(LOCKPORT, NEW YORK) - Niagara County Labor Activist Richard McIntyre (Pictured above, speaking above at a Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Meeting in 2016/WNYLaborToday.com Photo) is being remembered “as a dedicated and dignified” Unionist, a “fighter with a quiet dignity about him” who was “rock solid” when it came to putting his Members’ needs first.

The former Army Veteran - who went on to become President of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 832 for more than 20 years, President of CSEA Local 903/Unit 1 Retirees and Secretary-Treasurer of the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, passed away on Saturday, October 13th at the age of 72. 

“I ‘don’t every recall working with such a dedicated and dignified’ Labor Activist,” New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Labor Relations Specialist Louis DalPorto, who also served as a CSEA Labor Relations Specialist for 10 years, told WNYLaborToday.com.

“He was a ‘fighter’ - ‘with a quiet dignity about him and he was relentless when it came to representing his Membership.’  He was ‘rock solid.’  He ‘couldn’t be shaken.’  ‘You could always count on him.’  And he had a ‘unique’ style.  He ‘wasn’t volatile.’  Dick ‘never had to do that.’  He had a ‘calm presence that I personally learned from,’” DalPorto told Your On-Line Labor Newspaper.

Pictured above, Dick McIntyre, his wife, Marie, with President Bill Clinton and wife, Hillary, during President Clinton’s time in the White House.  (Picture Via Dick McIntyre’s Facebook Page)

During the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Labor Council meeting that was held earlier this month in Ransomville, a moment of silence was observed to not only acknowledge McIntyre’s passing, but to remember a “true Trade Unionist who was always there for Labor.”

Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Labor Council President Jim Briggs, who also serves as Sub-District Director of United Steelworkers (USW) District 4, said of the Lockport Senior High School and Niagara University Graduate: “Dick was a ‘true’ Trade Unionist.  He was always there for Labor and he ‘never wavered, never said he couldn’t make something.’  He would do ‘whatever was necessary’ for Union Members.  He was ‘principled.’  He has left a ‘large hole to fill.’”

McIntyre, who was presented with an Appreciation Certificate from the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council in 2016 for his long-time efforts to better the lives of Union Members across the two counties, was also remembered by Bill Jakobi - the Labor Council’s United Way of Greater Niagara Labor Liaison, as “a great man and Labor Activist who was soft-spoken and smart.”

“He was ‘always there, always involved,’” Jakobi told WNYLaborToday.com, adding McIntyre’s wife, Marie - a former United Auto Workers (UAW) Member, was always at McIntyre side.