Yesterday, my dear friend passed away. His life was not without difficulty, strife, or pain. Nor was it without love and true friendship. Richard was an enigma. Few people understood the tender heart he kept hidden or the great loss he felt at the pain strangers who judged him for appearance sake. He would give you the shirt off his back, feed you his last morsel of bread, and comfort you when you were in need.
I met Richard in fifth grade, back when those who questioned teachers were thought to be disruptive and not inquisitive. He was therefore self taught, well read, and more honest than most. Richard grew up with his father, mother, 2 brothers and a sister. He lost his mother at the age of 21, and his brother Jerry, (who was one of my first crushes...and was totally gorgeous!) died when Richard was about 33 or so. Bill, Rick's dad died and then the tragedy of the loss of his first born granddaughter (this tore out his heart). Richard loved 4 women, the love of his life died young, the next cheated on him and the last 2 loved him to the best of their ability, I know, because I was one of them. He loved his daughter, and my daughter as if she were his own, and she loved him. He will be missed.
