Northern Life is sad to announce the death of reporter Rick Pusiak.
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Rick Pusiak |
Pusiak, 44, was well known in Sudbury for his work during the past five years at Northern Life. As well, he worked as a radio reporter for many years in Sudbury before switching to print journalism.
He was on sick leave from the newspaper at the time of his death.
A funeral mass will be held Thursday, Sept. 18 at 10:30 am at Our Lady of Hope, 591 Brennan Rd.
Pusiak, who was a big guy with an even bigger heart and hearty laugh, was known affectionately as "The Pooz."
He was well liked by his colleagues and, unusual for a reporter, respected and liked by many of the people he wrote about.
"Rick and I became good friends over the years and ventured out on many interesting endeavors such as the weight loss initiative we challenged each other to, in support of the local food banks... " said Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci.
"I will miss my friend very much and his legacy to me will be his winning smile, his strong faith, his gentle but accurate word and his enormous dedication to the people he served through his reporting," said Bartolucci.
"Rick was a valuable member of the Northern Life family," said general manager Abbas Homayed. "He will be missed by all of us."
"Everyone liked Rick," said Vicki Gilhula, managing editor of Northern Life. "He loved to tell stories, especially about his life growing up on military bases here and in Germany.
Pusiak was born in France. He is survived by his father Joseph and his brother, who both live in the Ottawa area.