This Research Front is a tribute to the life and work of Professor Richard Francis Langler who died on 3 February 2014 in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Rick was a dedicated and inspirational teacher, and a rigorous researcher and steadfast mentor, especially for undergraduate researchers at Mount Allison University. He was one of those rare professors who had an enormous impact on his students, scientifically and pedagogically driven by the most sincere passion for organic chemistry. Rick has published an impressive 129 papers over his academic career (35 in Australian Journal of Chemistry) and contributed to textbooks. Rick’s attention to scientific detail was complemented with his thorough, direct nature and dry sense of humour, and reflected in his ability to ask the pointed and important questions at any scientific gathering.