We were buds at Emerson and played all the typical things kids staying outside until the street lights came on. Then carried on to Stanford and Millikan. His Dad was an airline pilot - I think he was also a Naval aviator. RIP
Rich and I were running backs for the varsity football team and on the kick off team. Rich was really a great guy and we had a lot of laughs at football pracitice. RIP
Rich was my boyfriend from ninth grade through graduation. He loved football and wrestling in school. Then motocross became his pasion. Rich became an airline mechanic, if memory serves me well. He was always good with mechanics and engines. His family included me in so many of their outings, from symphonies at the Hollywood Bowl, to water skiing, to backpacking trips. Loved being around them! He passed from a heart attack somewhere in his mid-fifties.
Rich and I became good friends in fifth grade at Emerson. Our families were close and we did all the normal kid stuff together (Boy Scouts, camping, hiking, surfing, etc). We also got in trouble a few too many times, but I will not elaborate. Let's just leave it that we got off with stern warning from Long Beach's finest.
His dad was our Scout leader who use to take us to the most remote areas to camp. Rich and I stayed close throughout our teens, but lost contact in our early 20's. He started a family and I went on to college. Our families were close and our parents stayed touch until my dad passed away. Both of his parents are still alive and live in the same house Rich grew up in.
At the age of 52, Rich died from massive heart failure. He was fixing a kid's bicycle at the time. Rich could fix anything mechanical. Motorcycles, car engines, airplane engines. He loved to take them apart and rebuild them to perform better. So it seems fitting that he had a wrench in his hand when the end came. RIP my friend.
Wow. Rich is gone!
Rich was such a strong influence in my life.
We played football together (he was #30) and would play hound & hare on our motorcyles in Elsinor with his brother Cliff before it was all a suburb. He later bought a very nich Ossa 250cc and raced it. I could only afford my little Hodaka Ace 100 and raced that a few times, but no where near as well as Rich on that Ossa.
We would also get in trouble together. One time we were arrested for illegal posession of slingshots (hah!!) and were taken to the Long Beach Police Station where our folks let us spend the night. We were accused of killing ducks at the El Dorado pond. On the way to the station Rich asked the cop sitting between us if I looked like a duck killer!? Rich had so much life in him.
We drifted apart after I got drafted in 1970, but Rich and his family will always be in my heart.
Mel Mould
You're missed Rich. We always had such a good time in English and football.
John Phelps
We were buds at Emerson and played all the typical things kids staying outside until the street lights came on. Then carried on to Stanford and Millikan. His Dad was an airline pilot - I think he was also a Naval aviator. RIP
Steve Reese
Rich and I were running backs for the varsity football team and on the kick off team. Rich was really a great guy and we had a lot of laughs at football pracitice. RIP
Steve Folger
I remember Rich being a avid dirt bike rider GREAT GUYDianne Walinski (Coppenger)
Rich was my boyfriend from ninth grade through graduation. He loved football and wrestling in school. Then motocross became his pasion. Rich became an airline mechanic, if memory serves me well. He was always good with mechanics and engines. His family included me in so many of their outings, from symphonies at the Hollywood Bowl, to water skiing, to backpacking trips. Loved being around them! He passed from a heart attack somewhere in his mid-fifties.
Randy Stone
Rich and I became good friends in fifth grade at Emerson. Our families were close and we did all the normal kid stuff together (Boy Scouts, camping, hiking, surfing, etc). We also got in trouble a few too many times, but I will not elaborate. Let's just leave it that we got off with stern warning from Long Beach's finest.
His dad was our Scout leader who use to take us to the most remote areas to camp. Rich and I stayed close throughout our teens, but lost contact in our early 20's. He started a family and I went on to college. Our families were close and our parents stayed touch until my dad passed away. Both of his parents are still alive and live in the same house Rich grew up in.
At the age of 52, Rich died from massive heart failure. He was fixing a kid's bicycle at the time. Rich could fix anything mechanical. Motorcycles, car engines, airplane engines. He loved to take them apart and rebuild them to perform better. So it seems fitting that he had a wrench in his hand when the end came. RIP my friend.
Nathaniel Short
Wow. Rich is gone!
Rich was such a strong influence in my life.
We played football together (he was #30) and would play hound & hare on our motorcyles in Elsinor with his brother Cliff before it was all a suburb. He later bought a very nich Ossa 250cc and raced it. I could only afford my little Hodaka Ace 100 and raced that a few times, but no where near as well as Rich on that Ossa.
We would also get in trouble together. One time we were arrested for illegal posession of slingshots (hah!!) and were taken to the Long Beach Police Station where our folks let us spend the night. We were accused of killing ducks at the El Dorado pond. On the way to the station Rich asked the cop sitting between us if I looked like a duck killer!? Rich had so much life in him.
We drifted apart after I got drafted in 1970, but Rich and his family will always be in my heart.
What a guy! I love you, Rich.