I had the good fortune to first meet Rick in 1985 when I began my articles with the Fenerty firm. He was a respected, senior partner who was always involved in interesting files, with interesting challenges. Rick was generous with his time, knowledge and experience – if you were keen to learn and work hard, he was prepared to get you involved. But his approach was never to sit you down to teach you. Rather, if you were willing and able to keep up with his challenging pace, he invited you to join him as he worked to understand the problem and develop a solution that often had eluded others. Rick was determined that you would learn best by doing. Rick shared his knowledge and experience in law, business and life. And he demonstrated that as capable as he was as a lawyer, there was never a substitute for hard work - his loyal clients appreciated his skill, tenacity and preparedness to go the extra mile. The lessons he shared with me about business were most valuable.
Rick was certainly an important mentor to me. But I am proudest to say that he was a friend. We became friends rather late in our knowing each other. Rick was more or less retired when I was suddenly personally faced with a business challenge and needed wise counsel and support. He not only brought his knowledge and experience to my aid, but most importantly, he showed me how good a friend he was. His regular check-ins to see how I was doing and to offer support and encouragement during the height of the fracas, gave me what I needed most, the encouragement, faith and determination to keep fighting. After the fight was over, we didn't talk business when we got together. Instead our calls and lunches were consumed with talk of family, yard work, mosquitos at the lake and whatever happened to be on our minds that day. But there was never a phone call or a lunch that didn't include Rick remembering a story to talk about his sweetheart, Ali. There was no question that no matter whatever Rick had done, seen or accomplished in his life, the biggest joy to his life was Ali and what they shared together.
Life is a journey made richer by the people we meet along the way. I am so very grateful for having known Rick and for having shared a few steps of that journey with him. My sympathies to Ali, the girls and all the grandchildren and family.
Art Szabo
