Profile Text
Birth Name: Joseph Henri Richard
Date of Birth: February 29, 1936
Place of Birth: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Date of Death: March 6, 2020
Place of Death: Laval, Québec, Canada
Ethnicity: French-Canadian, smaller amount of Irish
Henri Richard was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. A centre, he spent his entire career with the Montreal Canadians of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was considered one of the best players, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979. He was nicknamed “Pocket Rocket.”
Henri was the son of Alice and Onésime Richard, who worked at the Angus Yards, for the Canadian Pacific Railway. His brother was professional ice hockey player Maurice Richard , “The Rocket.” He was married to Lise Villeard, until his death, with whom he had five children. He opened tavern Henri Richard’s.
Henri’s paternal grandfather was Henri Richard (the son of Onésime Richard and Judith Cormier). Onésime was the son of Damien Richard and Angélique-Véronique Vigneau. Judith was born on Havre-Aux-Maisons, Magdalen Island, Québec, the daughter of Vital Cormier and Louise Turbide.
Henri’s paternal grandmother was Justine Dévost (the daughter of Alexandre Dévost/Deveau and Ursule/Ursula Vigneau/Vigeault). Justine was born in Québec, to parents from Havre-Aubert, Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Alexandre was the son of Jean Deveau and Anastasie Marguerite Bourgeois. Ursule was the daughter of Charles Vigneau and Sophie Lapierre.
Henri’s maternal grandfather was Charles Laramée (the son of Octave Fissiau and Mathilde Boire). Octave was the son of Antoine Fissiau and Christine Souligny. Mathilde was the daughter of Jean Baptiste Boire and Cecile Loisel.
Henri’s maternal grandmother was Marie Seraphine Samuel (the daughter of Isidore Samuel and Genevieve Seraphine Bond). Isidore was born in Rivière-au-Renard, Gaspe, Québec, the son of Jean Samuel and Catherine English. Genevieve was born in Gaspe, the daughter of Jean Augustin Bond and Marie-Reine Rose Rinfret.
Sources: Genealogy of Henri Richard – http://www.wikitree.com
Genealogy of Henri Richard (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com