A well-known businessman, R.P. (Dick) Creaghan, vice-president of J.D. Creaghan Company, died Monday at the Dr. Everett Chambers Hospital. Born in Newcastle, he was the son of the late Donald and Marguerita (Buckley) Creaghan. He was educated in the public schools of Newcastle. After graduation from Harkins High School, he attended the University of New Brunswick until he entered the family business at the head office in Moncton in 1948. Mr. Creaghan was one of the third generation of his family to maintain the company. He was transferred to Fredericton where he became manager of the men’s wear department in 1950. In 1952, he became assistant manager of the local branch and took over as manager in 1955. In 1969 he was named vice-president of the company.
He was well known as a man who fought for the preservation of downtown Fredericton. He often wore a “My Heart Is Downtown” pin which symbolized his dedication to the preservation of the downtown core of the city. The J.D. Creaghan Co. Ltd. Store, where he was manager, was the first completed project in the downtown rejuvenation and development program in 1977. Mr. Creaghan was the charter chairman of the Central Business Committee which had been pressing for seven years to see the downtown area rejuvenated.
He was a member of St. Dunstan’s Church, Fredericton Garrison Club, Knights of Columbus, Retail Council of Canada and the Chamber of Commerce. In March 1983, Mr. Creaghan relinquished his position in the Fredericton store due to ill health although he retained his position as vice-president. In April 1983, Mr. Creaghan was honoured by the Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce for long service and dedication to the business community.
He is survived by his wife Pauline (Shanahan) Creaghan; two daughters, Mrs. Brian Gray (Kathy) of Charlottetown and Deborah Creaghan, at home; two sons, Patrick and Joseph, at home; four brothers, John Creaghan of Newcastle, Tom Creaghan of Oakville, Ont., Alan B. Creaghan of Fredericton and Dr. Mark Creaghan of Newcastle and a sister Nora C. Bunting of Newcastle.
The body is resting at J.A. McAdam Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at St. Dunstan’s Church with Rev. Joseph Woods officiating. Interment will be in the Hermitage Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.
Richard P. Creaghan had been active on the Fredericton merchandising scene for more than 30 years. Everyone knew him. He always had a kind word for customers and employees and, when he retired last year as manager of the J.D. Creaghan store here, there was regret on every hand. The illness which forced him to relinquish his position finally claimed his life, and the community mourns him today. Dick Creaghan took part in many business and civic activities. He promoted the downtown core of Fredericton and lived to see vast improvements in the area, including extensive renovations to his own store. He was a proponent of free enterprise and his hand will be missed by his fellow merchants striving to uphold the tenets of that economic concept.
Mr. Creaghan was a member of a family immersed in the retail trade since 1875 when his grandfather founded a business on the Miramichi. After Creaghan’s expanded to Moncton and Fredericton, Dick came here to stay, to raise a family and to enter the city’s business life. The Daily Gleaner offers its sympathy to his wife, children and relatives in a loss which they share with all of Fredericton.
The Daily Gleaner, January 17, 1984, Page 4, Editorial Section
Richard P. Creaghan