Sunday, July 16, 2023
July 16, 2023
Dear Shelley and Family,
The members of the John Glenn High School Class of 1974 are deeply saddened to learn of Rick’s passing. We remember Rick, a dear friend, with whom we shared so many good and wonderful times. We send our heartfelt condolences to you and your extended family.
While many of our remembrances harken back to our youth, our recollections are still vivid and filled with friendship and joy, so much so that we can hear Rick’s laughter and recall his smile as a teenager among us. As we reflect on Rick’s passing, words may escape us but our memories – and the good times we shared – help soothe and sustain us; and we wish the same for you.
Our memories pinpoint different stages and ages of our lives. We remember Rick as a child who grew up in our neighborhood and whose parents played cards and drank coffee with our parents; the sweet boy who was our friend in junior high; the dedicated athlete who made us proud to be Bobcats; and the young man who happily stood with us as we got married.
Fellow varsity players recall that during our senior year, the football team faced some tough challenges, but from that adversity lifelong lessons were learned, character was built and respect for one another ran deep and was lifelong.
Rick and his friends spread their wings a bit when they turned 18 years old. Early morning trips to the Texan restaurant for breakfast sometimes put high school educational pursuits on a temporary hold much to the chagrin of our vice principal, a strict disciplinarian who handled school attendance.
Rick had good times with his friends, but he also looked out for them. One classmate recalls Rick fulfilling his promise after graduation to take her for a ride on his motorcycle. He wisely advised her to change from her shorts and t-shirt into jeans, heavy shoes and a jacket to be safe while riding. And safe they were when a passing car did not see them and hit Rick’s bike, propelling them off the motorcycle. Without warning, the two found themselves skidding along Wilder Road through sharp gravel. Rick sustained a broken collar bone that was quickly reset in the local ER and our classmate averted serious injury.
The Miller family is fondly remembered for hosting fun gatherings for Rick and his friends, like fishing for salmon. They also opened their home during our teenage years and provided a listening ear and sage advice when it was needed most. One classmate shared that he stayed overnight at Rick’s house when he had a disagreement with a parent and had considered running away. It was Rick’s friendship and Mrs. Miller’s calming presence that convinced the young man that it would be better to run to a place where he could sort out the issues rather than run away from them. The next day the classmate returned home and the situation was resolved.
Not only was Rick in the center of it all throughout our childhood, he helped capture memories as part of the high school yearbook staff – photos and words that are more treasured with each passing year.
While today our classmates live in many places and have experienced life from a variety of vantage points, we are united in our profound sense of loss of our childhood friend and the feeling that Rick – someone who had a true zest for life – certainly cannot be gone. Collectively, our sad hearts sigh, “too soon.”
As you gather to memorialize Rick, please know that we grieve with you. We hope our memories and prayers help lift you and yours in your time of loss, now and in all of the days ahead.
In deepest sympathy,
The John Glenn High School Class of 1974
