LELAND — Richard R. Cantin, 78, died at home after a courageous four-year battle with ALS with his loving wife by his side. He was born to Albert and Blanche Cantin and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire.
He served in the Air Force National Guard for four years and was activated during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
He had a long and successful career in radiology management. He began his career as a radiology technologist at Newport Hospital in Rhode Island and was promoted to radiology manager. He went on to take the position of radiology administrator at Rhode Island Hospital. He became CEO of the Rhode Island MRI Network for 10 years, which was a conglomerate of 10 hospitals throughout the state sharing mobile MRI services. He belonged to and held many positions, e.g., president, etc. of numerous organizations related to radiology and health care.
He was one of the founding members of the Providence Ronald McDonald House of Rhode Island built in 1989.
When he and his wife Marie retired to North Carolina in 2003, he started his own veterinary MRI business. For six years, he worked with many veterinary hospitals throughout Massachusetts, North Carolina and Maryland.
He was a member of the Bridge Presbyterian Church, Leland.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Blanche; brother, Edward Cantin; sons, Michael and David Cantin; and grandson, John “Jack” Cantin.
Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Marie; stepson, Brian Plasse, and his wife, Jessica, of Maine; granddaughter, Lauren Cantin of California; daughter-in-law, Kim Cantin of California; sister-in-law, Loraine Carbone, and her husband, Richard, of Leland; sister-in-law, Roberta Pagliaro of Rhode Island, brother-in-law, Anthony Pagliaro of Wilmington; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
His hobbies included photography, scuba diving, boating and golfing. In addition, he was an avid gardener.
There is no memorial service at this time.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the ALS Association North Carolina Chapter, 4 N Blount St., #200, Raleigh, NC 27601; or Lower Cape Fear Life Care Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.
Share online condolences with the family at Wilmington Funeral & Cremation.
