Richard " Rich " Canaday

Richard “Rich” Michael Canaday, of Denver, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2023. The Gisha, as he was affectionately called, lived life with a huge heart, infectious smile, and brilliant personality. He loved soccer, art, music, orchids and trying his Irish luck in Vegas. Rich’s favorite quote was “A man with style is a man with a smile” and this may as well have been his personal motto as his legendary hat and blazer collection was rivaled by none.

Rich attended East High School where he played varsity tennis and soccer. One of his highlights was attending Wimbledon and watching tennis at Centre Court during one of the only times in history the match was open to the public. Rich had friends in all different grades at East, was voted Prom King and he continued these relationships throughout his life.

Rich received his B.A. in English from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI in 1996. Known by everyone simply as “Gish” or “Tha Gisha”, he was undoubtedly the most famous student on campus. His infectious passion for life and laughter made Gish a cherished member of LU’s community, and his diverse endeavors—whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, on stage, in the pages of the school’s newspaper, or on the airwaves—embodied the spirit of its liberal arts environment.

Gish was a four-year letter winner in both soccer and tennis and was selected All-Midwest Conference three years and Most Valuable Player in 1995 for soccer. As captain and a regular starter on the soccer team, his blazing speed and uncanny ability to find the back of the net in the unlikeliest of situations made Rich an important asset on the left wing. A talented thespian with a unique performative flair, Rich channeled his love of acting into memorable roles in several theater productions in his first years on campus. The seeds of what would become a ‘side hustle’ as a DJ first took root at LU’s radio station—WLFM—where Rich hosted a popular weekly radio show for four years. Gish also shared his passion for movies in the capacity of Arts and Entertainment Editor of The Lawrentian—the school’s student-run newspaper. In his final year, Gish joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon where his off-beat humor and wacky antics tickled his fraternity brothers. But, Gish’s contribution to the community and culture at Lawrence had less to do with what he did and much more with who he was. Yes, Gish threw himself passionately into his diverse endeavors and was universally recognized for his inimitable style and quirky perspective. Yet to his close companions and teammates, Gish was a truly loyal friend who brought humor and levity, not to mention a touching authenticity, to the warmth of all his friendships. To know Gish was transformative; he made a difference.

After college, Rich started his career in the entertainment industry and ultimately worked for Starz as a Senior Producer/Writer/Director where he leveraged his electric personality and creativity to interview A list stars. He was a talented writer and enjoyed working as a DJ. Ultimately, Rich became a partner for a downtown sports bar.

Rich is preceded in death by his beloved brother, David, and parents Jerome and Linda.

A memorial celebration will be held at Stoney’s Bar and Grill in Denver on Sunday, June 25th, from 1-4pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Denver Park Trust ( https://securepayment.link/denverparktrust/ ) for a Commemorative Bench, in City Park, in Rich’s honor.