Born in Paloseco, Trinidad & Tobago, Dickie immigrated to Canada when he was 22 first working at CN Rail and began his 30-year career as a competitive track cycling coach in the late 1970s. Dickie’s deceased brother Ronald was a former executive member of the Trinidad & Tobago Cycling Federation.
Dickie coached such top Canadian track riders as Olympians Curt Harnett, Brian Walton, who both won Games medals, and Tanya Dubnicoff, who won a title at the track world championships.
“A journey that started over 37 years ago with a simple handshake has come to an end. Desi, thank you for teaching me how to eat over-cooked liver and onions with proper pepper sauce, how to use our “nine lives” to their fullest and, well, how to apply Tudor Bumpa’s “Periodization Training for Sports” to suit our needs. While life got in the way and we didn’t see each other much in recent years, the journeys, memories and stories we shared from our humble beginnings live with me every day. RIP my man. Good luck on your next adventure,” wrote Harnett on his FB page.
“Curt Harnett we have been blessed to know a nice man and a great coach who had a good perspective on life. Des lives on in your spirit. I think back to our time together at Worlds in Sicily. Des and Mirak sharing a basement together in a garage and you Tanya and I sharing one fan above the garage…Good times and cherished memories. RIP Des Dickie, you are resting in a comfortable place now well above the garage,” wrote Walton.
During the mid-1990s Dickie was charged with two counts of sexual misconduct but was acquitted. Following his termination as a result of the charges he won a wrongful dismissal suit against the Canadian Cycling Association.
Dickie moved to the states where he began working with USA Cycling and later returned home to work with the Trinidad & Tobago Cycling Federation.
He is survived by wife, Lynda, daughter Tanya, son Cory (Cassandra) and grandchildren Patrick and Brodi.
A funeral service will be held on April 18 following the visitation from 11am-12pm at the Andrews Community Funeral Centre, 8190 Dixie Road, Brampton, Ont. (North of Steeles Avenue) 905-456-8190.