Born in Montreal, Red joined the RCN in 1949 and served for 26 years. He qualified as PR2 on 21 May 1955; PR3 on 17 May 1963 and PR4 on 9 Dec 1966. Red was an avid aquatics guru and spent a lot of time in swimming pools. After retirement in 1975 he worked as a provincial civil servant for 10 years.