Shawna, Dave & family. My deepest condolences on the loss of your father. Such an accomplished man. I don’t recall having met your father but the tributes certainly provide an insight into how incredible he was. You were blessed to have had his influence.

As I’ve sat in this quiet forest grove to ponder Rich’s passing, I realize there are so many things I would like to say to Rich, and thank him for.

I’d like to thank him for the friendship he built with my dad. Their respect for each other, and the enjoyment they had in each other’s company, was a model for how a friendship should be. They shared many interests, but chief among these were their passions for geology, fishing and business. And when either hit a problem or turbulent waters in life, they knew who would be by their side, lending a hand or providing wise council. I know my dad’s life was far richer as a result of their friendship.

Through my dad, Rich became a friend and mentor to myself. I wish I could thank him again for teaching me how to fish, for his geology lessons, and for his wisdom and gentle advice when I hit my own turbulent waters in life.

I’d like to thank Rich for his patience and matter of fact approach in the way he taught me about the things he loved. As I flogged the water on both sides of the boat, learning how to cast a fly line with him, he would simply smile and say, “keep trying”. I think Rich had a talent for seeing potential in people, and he had great joy in coaxing that potential out with his patient, persistent style.

I’d also like to thank Rich for teaching me the value of paying attention to details. My own intuitive approach to projects and adventures often came to a head with Rich’s deep questions that revealed important details that needed to be considered. And Rich was never shy about exploring in depth any of the subjects that interested him. I wish I could thank him again for those hours where he expounded on the minute details of what ever topic we had landed on. It was a joy to learn from Rich, from tying a fly line leader to his views on science and religion.

I’d also like to thank Rich for sharing his love of music. Although, to be honest, some of those road trips out to Skitchine became a bit long as we listened to Rich’s selection of the latest jazz ensembles in his collection. But despite those somewhat disarming cacophonies, he also introduced me to music that I have enjoyed for ever after, from Sweeney Todd to Gustov Holst.

Most of all, I would like to thank Rich for teaching me a model for friendship that changed me, and that I continue to aspire to. His genuine interest in people, deep caring, and ever-ready offer to lend support were hallmarks of his values. People were important to Rich, and he demonstrated that in everything he did.

Thank you, Rich. You made my life better in so many ways by just being you.

Tom Evans

Jesse and family, my sincere condolences on bidding farewell to your wonderful husband and dad.I first met Richard some 50 years ago (yikes) following a CPO radiothon fundraiser. I purchased his fly fishing lessons and float down the Bow with Tim Rawlins. He was very patient teaching me to cast as I caught numerous bushes and branches but nary a fish. We compared our tastes classical music then and over the years, often attending the same concerts offered by the fine musical organizations in our city. Richard was a gentleman, firm in his faith, generous and typically punctuating his words with a twinkle in his eye. He will be missed but his legacy of family and community investment will live on. Blessings.

Mary Rozsa de Coquet

Richrd served on the Board of Directors for the International Festival of Song and Chamber Music Society from its inception in 1997 until he removed himself from such activities recently, as a result of his declining health. Of course, he was also a generous donor to the Society; and of course, he also made himself available to me for consultation after he formally resigned from the Board.

We also shared a love of 20th centurly music: Richard was, of course, one of only a handful of people I can name who attended each of my "Sounds of a Century" concerts, one for each decade of the 20th century. Although Beethoven and Chopin were hardly his composers of choice, he also supported me personally by attending most of the series of recitals I presented which were dedicted to those composers. Of course.

Of course: each time I mention something about Richard which puts him in the category of the extraordinary human that he was, I must say "of course." Because what could really and reasonably be expected of no one was assumed routinely about Richard:

and, of coure, that is the way he lived his lifre. Of course.

Richard was amazing and remarkable, without ever trying to be either of those things. That was just who he was: of course.