of May, 1920 and Stanley “Jay” Richardson.

Dr. Richardson practiced in Simcoe (Norfolk Co.) and Port Lambton (Lambton Co.) but by 1921, Dr. and Mrs. Richardson had settled in Wallaceburg to raise their family. Dr. Richardson served as the Mayor of Wallaceburg, in 4 separate terms. He served in 1923, 1924, 1926 and 1934.

When the Sydenham District Hospital opened in Wallaceburg in 1957, Dr. Richardson was named as the Chief of Surgical Staff.

In his spare time, Dr. Richardson enjoyed gardening and boating.

Dr. Richardson died on the 1st of April, 1965 while on vacation in Pompano Beach, Florida.  The Mayor of Wallaceburg, Alan B Cousins commented in the Windsor Star (02 April, 1965 edition, Pg 3), “Wallaceburg has indeed lost a good friend.  Dr. S. A. had the great ability to calm people’s fears.  His untiring strength and the hours of dedication that he devoted to his practice and to his community will always be remembered.  We will miss him.”

Mrs. Richardson died on the 11th of April, 1975.  Dr. and Mrs. Richardson were buried at Riverview Cemetery in Wallaceburg.

*Dr. Richardson’s son, Dr. Stanley Jay Richardson and his nephew Dr. Thomas Gordon Douglas Richardson also appear on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.

**Dr. Richardson’s brother, Lorne Norris Richardson enlisted and served in the Canadian Armed Services during WWI.  Dr. Richardson’s brother Thomas Herbert Richardson served with the United States Armed Services during WWII.

Tombstone photo credit: Anne F.